Such loving-kindness slighted, seem to me
Almost as insupportable as those

Of thy displeasure and vindictive wrath.

Where shall I turn? Upwards I dare not look---
The sun, the moon, the stars upbraid me there.
If I look downward, fields and fountains take
Their Maker's part; and heav'n and earth conspire
Greatly to heighten mine enormity.

Those common blessings, tell me, bounteous Lord,
How much I am indebted to thy love:
But when thy special favours I recal,
I am confounded utterly with these.
What num'rous instances could I recount!
Nor has my obstinate rebellion yet
Shut up the flowing fountain of thy grace:
For yet I breathe---and yet I live---I live
T'implore a pardon--heav'n is open still,
And the Almighty's throne accessible.
But, with what confidence can I approach?
What arguments, or motives, can I urge,
But such as render me more culpable?

Shall I thy former pity urge, and all
Thy past indulgence? This were but to plead
Against myself---and yet thy clemency,
That clemency I have so oft abused,
Is the best argument that I can bring---
Thy grace and elemency which stand reveal'd
In Jesus Christ, thy well-beloved Son,
The Mediator between God and man.

To what a pass am 1 by sin reduc'd!
What words are best adapted to my case?
Pardon my sin, O Lord, for it is great.
Surprising argument! yet this will yield
An everlasting theme to praise thy grace
And magnify thy goodness; and will add
An emphasis to all my grateful songs,
And tune my harp to endless harmony.
With me the ransom'd of the Lord shall join,

While this stupendous instance of thy love
Excites their wonder, and my gratitude:
Thus shall thy glorious name exalted be.

O Lord, permit a worthless worm to plead
A little with thee---say, what honour can
Accrue to thee from my eternal death?
What profit, or what triumph canst thou gain,
By my perdition, O thou Lord of hosts?
Mercy's thy bright, thy darling attribute!
This gives thee all thy beauty, and completes
Thy matchless, thy surpassing loveliness.
By names of kindness and indulgence, thou
Hast chosen to reveal thyself to men.
By titles most endearing thou hast, oft,
Made thyself known to my exulting soul---
Titles thou dost not yet disdain, but still
Art pitiful, and ready to forgive.

But that thou hast once pardon'd, or wilt now Pardon my guilt, only enhances it.

And wilt thou, O my God, indeed forgive?
Wilt thou remit my debts? Wilt thou restore
The privileges I have forfeited?

Transcendent goodness! Most amazing love!
Oh, let me never live, indulgent God,
Again to show my base ingratitude!
Oh, let me never live to break my vows---
My penitential vows! but let me die,
Ere that unhappy moment shall arrive!

OR,

DIALOGUES of DEVILS,

ON THE

Many Vices

WHICH ABOUND

IN THE CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS WORLD.

BY THE

REV. JOHN MACGOWAN,

Author of Letters to the Rev. Dr. Priestley, on Socinianism; Death, a Vision, &c.

A NEW EDITION.

Manchester:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOSEPH GLEAVE,

196, DEANSGATE.

INTRODUCTION.

NOTHING

OTHING can be more various and opposite than the opinions of mankind, respecting the influence and agency of infernal spirits. Some continually throw the blame of their vices upon the poor devil;-take their word for it, and they are on all occasions the innocent dupes to his subtilty and malice; they represent him as the prime agent in all their complicated scenes of wickedness; and would fain persuade us, that so far from being the objects of our just aversion, they deserve all our commisseration and pity. From such representations one would be tempted to think, that if malicious and busy devils did but stay in their own country, mankind would be as harmless as lambs, and every species of wickedness be soon banished from our then agreeable world.

Others there be who fall into the opposite extreme, and with 'all their power endeavour to clear the devil of the slanders thrown upon him; whether he hath retained them as his advocates I pretend not to say; but they tell you that he has no hand in all the wickedness committed under the sun; that it is impossible he should have any influence on the minds and manners of men. Nay, some go farther still, even doubt of his very existence, and are confident that all their wickedness ariseth from another quarter.