An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

All this in a Drollery!¹ and are we come to that pass, that we can sport our selves at such things as these? Need we prove that there are such things as broken hearts, or repentant tears, or sorrow for sin? Are these the workings of fancy or imagination? When Genesius was mocking on the Stage at the Christian mysteries,² he was on a sudden so wrought on, by the Grace of God, that he did seriò agere quod jocis actitabat: May the Author speed no worse, while he makes himself merry with this, and other Divine things: Let us seriously consider doth sin hang so loose on us, that we can shake it off easily without so much sense or sorrow? Are we so propense to Christ, that we will go to him without a feeling of our wants? Why, or wherefore should we do so? Will we go to him for righteousness, who can work out one at our fingers ends, or for regenerating grace, who can dispatch the matter our ⟨p. 87⟩selves, or for a supply of our wants, who feel no such matter? Our Saviour spake indeed of the weary and heavy laden: Such as Grotius saith, Peccati onere suspirant, & ad libertatem aspirant: But according to our Author, it seems to signify little; the Apostle speaks of a spirit of bondage, but some it seems, never felt any such thing: Afterwards the Author speaking of their comforting Souls, afraid to come to Christ thus, Doth not God justify the ungodly? Did Christ take our flesh, and not our sins upon him? Compare your distress and Christs compassion, your wants and Christs fullness, your unworthiness and Christs freeness, &c. He adds, And now if Christ do not prevail above thy fears, thou art not worthy to be acquainted with him. But now let Mr. Shepherd that excellent practical Divine come upon the Stage.

All this in a Drollery!¹ and are we come to that pass, that we can sport our selves at such things as these? Need we prove that there are such things as broken hearts, or repentant tears, or sorrow for sin? Are these the workings of fancy or imagination? When Genesius was mocking on the Stage at the Christian mysteries,²