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The messenger replied, "I will not now detain you, by pointing out the errors of those to whom you have addressed yourself, in hopes of finding the way of salvation. We are taught to believe that those who live in ignorance of the true God, will be called to account for that ignorance; inasmuch as, even in the darkest country and period, God hath not left himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts xiv. 17.) But, leaving these things for the present, I will endeavour to lay before you the fundamental doctrines of our holy religion, even the religion of Christ."

The holy messenger then opening the sacred book, which he had placed respectfully upon his knees, began from thence to explain how the first pair, from whom sprung all the human race, were created in the image of God, immortal, ignorant of evil, and without sin: and how these, being tempted by the Evil One to break the commands of God, had admitted into their nature the taint and poison of sin; by which they incurred the penalty of temporal death, affecting the body, and of spiritual death, by which the soul is eternally separated from God, the fountain of all joy." From thence the holy messenger proceeded to speak of the nature of this original sin, received as a sad inheritance from our first parents; shewing how utterly the whole human race is corrupted thereby, insomuch, that there is not one good, but all are gone aside, all are together become filthy; there being none that doeth good, no, not one.q(Psalm xiv. 3.) He further declared, that it was impossible for man, by any effort of his own, to cleanse himself from this inbred impurity, or to make any atonement to a just and

holy God, for the breach of his commandments; "since," added he, "it is written in this holy book, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (Micah vi. 6, 7.) And again, Though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. (Jer. ii. 22.) From these passages, and many others of a like kind," continued the Chris tian messenger, we learn the inefficacy of all ceremonial observances, and the utter insufficiency of works to procure salvation."

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66 Hitherto," replied Goonah Purist, "am I come. I fully comprehend the depraved and helpless state of mankind; and am now eagerly and anxiously looking for one who is able to effect the glorious work of man's salvation."

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To this his companion made answer, "He who is able to do this, and who has, indeed, already accomplished it, is Christ the Son of God-God himselfg one with the Father and the Holy Spirit."

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The Christian messenger then proceeded to point out, how, immediately after the fall of our first parents from their state of innocence, a revelation! was made concerning the coming of a Saviour; and how the ancient patriarchs were taught to foreshew the atonement which the Son of God should make upon the cross for the sins of the whole world! by the customary sacrifice of lambs, and rams, and other animals, chosen for that special purpose with. out spot or imperfection. He also pointed out those notices of the coming of the Messiah, which were given from time to time in the books of the prophets, with such particularity, that not only his

nation and tribe, but even his very family, was foreshewn. He was to be born of the descendants of Shem, of the nation of the Israelites, of the tribe of Judah, of the royal house of David, of a pure virgin, and in the town of Bethlehem. These various passages, with many others relating to the coming of the Son of God, were pointed out by the Christian messenger to Goonah Purist, in the books of the prophets, all of which, with the Toreet, or books of Moses, the Zuboor, and the Engel, are contained in the sacred book of the Christians.

He next proceeded to shew the accomplishment of these prophecies: how Christ had actually become incarnate in the womb of a virgin; how he had dwelt thirty-three years on earth, being found in fashion as a man, yet without sin; and how, in the name of his brethren of the human race, he had accomplished the whole law of God, thereby obtaining a righteousness for us, which we could not procure for ourselves. He being infinite, yea, and one with God, took upon himself all our sins, even the sins of the whole world, and received the punishment of them upon the cross, suffering such torments from the anger of God (which he endured in our stead) as no created being could have supported, such agonics as made the sweat fall from him like great drops of blood, and such as made him cry out, My God, my God, why hast thou for saken me? (Mark xv. 34.)***

Im accomplishment of his great purpose, to wit, the salvation of man," continued the Christian teacher," this divine Saviour gave up his own life, whiche enoman could take from him; and, after three days, he raised himself from the dead, the work of our justification being finished.

This our mighty Redeemer," continued he, "is verily and indeed the true God, begotten from everlasting of the Father, who is God over all blessed

for evermore. And herein is an awful mystery revealed to us by Scripture, incomprehensible to man. Strictly speaking, God is One. But in this one God there are three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These are one, but their offices are distinct; and in the great work of man's salvation, each is equally engaged. The Father so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John iii. 16.) The Son, by his death, joyfully accomplished the will of his Father, and gave himself a sacrifice for sin. The Holy Spirit by his powerful influence regenerates and sanctifies the believing sinner.

"Thus, by this glorious scheme of salvation, lost man is redeemed from the power of sin, of Satan, of death, and of hell, and restored to the divine favour. This is the message I have to deliver to you," added the Christian teacher: "and if you are willing to leave your father's house, your fleshly lusts, your earthly possessions and connexions, and to follow Christ, you will assuredly be saved; but if you remain here, in this Valley of Destruction, you will as certainly sink into a place of everlasting torment."

Then answered Goonah Purist, "O Sir, you have, indeed, delivered unto me joyful tidings. You have revealed unto me one worthy to be called a Saviour, one in whom I can put my trust without fear,- -one who is able to save even me. He who raised himself from the dead, can, no doubt, raise me from the death of sin. But, Sir,” added the trembling sinuer, "what must I do? whither must I fly? where shall I find this Saviour? for as yet I see him not, I know him not, still remaining as one blind. Tell me where I may go and join myself unto him: for I would, were I permitted, cast the whole burden of my sins upon him, since he only has power to sustain it. Yea, I would shew him

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my leprosy, and open unto him all my sores, fully confiding in his power to heal me. But where, O where shall I find him?"

The messenger then said, "He will wash thee in his own blood, and cleanse thee throughly from thy sins. Moreover, taking from thee these vile garments which thou now wearest, he will clothe thee with the vesture of innocence; yea, he will cover thee with the robe of righteousness, and adorn thee with the garments of salvation: as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, so will he deck thee; and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels, so shalt thou be adorned. (Isaiah lxi. 10.) His very name is as ointment poured forth, therefore will we love him." (Sol. Song i. 3.)

Immediately I saw that Goonah Purist began to gird up his loins, turning his eyes on every side, and saying, "Whither shall I fly?"

Christian Messenger. Thou must leave this city in which thou wast born, and this Valley of Destruction. Art thou willing to give up all for Christ? Goonah Purist. But whither can I fly, Sir? I see no door for escape.

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Christian Messenger. Nevertheless, if thou remainest here, thou art utterly undone; for the Evil One is the prince of this valley, and the natural lord thereof. Unless, therefore, thou renouncest thy old lord, and fleest to a new master, thou art utterly lost; for no man can serve two masters, and thine old master's wages are eternal death. Goonah Purist. But how shall I escape? Christian Messenger. Call upon Him who is able to help thee.

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So Goonah Purist prayed, and called aloud upon Esau Messeeh; and behold, while he yet prayed, certain dark clouds which hung upon the horizon, towards the east of the Valley of Destruction, rolled away, and disclosed a brilliant light.

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