NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 15 



else that's eminently superiour. That the world 

 is governed by Divine Providence, and that 

 every beginning is destinated to death in time. 



Theoph. All this I grant what infer you 

 from thence ? 



Arn. I infer, and observe, you are somewhat 

 too severe in censuring Saul's sin, by the rule of 

 your judgment unpardonable. Now, for one 

 man to take upon him to judg another, he be- 

 trays his rashness, because his judgment is not 

 infallible. 



Theoph. I know where it pinches, you'll hinge 

 upon mercy. 



Am. I must tell you that God is a merciful 

 judg, whose mercy, as recorded, is above all 

 his works ; and a mystery so sacred and secretly 

 conceal'd, that angels themselves dare not pry 

 into it. How then shall man discover this ad- 

 mirable arcanum of mercy, when lock'd up in 

 the secret cabinet of heaven ? Let us not assume 

 such previous conjecturals, but rather consult 

 and expostulate death, since death is the wages 

 and the reward of sin. Man and the world ter- 

 minate in the arms of death, because they alike 

 consist of elementary principles ; but death will 

 be found the extinguisher of life, except that 

 life that's lighted by the torch of regeneration ; 

 that life will outlive the second death. 



Theoph. But you'll agree in this, that a vi- 



