UNIVERSITY THE COIN-ACT. By Way of DIALOGUE. Defigned for the Use of every one that has Any Thing at all to do with MONEY; And who do not defire to be Impofed on in moft Important Matters. Wherein is pointed out, The best Method of Difcovering all Counte rfeits ; and of proving and afcertaining the Value of true and lawful COIN. By J. C Gravity, Sincerity, Tit.ii.7. Auri Jaira James ? VlRG. LONDON, Printed for the AUTHOR; and Sold by Meflieurs Vallance and Simmons, Bookfellers and Stationers, N i2o,.Cheapfide. M DCC .LX jty^ ' , [ Price Thieepencei ] Courteous Reader, TTAST thou been convinced of the abfolute lm- A- parlance of the One Thing needful ? Thou wilt then be glad of every Help to teach thee toffii - ritualize all Things to the Improvement of this Oat Thing: Read, therefore, this little Goffel-Dramd with Attention ; it is the Production of a niofi' dear Brother beloved in the Minifry, meant as an Im¬ provement on the late Money-M. If the Style and Manner do not pleafe thee,fure the Piece itfelf can¬ not offend thee. Remember , that it is recorded of. the great Lord of all faithful Minijlers, that with¬ out a Parable fpake he not unto the People *. Some are benefited one way, fome another. The Matter contained in this little Trad is both fearch- ing and found •, and whatever may be the Judg¬ ment of fome concerning the Mode of Exprefiioh, I own that I myfelf was not a little f leafed with it. Reader, fee if thou canfi not find, as thou readefi, thy Character fomewhere defcribed ; and if the dear Lord be pleafed to finite upon this Attempt for thy Good, in making it profitable to thy Soul, give "God the Glory, recommend it to thy Neighbours, pray for the Author, and one that at all Times loves to fubfcribe himfelf. Thine fmcerely for Christ’s Sake, Tetter,ham-Cohrt Chapel, p„. 5 , i 775 . ROWLAND' HILL. * Matt, Xiii, 34. A 2 PREFACE, Siad Reader, I Have ever efteemed it beft to take Men ia their Humour. Weighing Money is at pre¬ fect, a necefiary Branch of Employment, and a principal Topic of Convention amongft all Ranks of People well were it for them if while they arc thus engaged, they reflected on that un¬ avoidable and ever-haftening Day, when them - /elves will be laid in the impartial Scale of unre¬ lenting juftice:—To promote which is the Scope of this little Publication. But before Men will fubtr.it to a -weighing, I tnuft exped the Balances will be examined. Firjl , I hope, the Matter of this Dialogue will be found confonant to the . great Standard of all Truth, the Bible. Second¬ ly, If the Manner be objeded to: I own I was fearful of too much Levity, but the Nature of the Subjed led tne to hope for a Grain of Al¬ lowance. And Thirdly, If any objtd to the Sub- jed itfelfI fend them for an Anfwer to the beft of Teachers, who dealt copioufly in Parables, and did not difdain to read an inftrudive Lec¬ ture, even over a Cwfar's Demrium f. To H i m I commend Thee, Reader, and am for his Sake thine. EXACTOR. •}■ Matt. xxi 5 . ig—2r. THE C O I N - A C T. Y an Aft pafled in the Reign of our Save- M M reign Lord EMANUEL^ King of Hea- H “ || ven and Earth, of blefied Memory; for the better preventing Frauds amongft his lov¬ ing Subjefls, and fecuring the Glory of his Kingdom, it was refolved. That no Gofpel-Coin defi¬ cient in its Weight, or adulterated in its Quality, fhould be any longer current within his Majefty’s Dominions. Wherefore his moft excellent Majefty has thought fit to iflue forth his royal Proclamation, willing and commanding all his loving Subjedis whom it may con¬ cern (more efpecially the Officers of hit Revenues, and Collectors of his Cujloms) ftriflly to prove every Piece of - Coin that fhall be tendered unto them; and not in any- wife to receive, but forthwith to deface, and to their. Power deftroy the fame; unlefs it be found, according to the Statute in this Cafe made and provided. All Gentlemen Profeffors, therefore, who owe any Duty to their Sovereign the King, or are willing to have their Coin proved and regulated; are defired to attend his Majefty’s faithful Receivers and Collectors, appointed through Town and Country, at their feveral Offices, within the Term of the prefent Life ; or at their general Meeting held at the Mercy-Seat, Redcrofs- Street, Neo theopolis *: And they are hereby required to take Notice, that no Coin found any way deficient, and • Na - ilisyilis , The new City of God, . 6 THE C O I N - A GT. and which has not pafTedthrough the proper Regular tions, will be accepted by his Majefty’s Receiver Gene¬ ral, at his laft awful Sitting for that Purpofe; but every Perfon, who (hall then prefume to tender any fuch un¬ lawful Money, will be branded with an everlafting rebel*. As I am one who am honoured by my King with this important Poft, and am defirous to my utmoft to further his royal Pleafure; 1 have accordingly brought my Balances of his Two T Estaments, exactly corre- fponding to each other, and true to the Weight of a thou- fandtb Part of a Grain: They were made by. his Ma¬ jefty’s Appointment, and ftampt with the SanSuary Mark —Imagining therefore you Gentlemen ProfefTors prefent are attending Tor this Purpofe, I give you to nnderftand, that I am ready heartily to receive his Ma¬ jefty’s Tiibute. Professors. You judge right, Mr Officer, we are glad of an Opportunity of approving our Loyalty to our Prince: Pray how much is your Demand ? Officer. The Duty that each of you owe to our Lord the King, is a found Faith , and a f.ncere Obedience. Here, Sir, I apprehend you will find this Money right. Off. Very well. Shall I afk your Name, Sir? My Name is Morality ; I thought you could not but know me, Sir ; as perhaps there is nobody more univei fally acknowledged and commended than I am f. Off. indeed, my Friend, 1 have beardmuc\t of you, and I have an intimate Acquaintance with one Chrfi'tan Morality, and ah honeft Man he is; but your Com¬ plexions are fo vaftly different, I cannot really imagine you are any way related. Mo-rAl. We claim Kindred, Sir, though it is at feme Difiance ; but however, a more loyal Subject his Majefty * Dan. v. 15—17. + Luke vi, 16. IFt untoym vibm til Mm fall foot well of you. THE COIN-AC T. 7 Majefty has not in all his Dominions than I am; and better Money I am certain never was coined. Off. That remains to be proved, Sir.—P leafe to let me fee it. Moral. Firft, My Belief is this: That no Man need fear to obtain the Favour of his Maker, and be happy when he dies ; if he does but ftudioufly and fm- cerely endeavour to behave juftl'y and uprightly towards every body ; and withal, does not forget to.be kind and charitable to his poor, neceflitous Neighbours. Off. Oh, Mr Morality, this will never do! It is entirely a foreign Coin, fent from Rome % and ftampt in the Mint of Nature: I don’t difcoyer Christ’s N ame once upon it; and I’d have you know, Sir,. I don’t take any but the genuine Coinage of his. Kingdom. We need not weigh it. Do pray. Sir, feek for fomg- what better than this. Is hot that Mr Formaiity\ juft by you ? Will you pleafe to give me year's, Sir f Form: Very readily. I really cannot fay,. l.eqer ., imagined my good Neighbour Mor a^li t y’s Faith would pafs; and I have frequently- tojd him, that, I thought Hcnejly without Piety was not. fufjicieot; ; and therefore I have taken care, Sir, to fifperadd to njy , Neighbour’s good Morals a drift Regard {qt'religiiui Exercifes ; have been very conjlant in attending otv good-; Duties, hearing and reading Sermons, praying, fafting; : and I never choofe to.mifs being at the Sacramenf-eittry Month; and indeed, fliou’d 1 at any Time bflppen, to omit any of the'fe in their prpper Order, I feyetety chide myfelf, and rigidly double the Talk-for: ih next. Time. ' .. . : Off. Truly this Piece leemsto have a bettor Ap-. pearance than that of Mr Morality.;, hut,yep I think. . I difcover a Flaw in the Edge of it, which gives me;a a ftrong Sufpicion it is caied over, Will you permit 3 me 8 THE COIN-ACT. me juft to try it with the Point of this Grover *? Yob fay. Sir, you double your Talk upon any cafual Omi£- fions: Then I’m afraid you place fame Dependence on thefe Duties, as though, they helped to gain you Goo’s Favour, and fo confequently Heaven. Form. O dear, Sir, I believe if it was not for the gaining of Heaven, very few would take the Trouble to be religious! Off. Look you there 1 I was afraid your’s was bale. Metal, deftitute of the Love of God at the Bottom ; and now the Cafing is off - , it appears I was not out in my Conjecture. Indeed, Sir, this muft be cut afun- der. Pray have you not a near Neighbour called Hy¬ pocrisy ? Form. Here is an Acquaintance who came with me, whom fome conforms Mopes call' by that Name j but he feldom choofes to anfwer to it|j for he faith his pro¬ per Name is Good Policy. Neighbour Policy, the Gentleman fpeaks to you. Off. It is the felf fame'Mzn I mean, and as to. the Difference of the Names, it is but final! 5 they are both derived from the fame Origin, viz. Love of the World, or Fear of Man. Hyp. Here am I at your Service, Sir, and I have brought you as good a Piece of Money as ever pafs’d through Hands. Off. O brave ! Pray let us fee it. Hyp. Truly, Sir, I have greatly pitied theft my miftaken Neighbours; who can think it enough to have a little decent Behaviour, or to be conftant in a Round of religious Duties: (yet neither do I think my- felf wholly deftitute even of thefe.) But befides all this. Sir, I entertain a juft Notion of all the Doftrines of the Bible, and from a Child could repeat moft of the Confeffions of Faith that are extant by Heart; I have fubmiited * Graver, Sharp Examination. THE C 0 I N'- A G.T. <,§ .fu ben it ted, to all.OftRTST.’s^QrdirtanceSj andamaf this . Tjme actually joined to a. Society of judicious and fin- , cere. Believer?: And nobody eyer yet difputed my being -a Chriftian.. .; ,.. .: rf-. .-..I-,.;,:,,;.. : Off. This Piece has, indeed, a good Face,, and looks charming bright; and you deem not a little confi- . dent; yet I cannot fay- lam,perfectly latisfied about it; Don’t you think;i,tyf«»i tohaveawhitilhCaft with itJ) -Hyp. Why, Silt,' l. have (hewn it to.a,great many, and nobody has evqr fufpefted it : ■ I cannot fee ; why ym (hould. . .. , ... , . Off. If it be good; honeft Friend, To much the,bet¬ ter ; I am fure I fhould be very glad to have it;fa: However it cannot hurt, jujl to touch it . on the Stone j you know we are exhorted to examine ourfelves. : Mr ^Impartiality bring hither the Bible,.. , , >' Hyp. Really, Mr Officer, youare. mighty, fcru- ;pulous; ,1 don’t choofe to ha.ve my Mohey fpoilt, and render’d impaffible, as you have made. Mr Forma¬ lity’s. If you don’t choofe to take it, give it me again. I can make it go I’ll warrant you. ^... . Off. Indeed, Friend, it Hands vat much upon it. to be careful what I take; for when I am call’d to render up my Account, whatever is not found entirely gooo will be return’d on my Hands. Befide, the King’s ftri£t Orders are not to fuffer any Coin that is fulpir cious to reach our Hands, without examining it; ,; And your Fear to have it tried, renders it doubly fo: There¬ fore don’t be offended, I do but my Duty.—But.here comes Mr Impartiality with the Touch-ftone.— Here, Sir, is a Part of this Stone,!,which i (rightly api plied, will foon difcover what it is. Though I have thf Gift of Prophecy , and underjland all Myjleries , and all Knowledge ; and though I have all Faith, fo that / could remove Mountainand have not Charity, I am nothing *. B Hyp. lo T H E C O IN - A CT, Hyp. This I readily grant, Sir: But 1 have Cha* rity (I don’t mean thofe vulgar Notions of it, viz. Alms¬ giving, or thinking well of every one) but that Love hf Gob and our Neighbour, which is undoubtedly there intended. Off. If fo, I know not what to fay. So far it looks like Gold; but there is a certain Thing will foon prove that. My Mafter keeps an Aquafortis*, with which he tries all his true Specie; touch it a little with this, and if it remains unaltered it is a good Sign; but if it fumes, bubbles, changes colour, and evaporates, as all inferior Metals Will j it is certainly dubious. Pray how agrees this Aquafortis with your Piece ? • Hyp. I don’t underftand you, >S'i» j I never had it tried. Off. How.like you Prifon, and Fire, and Sword, and Death, for the Sake of your Profeffion ? Hyp. Alas 1 Sir, you almoft ftartle me to talk at this Rate! Nofucli Things as theft are to be expe&ed in cur Days. ; Thefe were peculiar to the Apojiks- Age, and Mary’s ■ 'cruel Reign : : Chrifttanity is now almoft ■unrverfally embraced; and ProteftantHm is the eftablifhed Religion of bur'Land. ' Off. Indeed by God’s Blfcffihg on a mild and pro¬ pitious Government, fuch outward Extremities are fel- dom felt in thefe happy Kingdoms: But believe me, my Friend, the Spirit of Peffecution Jlill exifts; and as in former Times, he that'was born after the Flejh, perfe¬ cted him -that was born aftor the Spirit , even fo it is rtm f.—But pray what lay you then to Loffes and CrofTes, Scoffs and- Jeers, Shame and Contempt for Christ? Hyp. * uijoofcrth, or ilroog Water, that difiblves all Metals but Gold j and therefore fitly reprefents the Afflidlioas of the Godly, f Gal, iv. 29. THE GQ?lf>r ACT. ir Hyp. Why, Sir, to be plain I think itmywifeft Way to avoid them if I can; nor do I imagine that Religion requires ahy Man to be firigular, and expofe himfelf to needlefs Ridicule. The great Author of Chrifr tianity himfelf is witneffed to have grown in Favour at the fame Time with God and Man. And even the, Law of Nature obliges us to take Care of our Health, Wealth and Fame. Off. Oh dear, Sir! I plainly perceive the Charity you boafted of is but a falfe Glare, and your whole frofeffion but a Deceit: If it is not willing to undergo a flight Inconvenience, a [matt Sprinkle of Contempt for Christ ; how had it liked, think you, fo have been plunged into a Sei-d f Fife and Blood for his Npme f Your Money is not Gold: I cannot take it. Let foirie one elfe bring theirs. Tra. Here is mine, Sir. • My Name is Tra&i- TION. Off. Put your Piece in the Scale, 1 Sir. Tra. “ I believe in Gop the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth', and in Jesus ChiUst m his only Son, our Lord,” &c; itc.- Off. Hold, Sir, I make no doubt but this is'ex¬ cellent good Gold, yet really you fee it will not gb down. Tra. O dear! I never doubted biit the Money was good: It is true, l never tried it before, and indeed why need I? It has been in our Family Time out of Mind. My Mother gave jt me for a Pocket-piece when I was very young, and I have often heard her fay it was her Father’s and Grandfather’s, ficc; and was always much efteem’d in the Family. ' ; '• Off. So then I fee this Stir has brtnig^'t forth fome of the old-falhion’d Pocket-pieces to Light. ’Tis Pity there fhould be fo much hoarded Religion in the World, • B a - • pf 12 THE CO IN'-ACT. of' no fervice to any Body.'— But,: young Man, how came you not to prove it before ? Tra. I don’t know', Sir, that Ifhould have brought it now, but that my Mother over perfuaded) me, and Jhe allured me it was full Weight when ce received: it. Off. That may be, Sir, but you know all Things wear out in Time,; .and perhaps receiving it fo young, you might make a Plaything of it, and then no wonder it has loft its Weight with you. Religion feldom keeps its Gravity more than one or two Generations.—I have but little Opinion of keeping Family-pieces in this Way, unlefs every. Proprietor (when capable) try it for themfelves, and if they find it deficient, carry it to the Gofpel Mint to be recoin’d. This, Sir, you muft do before I can receive it.-But does not that Lady ad¬ vance forward ? I think I have fome little Notion of her; Is it not Mrs Enthusiasm ? Enthu. Yes, Sir, fo Men are pleafed to call me., Off. I think, Madam, I feldom obferve you to be .prefent on fuch public Occafions as thefc. Enthu. You mean at Sermons, Sacraments, and fuch like, I fuppofe? Why, Sir, I am now advanced too far in Religion to attend on thefe firft Principles, thofe beggarly Elements, and leave them to Novices and weak Chriftians. Off. Ah dear Madam ! And is this your Opinion ? •And pray how long has it been fo? Enthu. O, Silt, I fhall never forget the Day, nor the Hour ! ’Twas a peculiar Manifeftation I had from Heaven ! O hpw was I enraptur’d ! Methought I was furrounded with Myriads of Angels! and I was as bright as any of them ! O I could have lived eternally there! I remember I did not ftir out of my Room all Day! Off. What then became of your "worldly Concerns ? who managed the Buiinefs of the Family, gave Dir regions THE - COIN-AG*. ,13 regions’ to-the-Servants ;- and-fothe'r'Tjiings' of that Kind? - ro i. 'Enthu. O wsr^/y'Biifinefs; don’t -tell me of worldly Bufrnefs: I don’t think it-worth my while to attend to Things of that SortI leave that to carnal- Folks. Off. But furely that muft be an ^unreafoiiable Re¬ ligion, that leads a Perfon to negledf, or defpife any ii- cred, or civil Duty. ■ • Enthu. Reafon, Sir, I have done with Reafon: Faith is above Reafon. - Off. I grant that Reafon ought to be held in pro¬ per Subordinance to Faith.—But I’m afraid you are not poffeft of either: On what is'your Hope of Happinefs hereafter founded? . Enthu. Sir, you may think of me as you’pleafe; I have no doubt of going to Heaven; ! otherwife Gop would not have made me jo happy 'already, ihy . giving pie fuch wonderful Revelations and Manifeftations. Off. But you’ll give me Liberty to ; doubt it. : And I doubt that Happinefs you talk'about proceeds not from God. For, \fl, It leads you to flight his Ordir nances, idly , It is far from producing Humility 1 in you ; and %dly. It does not appear to be derived-.from Faith in Jesus Christ, but from fome Fancies; Rap¬ tures, and Vifions of your own. .Therefore if is To palpably light, that it is not worth.the while to lay it in the Scale. Pray take it away. , • ir O your humble Servant, Mr Rationality ! Lam; glad to fee you, Sir. Will you pjeafe to, favour hs with your Piece ? ■ • • ; /• ;• Rat. That I will, Sir, with all my Heart, and I think, S 1 r, you mult acknowledge what, I; lhall produce to be fully confonant to folid and fubftantial Reafon. ii: Off. The higheft Exercife of our Reafon^ worthy Sir, is to believe what the all-wife GoD hath repeal’d; . i and 1.4 the coin-act. and if your Faith ihall bo agreeable to that t I (hall be glad to receive it. Rat. 1 believe one God, the Maker of all Things; and that there can be none befides him, or equal with him. And 1 believe in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of Mankind, by teaching them the right Way to obtain God’s Favour, and leaving a perfect Pattern in his own moft holy Life, and patient Death. Off. Sir, you feem very wary in giving up your Faith ; and I think I difcover fomething quite unufual jn it: Is there not fome Alteration in the Superfcrip- tion ? I think I never faw an Original Coin but the King’s Title was fpelt *0/*osV,©-, ( Hotnoouftos ) whereas your' s, I perceive, is ‘O/ioiao-t©., ( Homoioufm ). Rat. Good Sir, I cannot fay I have any grtat Ac¬ quaintance with the Languages. Off. Then, Sir, will you permit me to explain it to you ? It is ufual you know to exprefs the Titles of Sovereigns in fome foreign Language: Now, Sir, as I obferv’d, the pro/w Title of Jesus Christ is ‘OfWcri©., (Homooufios) that is, of the fame E (fence, or Subftance with God the Father. Yours I perceive is written, fOpoisVi®., ( Homotoufm) like God the Father, or having tne Will with him. The Difference, it’s true, between thofe two Greek Words feems but fmall in Sound ; but it is infinite in Senfe. The latter may be applied even to Angels and good Men. The former is only appli-r cable to the glorious Redeemer, who is God over all Uejftd for evermore. Rat. Sir, I cannot but acknowledge Christ to be GoD (otherwife I know I muft contradiil the exprefs Words of Scripture) but after a certain Sort. Off. Mr Rationality, without any Equivoca¬ tions or Evafions, doyou acknowledge him tobe ‘0po8«&-, [Hmooufm) of the fame Subftance, or in all Refpe&s rjaa/ with the Father ? Rat, f H fe CdlSadT. rs Rat. No ttolwiUn^ fii^r tnij ^ ^o that f I allow; him tobehighcr than thc>|^/? Angel, and nextia ,Dignity toGon himfelfj and gray of what great Confequence can i@e Letter be ? . Off. The Confluence is ?mA/i, SjtR, jhaO jthrt your Piece is hereby proved to be a Counterfeit, and that you know (however good the Metal, may be) eft- feftually deftroys its Gurreocy, But I can aflure yo X Phil. ii. 6. i6 .THE-CGI'N-A'CT. fcrupuloits' Gorifeiences; therefore fame Years after Ond Faiijlm Sdlimii fome how or other met with'this Mold, and wasinot a little plesfed 1 WhH’W; but? fitfdihg'it'fb very exceptionable among Chriftians in.gbneral,-he touch’d it over afrefh 5 butiriftejid : of eorrsffing- it, ; he made it worfe than before; arid*hough many 1 Attempts have’ been -pice made to mend if,'and fender it paffible, •it is fill difcovcrable to tv&ffagdcious Per foil to be juft, what it?was. • ••'••• . - Rat. O Sir ! I could not imagine fo inconfiderable a Trifle as aw'L etter wou’d have been fo material.' ■' OFF.'It.may feem inconfiderable to fome, and there¬ fore futlr-.Counterfeits pafs from : Hand to Hand well enough amongft ProfefTursi, -who either have riot fpiritual Difcernment to fpy it out, or-Care hot what they take ; but I da: allure'you ’twill be^thought material in'the King’s Court of Exchequer, where there is the nar* rowejl InfpecHon ;'..fo. that the Matter is not fo trivial as you .imagine. Now, Sir, 1 will point outto’you an unerring Criterion, by which every fuch Counterfeit may be,eafily;difcovered from the true Impreflion. The latter has a-Glory furrounding the. King’s Buft which ho "Art can imitateSo that, Mr Rationality, your’s is plainly fopliifticated, as you fhall fee better by'and by. : But, who is he that holds forth bis Money with fuch a trembling Hand ? What my honeftFriend Since rity ! Why fo fearful, Man, to give up your Duty to your Prince? • • 1 • - 0 Sin. O, Sir, I fear I (hall fhare the fame Fate with, the reft. Will you.pleafe to try my poor batter’d Piece? • Off. 1 like it never the worfe for its being batter’d} It is rather a Sign it has not been hoarded, but had n free Circulation, and been ufefully employ’d. And for your Encouragement lean tell you, my Friend, though to fome it may.appear a Paradox, ! have ufu'ally found thofe THE CO IN- ACT'. 17 thofe Pieces that .have been mojl batter’d to have the mojl Gravity. Sin. Kind Sir, indeed it is not worthy my LcJrd’s A cceptance. O he has been fo wonderfully gracious^ in ranfoining my captive Soul from th e intolerable Bon¬ dage of the Prince of Darknefs, to whom T Had widk* edly revolted : and has paid a moil ajlonijhiug Price fot me, no lefs than his own moft precious Blood: He lias freely reftor’d to me all my forfeited Privileges and Itd- munities, and has furthermore promifed to bear all'tti y Expences back to his Kingdom again-! 0 dear Sir I what is my poor Pittance! If I had -Thoufands of.'Gold and Silver; yea, all the Riches of univerfal Nature, it would be but a Trifle^ He Ihou’d be heartily welcome to it all. ■■■'.’ )' Off- This is full. Weight, I fee„plain enough: However we’ll try its Sincerity by and by. ; My worthy Friend, how thjnk you it will bear ihe.Toucbfione, and the Aquafortis ? - Sin, As to the Xouchfioue ; I keep one : always by me, and ,am frequently'giving it a Rub upon it j fometime* I own ’tis to my Sufpicion, but yet often to my Satisfac¬ tion. And as to the Aquafortis, Sir, I have often had it touched with it j and .I perceive it to prey on the Dirt* and other heterogeneous* Particles which; cleave to if, but I could never difcoveraxy Lofs of the .Gold thereby j but, on the Contrary,., it is rather cleans’d ^and bright¬ en’d. Indeed one Thing may be, my Aquafortis has been but weak, and the Trial as yet but .flightlam fometimes afraid, Ihould our jealous Prihce fee good to plunge it deep into fome Jharper Mtnflrum f, (fuch as C " ” were * Bcttrogaum Parlicla ; all that are of a bafe.or-difFcrent Nature. -• I Mmftrmm ; thofe Liquors that have a Property of iiflbhiog Metals, and other hard Suttees, 18 THE COIN-ACT. were fome of his fav’rite Pieces of old,) it would but ill bear the Trial. ; Off. Well, be thankful to your Prince that you have flood the Trial hitherto , and leave the future to his royal PJeafure.—We’ll referve your Piece (if you pleafe) to another Experiment, which we fliall make prefently. Sin. With all my Heart, Sir ; it cannot be too much ferutiniz’d into: I fhould be loth to be deceiv’d at lafl. But, Sir, here is a Friend of mine who has a Piece much like mine, only a vajl deal clearer and brighter. His Name is Orthodoxy. Will you pleafe to take his ? Off. Indeed I will gladly.—Mr Orthodoxy, pleafe to give it me. Orth. I believe*, Sir, that there is one God, Maker ©fall Things: That he created Man at fed, but that by their difobeying his Will they are fall¬ en into Sin and Wretchednefs : That they are aU bon*. in Sin, and have neither Will or >Rower to recover themfelves, and do any Thing that is good in God’s Sight. I believe that God from alt Eternity gave a Number unto his Son to redeem, which was accom- plilh’d by his taking their Nature, and obeying and fuffering in their Stead : And that this is applied to their Confciences in his due Time by his Holy Spirit, and receiv’d by Faith. I believe that Christ is coeternal and coequal with the Father and Holy Ghofi, he. &c. Off. Hold, Sir, it is full Weight! It goes down fmartly. Put it' by till we prove it further. — I think I obferve one Perfon more here. Pray what is jour Name, Sir ? Simp. My Name is Simplicity, though manj call me Obscurity. Off. THE C O I N'- A : C T. fg Off. Let me fee what you have Mr Simplicity. , Simp. O Sir, I underftand but little, and can fay lefts: If I had but half the Knowledge "of Mr Ortho* doxy Ilhou’d be glad: However I know I am aSin- ner great enough, and I am told Christ is an allftuf- ftcient Saviour, and I hope I depend oh him j I wou’d wijh to do it. . , Off. I fee your Piece does but juft break dowiij however our Lord has authoriz’d us to make one Grain of Allowance: If it prove to be genuine Gold I think I may venture to take it.— New, Mr. Impartiality^ pleafe to fetch us the Hydroftatic Balance. ' Here, Gentlertien, is. an Hydroftatic Balance,. by which the fpecific f or comparative Gravity. of each Piece may be exaftly known, by alternately , weighing it in Air and Water, and comparing the Difference: By this Means its infrinfic § Value may be Jlrittly ascer¬ tained, and many Impofitions detected. .. The Rule by which it ads is laid down in Matt. vii. 20. Bytheiir Fruits ye jhall know them. Now, Gentlemen, if you require further Satisfaction, I am ready to grant .yoh •whatever is reafonable. What fay you, Mr HVPOi CRISY ? Hyp. Truly, Sir, I have had trying enough: I hope every one is not fo fcrupulous as you .* I icah tfialce it pafts well enough, I dare fay. . : , Mor. Sir, l am willing to haveWv ttfed further; for though you fcrupled it as.being n foreign Coiny'l can warrant the Metal to be good’." :■ • c 2 ■ "Off. . + Specific Gravity ; that which is peculiar to one Sort of Bodiev aiftinguilhei them from othets. Of all Metals Gold^s tie greateft. elite Gravity. - § htrirfic rake ; is that which is real, in .contradifiinflion to that which is onlj apparent or Teeming. : til Off. Indeed, Sir, it weighs well enough in Air, and and wou’d deceive many an ignorant Perfon: But, Sir, pleafe to put it between thefe Pincers, and 1 hope joon to-convince you; and give you a true Defcription of your Coin. Firft, Sir, your moral Conduct (how¬ ever fpeeiom) is intended only to gain the Applaufe of Men. Here is at leajl one third of Tin, and that (A the bajejl Sort. Secondly, You dare to hope by your good Works to merit Goo’s Favour. Alas, Mr Mot RALITY, what an aftonijhing Sight of Brafs! And then in the Third Place, If at any Time you are forry for your Sins, it is only for Fear of Hell-fire. What can we call this but a Metal, if pofiible, bafer than them both. Therefore I dare pronounce, Sir, there is not one Grain of genuine Gold in all your Religipn. Mr Formality, ftall I try year’s? For. Sir, That’s but of little Service; you have,ut¬ terly fpoil’d its Currency by razing up the Cafing: Yet, if you pleafe, I would know what Metal is underneath? Off. As to the Cafing that may be Gold for ought I know; though ’tis fpread on but very thinly. —The other is a flrange Kind of mixt Compofition, that it is difficult to determine exaflly what it is. Now for yours, Mr Rationality. Rat. It is at your Service, Sir. Off. Really, Sir, your Coin appears to differ very little , if any, from Mr Morality’s. I told you before, I was afraid it was defective more Ways than one: And indeed how is it pofiible to be otherwife? For your not acknowledging the proper Deity of Christ, utterly difqualifies him to be either your Juftifier, or Sanctifier: Your Dependence therefore muft be fill on your own 'Morality for the one, and on your own Strength for the I . X H E . C O J N - A G T. tt other-, and then no Wonder you comefhort in 'bath. This efiential Error ofyour’s kadsyou into others,i in order to make your Scheme omfiftent mih itfelf.: Thence you deny the original. Corruption, of> Man’s Nature, the Freenefs of God’s .Grace, ; and' the .Imputation:of ' Christ’s Righteoufnefs., In fhort, you talk of Chrif- tianity; but are really on the very fame Footing as the Follower of Mahomet, with this only Advantage, or Aggravation rather; That your Prophet has fet you a far more excellent Example than his, but has not empower’d you better to follow-it,.. Mr Sincerity,. I .hope we fliall find yours of a different Kind. - , Sin. Sir, I have nothing to boaft of beyond any of thefe my Neighbours, and if there be any Difference, ’tis entirely by Grace. I find numberlefs Imperfe&ions; yet this I mujl fay, that were it pofftble I would not of¬ fend againft my beft Friend and Saviour in Thought, Word, or Deed; bu,t, alas! when I have done all I can, I muft acknowledge myfelf a very unprofitable Ser¬ vant ! . Off. I’m glad to find your’s is. true Gold throughout . Your Lord accepts it with Pleafure, I wifh l could fay th tfame of the reft. Sin. O dear, Sir, my Lord does me fes great an Honour; —I bring him -nothing but what I firji it-> ceiv’d from him; I was. a .poor needy Beggar, a.yile rebellious Sinner. All the Glory is.due,to my Lord alone for ever and ever. .... .. . .. . ., Off. I heartily add Sir. ,,,Mr Orthodoxy, now for par’s. ...^ .. . • ! Orth. Sir, I think the main. $,J>e «£*< blifh’d in a found. Belief; -por do I fteany Neceffty, of of being fo rigid and overfcrupulous upoii every TjrilJe; but let us ufe.tbeLiberty Christ has purebafed for us, ytid not give way to a Spirit of Bondage and Legality. I - ’ r I- For 22 THE COIN-ACT. For my Part, Sir, I can join in the harmlefs Pleafures and Amufements of Life, and be chearfulmih a merry Friend or two, and not think any Harm in it ? ’Tis true fomt ProfeiTors tell me my Life is too lax and bffenfive j but that’s to themfelves, if they willbe offended. I ihall never think myfelf oblig’d to refrain from innocent Matters to pleafe a few over-nice pharifaical Profef- fors. Off. Depend on it, Sir, this is not the Thing: However we’ll try it a little more minutely. —I wou’d fain know what thofe Things are which you call inno¬ cent ? Can you allow yourfelf in immoderate Drefs ? Orth. Sir, I choofe to conform a little to the Falhion of the Times, and not render myfelf ridicu¬ le ufy fingular. Off. I cannot fay this is fatisfadlory. I think we read, Bo not conformed to this World +. Now, Sir, we’ll flip the Index one Divifion forwarder, and fee how that will do. You mention Diverfions: Can you fre¬ quent Plays, Balls, Cards, Horfe-Races, &c. &c. Orth. I fee no Harm in fomeof the more innocent of thefe, if properly conduced, and the Heart be not taken up with them. Off. That’s the ^ueflion,. Sir : But I cannotcon- ceive how any who frequent thefe Places can acquit themfel ves of this ; and if they could, we are exprefly prohibited to have any Fellowjhip with the unfruitful Works of Darinfs, but rather to reprove them §. And now. Sir, for your Convention; Can you indulge Levity, Jelling, Frothinefs, &c. or be witnefs to it in Others, and not reprove it ? Orth. As to harmlefs Mirth, and good Humour j 'twas made to chear and enliven us. I hope nobody can accufe me of profane Swearing ; and if others do if, " Ft* f Rom, »i. s, § Eph, v. n. ' THE' COIN-ACT. 23 I'm not-accountable for them ; nor, do I think it my Bu- finefs to. intrude into their Confidences. Off. Oh, Sir, worfe and worfe! How agrees, this with that Precept, Neither foolijh Talking; mr Jejling, which are not convenient * ? And that mentioned before ? Rather reprove them. Remember then not only Fools the'mfelves , but a Companion of Fools jhall be dejlroyed^. But I’m willing to give you a fair Chance, and therefore we’ll try it one Divifion more. How Hands your Heart affedted towards the World ? Can you indulge an immoi- derate Third after it, fo as to withdraw your Defires from heavenly Things; thruft religious Duties out of the Way, or up into a Corner j yea, even infringe upon the Sabbath itfelf? What fay you to this ? Orth. Why, Sir, you know we have a Body as well as a Soul-, and the One mull be minded as well as the Other ; and befides, I have a Family, and the Scrip¬ tures, you. know, fay, that he who provideth not far bis own Houfe , hath denied the Faith , and is worfe than an Infidel. . , Off. Well, Mr Orthodoxy, Ffhoiild be loth to pronounce pofitively, but I affure you I have a great Stifpicion that your Piece will be reje&ed-by my Lord: However good it may be as to the/jl&tfrr'of it, : y«u have fo diminiih’d and defac’d it, that very Jittle of: Afr glorious Image is, to be feen upon it. However, Hhall not choofe tq take it at prefent, but leave it to theft de-, cifive Day, which will prove every Man’sWork of what Sort it is. As for. Mr Simplicity j your’s I find is better than it looks, for: MrTkApmbij's is goi >3 Gold, but it mullbe melted down and recoiri’d, a Grain or two of his own proper Faith added to it, and deliver’d in, in his own Name j for our King loves to have a Man's f Prov, xiii, so. * EA v. i, T:trE'.'C-o.Wi afct;' Man’s own A Si and Deed: And as fdr-Mrs En¬ thusiasm, her’s is fit only to be nail’d down to the Counter. And now. Gentlemen, let me.advife you all to pro¬ vide Yourfelves in Time, as our dread Sovereign will very fhortly come in Perfoit ; from whofe Judgment there can be no Appeal. And if you complain of Indigency ; for your Encouragement I can allure you, that he keeps an Office in Crofs-Alley, diredtly oppofite to the Broad- Street of fpiritual Pride, in the City of Free-Grace ; where light Money is exchang’d, , or new Money be- ftow’d gratis. Gentlemen, Your humble Servant. Shortly will be Publijhed, .Price 31. A Curious Emblematical PRINT,' Defigned by the Author of this; Trad, and Engraved in a mafterly Manner by Isaac Taylor : Where- * by the Method of Salvation by JE s u s C h r i s t is illuftrat'edj even to the outward Senfes. Intended both for Inftfudtion and Ornament. Subscriptions taken in .by Meff. Vallance and Simmons, N“ 120, Cheapfide, gMg