Page:Terræ-filius- or, the Secret History of the University of Oxford.djvu/21

Rh own knowledge and virtue, when they ee that o famous a nurery of religion and learning has not been free from very great errors and micarriages; as, by the difference in their preent conduct, they eem themelves to acknowledge.

Latly, that the preent members of that univerity may have the glory which is due to them, for bringing about o deirable a work; and that we, whoe piritual welfare depends o much upon the purity of thoe fountains, may rejoice and be glad in it.

We are aur'd in cripture, that there is more joy in heaven over one inner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine jut perons who need no repentance. If the ame rule is to be oberved upon earth, how great and extraordinary hould the national joy be at preent, upon account of this Academical Reformation, when we conider that the number of penitent inners is o large, and of theoe, who need no repentance, o very small?

But we may carry this evangelical doctrine too far, which obliges us to forgive and rejoice over our Rebellious repenting brethren; but not to reward and confide in them beyond thoe who need no political repentance; for it cannot urely be interpreted to mean, that a man, who has but jut ecaped the gallows or caffold, which he coneedly