1

from the Law, but an anticipation, as I SER M. have faid, of the mercy of the Gofpel. VIII.

The Law itself was not therefore the lefs

fevere, because the indulgence of the Gofpel extended itself backward even under the times of the Law; neither is the mercy of the Gospel to be therefore the less magnified, because it is no other than what had in effect before been indulged under theLaw. For fince the one was in itself really as fevere as it is defcribed, and had no indulgence but what was borrowed from and founded upon the other, there is no reason at all why this should be confidered when the one is spoken of in oppofition to the other; which is the state of the Apostle's argument: and therefore he most reasonably aggravates the severity of the Law, and upon the comparison moft justly magnifies the mercy and favour of the Gospel: Gal. ii. 21. If righteousness came by the Law, then Chrift is dead in vain.

2dly, FROM what has been faid, we may learn, that the whole defign and effect of the Gofpel, was not to deftroy, but

VIII.

SERM. to fulfil the Law. The whole defign of all God's difpenfations with mankind, is to prevent or deftroy Sin. This the Law was to do originally, by requiring perfect and unfinning obedience: But when instead of this, it only concluded all men under Sin; the defign of the Gofpel was to effect the fame, by requiring and by accepting Repentance; which being no other than renewed obedience, 'tis plain the Gospel does not destroy, but establish the Law. The feverity indeed of the Law was so far to be qualified by the indulgence of the Gospel, that it might not be any longer the Strength of Sin: But the Gospel did not take away the obligation of the Law, fo as to be itself the cause and the occafion of finning. The moral Law denounced a Curfe against every one that continued not in all the works thereof to do them; and the Gospel delivers all thofe from this Curse, who by true Repentance renew their Obedience: The Ceremonial Law was an infupportable burden of rites, infufficient of themselves to make any expiation for fin;

and

VIII.

and the Gospel, by exhibiting the true SER M. and fufficient expiation, has delivered all men from the burden of this yoke. Aş therefore thofe perfons [Judaizing Chriftians] in the primitive times were very unreasonable, who contended that any of these ritual obfervations were of neceffity to be kept up after the coming of Chrift; fo thofe perverters of Christianity in later ages are on the other fide much more unreasonable, who contend that the moral Law has been abolished by Christ. The Gospel accepts indeed the terms, of Faith and Repentance; but 'tis only for the fake of the Fruit and Effect of them, which is renewed obedience. So that nothing can be more abfurd, than for Chriftians to think themselves excufed from holinefs of life and those duties of religion, which as the unchangeable nature of God and of the things themselves had made the neceffary requifites, fo the Gospel alfo has made the exprefs condition of their being acceptable to God. Our Saviour himself tells us, that Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord,fhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven,

but

SER M. but he that doth the Will of my Father which
VIII. is in Heaven.The Gospel itself speaks aloud,

and tells us,that we must deny ungodliness and
worldly lufts, that we should live foberly, righ-
teously, and godly in this prefent world,looking
for that bleed hope, and the glorious ap-
pearing of that great God, and our Savi-
our Jefus Chrift, Who gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works. The Apostle St
Paul, That great vindicator of the liber-
ties of Christians, warns and perfwades
us, and repeats it with great earnestness
over and over again; Be not deceived; and
let no man deceive you with vain words;
neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, and
fo on;
i. e. no one that allows himself
and continues in any one known vice;
fhall according to the terms of the Gof-
pel of Chrift, inherit the Kingdom of God.
For, Not every one that faith unto me,
Lord, Lord, fhall enter into the Kingdom
of Heaven, faith our Saviour, but he that
doth the Will of my Father which is in
Laftly,

Heaven.

n

Laftly, FROM what has been faid, we SER M. may learn to reconcile the Severity and VIII. the Compaffion of God; the Severity, in giving a Law, which required finless Obedience; and the Compaffion in mitigating it, by the Grace and Mercy of the Gospel; Which Grace extended itself backwards to good men under the Law; and the Severity will reach forward to the impenitent under the Gofpel. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judgments,and his ways paft finding out! To conclude therefore, Let us then heartily set about the reformation of our lives, and by obedience to God's commands indeavour to walk worthy of that religion we profess, adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Let us confider and admire the infinite wisdom and mercy of God, in restoring men to a capacity of attaining that happiness by the obedience of the fecond Covenant, which they utterly forfeited by the tranfgreffion of the firft; and let us not fruftrate the grace of God by the difobedience of our lives, leaft there re