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ftian Religion has no need of fuch mi- Ch. 3; ferable Shifts and Artifices, there being nothing in it above or contrary tọ the ftri&teft Reafon: And fuch as are of another Mind may as well justify the idle Dreams of the Philofophers, the Impieties and Fables of the Alcoran, or any thing as well as Chriftia nity. The fecond Paffage is in 1 Cor. 2.7.the Words were but just now read, and need not here be repeated. The third Paffage is in 1 Cor. 4, 1. Let à Man fo account of us as the Minifters of Chrift, and the Stewards or Difpenfers of the MYSTERIES of God; that is, the Preachers of those Doctrines which God was pleased to reveal. The fourth Paffage is in Ephef.6.9. Praying-for me, that Utterance may be given unto me that I may open my Mouth boldly, to make known the MYSTERY of the Gofpel. Parallel to this is the fifth Paffage in Col. 4.3, 4. Praying also for us, that God would open unto us a Door of Utterance to speak the MYSTERY of Chrift that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. The Clearnefs of thefe Words admits of no Comment. The fixth Paffage is in Col. 2.2. That H their

Sect. 3. their Hearts might be comforted being knit together in Love, and unto all the Riches of the jul Affurance of UnderStanding, to the Knowledg of the MYSTERT of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift. Here is evidently meant the Revelation of the Gofpel-State: for whatever right Conceptions the Jews might have of the Father, they had not that full Knowledg of Chrift and his Doctrines, which are the ineftimable Privileges we now enjoy. The feventh Paffage is in 1 Tim. 3. 8, 9. Likewife muft the Deacons be grave, not double-tongu'd, not given to much Wine, nor greedy of filthy Lucre, holding the MYSTERY of the Faith in a pure ConScience; that is, living to what they believe. The eighth and laft Paffage relating to this Head is in 1 Tim.3.16. And without Controverfy great is the MYSTERY of Godliness: God was manifeft in the Flesh, juftify'd in the Spirit, feen of Angels, preach'd unto the Gentiles, believ'd on in the World, receiv'd up into Glory. I will not now insist upon the various Readings of these Words, nor critically determine which is fpurious or genuine. All Parties

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(how much foever they differ about Ch. their Senfe) agree that the Gradations of the Verse are Gofpel-Revelations ; fo that the Mystery of Godliness cannot be reftrain'd to any one, but is common to them all: It refers not to the Nature of any of them in particular,but to the Revelation of 'em all in general. And it must be granted, without any Difpute, that the gracious Manifeftation of Christ and his Gospel is not only to us wonderfully ftupendous and furprizing, but that it was likewise a very great Myftery to all preceding the New Testament Difpenfation. From these Paffages it appears, that the Gofpel and the following Expreffions are fynonimous, viz. The Mystery of the Faith, the Mystery of God and Chrift, the Mystery of Godliness, and the Mystery of the Gospel. No Doctrine then of the Gospel is ftill a Mystery (for the Apoftles conceal'd nothing from us that Acts 20. was useful, and have acquainted us with 20, 27. the whole Counsel of God:) but 'tis the Gospel it felf that was heretofore indeed a Mystery, and cannot now after it is fully reveal'd, properly deferve that Appellation.

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31. We design in the second place to fhew, that certain Matters occafionally reveal'd by the Apostles, were only Myfterious before that Revelation. The Jews, who fcarce allow❜d other Nations to be Men, thought of nothing less than that the time fhould ever come wherein those Nations might be reRom.11.1 5. concil'd to God, and be made Coheirs and Partakers with them of the fame Privileges. This was nevertheless refolv'd upon in the Divine Decree, and to the Jews was a Mystery, but ceases so to continue after the Revelation of it to Paul, who, in his Epiftles, has openly declar'd it to all the World, The firft Paffage we fhall alledg to that purpose is in Eph.3.1-6,9. If you have heard of the Difpenfation of the Grace of God which is given me to you-ward, how that by Revelation he made known unto me the MYSTERY (as I wrote before in few Words, whereby, when you read, you may understand my Knowledg in the MYSTERY of Chrift), which in other Ages was not made known unto the Sons of Men, as 'tis now reveal'd unto us, his holy Apoftles and Prophets, by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be Fellow

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heirs, and of the fame Body,and Partakers Ch. 3. of his Promife in Chrift by the Gospel-m: and to make all Men fee what is the Fellowfhip of the MYSTERY, which from the Beginning of the World bath been hid in God. The fecond Paffage is in Rom.11. 25. For I would not, Brethren, that you Should be ignorant of this MYSTERY, that Blindness in part is happen'd to Ifrael until the Fulness of the Gentiles be come in. The third Paffage is in Col. 1. 25, 26, 27. The Church, whereof I am made a Minifter according to the Difpenfation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God, even the MYSTERY which hath been hid from Ages and Generations, but now is made manifeft to his Saints: to whom God would make known what are the Riches of the Glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles. The fourth Paffage is in Eph. 1.9, 10. Having made known unto us the MYSTERY of his Will, according to his good Pleasure which he hath purpos'd in himself, that in the Difpenfation of the Fulness of times, he might gather together into one all things in Christ. These Places require no Explication, for the Sense of them all

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