102 THE FORM OF THE GOSPEL. veniences too, if they are perpetually and only insisted on, un- less well managed by the extraordinary prudenceofthe preacher. The one aims most at the glory of divine equity, in rewards and punishments, and contends much for the sincerity of God in all his transactions with men : The other seems to lookmost at honouring the sovereignty, the riches and freedom of divine grace, and God's infinite condescension and compassion to sinful creatures. One seems to lead christians more to a strict scrupulosity in every action, in order to make up the undoubted evidences of a gospel- perfection, which they call sincerity, and thereby to raise their hopes of escaping hell and obtaining heaven ; it drives the soul to duties, and maintains a trembling watchfulness ; but is in danger ofgoverning it by a spirit ofbondage, andof keeping our faith andcomfort very low. The other leads to equal holiness, or perhaps to higher degrees of it by the delightful constraints of a filial love, by the sweet influences of divine consolation ; but there may some danger of encouraging negligence and pre- sumption, and that not only in sinners, but even sometimes in believers themselves, if net wisely managed and guarded. Upon this subject I might here give my pen into the hand of some sprightly advocate of each party, and have forty more pages written for me speedily, without any thought Or labour of ° mine ; this would swell my essay up finely, and enlarge it to a volume, with many a name of arminian and antinomian dealt about freely on the opposite opinions : For the supposed advan- tages and disadvantages on both sides, are frequently mentioned as arguments of each party against the other ; but I shall not think necessary to insist longer on them here for that very rea- son : And though these sort of moral arguments, drawn from the design and tendency of things, may be justly used on both sides, and on both sides have some degree of truth and force in them, yet both may not have equal force : Nor do I think it in- consistent with my design in this reconciling discourse, to declare my own :sentiments : " For a man may be very happy in making peace between two quarrelling neighbours, though he is well persuaded that one bath the better side of the cause, and in a friendly manner expresseth it too." I will not be ashamed then to declare, that in my opinion, one method of preaching the gospel bath greater advantages in it, and fewer inconveniences than the other ; supposing still that we guard against extremes : That one seems more con- natural to the genius of the gospel, as it is distinct from a covenant of work§, and seems to suit better with the glorious designs of divine grace. My own experience in the things of religion, my observations of some others, and my diligent search of the holy scriptures, I hope not without divine aid, hath led my thoughts rather to favour andpractice the more evangeli-
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