inContribing . an,1 iiebetnptíon. 287 bly comply with the offer ofSalvation for the Merits of Cha z 5. another. And'ris very remarkable, that upon the firft opening of the Gofpel, no Evangelical DoEtrine was more difrelifht by the Jews, than J uftification by impu- ted Righteoufnefs. The Apoftlegives this account of their oppofition,that being ignorant ofGods Righteoufnef, Rom. to. andgoing about to eflablifh their ownRighteoufnefs,theyfsb- n,ittedpot-tothe Righteoufnefs ofGod. They were pre- poffeft with this Principle, that Life was to be ob- tained by their works becaufe the exprefs conditionof the. Law was fo. Andmiftaking the endofits Inftitu, Lion by Mofes, they fet the Law againíl the Promifes : For fince the Fall, the Law was given,not abfolutely to be a Covenant ofLife , but with a defìgn to prepareMen for the Gofpel : that upon the fight of their Guilt, and the Curfe, they might have recousfe.to the Redeemer, and by Faith embrace that Satisfaction he hathmade for them. C.hrift is the endofthe Law,forRighteoufnefs, Rom, to. 4. to every oxe that believeth. From the example ofthe Jews we may fee how Men arenaturally aff-eted. And 'tis worthy of' obfervation, thatthe Reformation of Re- ligion took its rife by the fame controverfie with the Pa pifts, by which the Gofpel was firft introduced into the World. For, befides innumerable abufes crept into the Church, the People wereperfwaded,that by purchafing Indulgences they fhould be faved . from the Wrath of God. Andwhen this darknefs covered the face ofthe Earth, the zeal ofthefirft Reformers broke forth ; who, toundeceive the,world,çlearly demonftrated from Scrip - tures,that Juftification is alone obtainedby a lively and. purifying Faith in theBloodofChrift. A ftrong,proof: that the fame Gofpel which was firft revealed by the A- poftles, . was revived by thofe excellent Men ; and the: fameChurch which was firft built by the Apoftles, was . raifed.out of its ruines by them. Now
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