in£ontríbtng an's' cbe np Eon. 313 Chap. r 7 THe Perfehion ofthe Laws of Chrifl will further ap- pear, by comparing them with the Precepts of Metes, and with the Rules which the higheft Máaers of Morality in the School of Nature have prefcribed for the dire`ring our Lives. TheGofpel exceeds the Mo- faical Inflitution r. In ordaining a Service that is Pure, Spiritual, and Divine, confiCting in the Contemplation, Love andPrai- fes of God, fuch as the holy Angels perform above. The Temple Service was managed with Pomp and ex- ternal Magnificence, fuitable to thedifpofìtion ofthat People and the difpenfation of the Law. The Church was then in its Infant /late, as St. ,Paul expreffes it; and that Age is more wrought on by Senfe than Reafon : For fuch is the fubordinationof our Faculties, that the vegetative firfl ads, then the fenfitive,then the rational, as theorgans appointed for its ufe acquire perfelion. The knowledgofthe yews was obfcure and imperfect, and the external part of their Religion was ordered in fuch a manner,that the Senfes were much affected.Their Lights, Perfumes, Mufick andSacrifices were the pro- per entertainment of their external Faculties. Betides, being encompafl with Nations whofe Service to their I- dols was full of Ceremonies, to render the temptation ineffetual,and take offfrom the efficacy ofthofeallure- ments which might feduce them to the imitationofIdo- latry, God ordained his Service to be performed with great fplendour. Add further,the Difpenfation ofthe Lawwas typical and nalflerious, reprefenting by vifible material objects, and their power to ravifh the Senfes, Spiritual things, and their efficacy to work upon the Soul. But our Redeemer hath rent the Veil,and brought forth Heavenly things into afull Day, and theclearefl Evidence. Whereas Mofes was very exact in defcribing S f the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=