in Contriving Man's Redemption. 211 IeO: it fhould render the rruth of it uncertain, and rob the Crofs of Chril\ of irs Glory in "-A./'1 converting the World: For there might be fame Pretence w imagine, that 'twas not the Chap. I 7 · fupernatural vi rt ue of the DoChin, and the eflicacy of its Reafons, bur the Artifice of~ Orators that overcame the Spirirs of Men. So, if the Servi ce of the Gofpel were made [o pompous, the Worfi1ippers would be enclined to believe, that the external part was the moO: principal, and to content themfelves in that without the Aims and AffeCtions of the Soul. which are the Life of all our Services. Belldes, upon another account outward Pomp in Religion is apter to quench than enOame Devotion: For we are (o compounded of Flelh and Spirit, that when the corporeal Faculties are vehemently affeCted with their Objells, 'tis very hard for the Spiritual to aCl with eqlul vigour; there being fuch Commerce between the Fancy and the outward Senfes~ that they are never exercifed in the reception ofth:i r ObjeCts, but the Imagination is .drawn that way, an~ cannot prefent to the Mind dr(bnClly and wrth the calmnefs that IS reqllllite, rhofe thmgs on whrch our Thoughts lhould be fixt. But when thofe diverting Objefrs are removed, the Soul direCll y afcends to God, and looks on him as the Searcher and Judge of the Heart ; and worfi1ips him proportionably to his Perfell:ions. Tliat this was the Dellgn of Chril\, appears particularly in the Inftitution of the Sacraments, which he ordained in a merciful Condefcenllon to our prefent State: For there is a natural Delire in us to have Pledges of things promifed; therefore he was pleafed to add to the Declaration of his Will in the Gofpel the Sacraments, as confirming Seals of his Love; by which the Applic.Hion of his Benefits is more fpecial, and the reprefentation more lively, than that which is meerly by rhe Word. But they are few in number, only Baprifm and the Lord's Supper, limple in their Nature, and eafy in t~eir figni~cation, moO: ~t to relieve our In~rmities, and to raife our Souls to Heavenly rhmgs. Bnefly, the Servrce of the Gofpel IS anfwerable ro the excellent Light of Knowledge fhed abroad in the Hearts of ChriO:ians. 2 • Our Redeemer hath abolifh'd all Obligation to the other Rituals of Mofes, to in· rroduce that real Righteoufnefs which was lignified by them. The carnal CommandmetJts given to the J ews, are called Stat11tes that werenotgoocl, Ezek. 20. as. either in refpeCl of theil Matter, not being perfeCtive of the humane Natnre; or their EffeCt, for they brought Death to the Difobedient, not Life to the Obedient: The moO: firiCl-Obfervation of them did not make the Performers either better, or happy. But ChriO:ians are deacl to thefe EletJients, Col. 2. that is, perfeiJ:ly freed from SubjeCtion to them. The Kingclom of God conjijls not in Meat and Drinb,, b11t Righteot~fncfr, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy ~~~.; ~~ ~~:~a~.i'W~~;h:;t~[;:;:n~:t,~ ;:";~c:~:~~: o;~ ~:~~e~"~ l!:t~:.e:J~;z~ ednefr, that Cowers and fwells the Mind, and to k_eep the Feajl wirh the 1mleavened Bread of SinceriiJ and Tmth. We are obliged to preferveour [elves undefiled from the moral ImperfeClions, the Vi<;es·and Paffions, which were reprefented by the natural Qualities of rhofe Creatures which were forbidden to the Jews, and to purifie Hea'rt inf\ead of the frequent wafi1ings under the Law. But the Gofpel frees us from the intolerable Yoke of the legal Abf\inences, Obfervations and Difciplines, the amnfemenrs of low and fervile Spirits, wherewith they would compenfate their DefeCts in real Holinefs, and exchange the fubO:ance of Religion for the Shadow and Colours of it. For this reafon the ApoO:Ie is fevere again(\ thofe, who would join the Fringes of Mofes to the Robe of ChriO:. 3· The Indulgen&of Polygamy and Divorce that was granted to the Jews, is taken away by ChriO:, and Marriage refl:ored to the Purity of its fir(\ InO:itution. The Permiflion of thefe was by a political Law, and the elfe/J: was temporal Impunity. For God is to be conlidered not only in the relation of a Creator, and univerfal Governour, that gave Laws to regulate Confcience; but in a fpecial relation to the Jews as their King by Covenant. Belides his general Right and Dominion, he had a peculiar Soveraignry o- , ver them. And as in a Civil State a prudent Governour permits a lefs Evil for the prevention of a greater, without an approbation of it; So God was pleafed in his Wifdom to tolerate thofe thin!(s, in condefcenlion to their carnal and perverfe Humours, Mal. 2 , 14, '5·for t~e ha~dnefr of their Hearts, Mat. I9.8.lef\ worfe Inconvenience lhould follow. Bur o~r Saviour reduces Marriage to the SanCtity of its original, when Man was formed accordmgto the Image of God's Holinefs: Mat. '9· 4, s, 6. He that made them at the beginning, nJttde them fr!ale and Femttle: For this cmif'e ftJttll a Man leave Father and i\1other, and cleave to his Wife,and theJ twain o,.U be one Flefh. What therefore God bath joyned to· gether, let no Man_p•t ajimder. From the Unity of the Perfon, that oneMale was ma~e an~ one Female, It foll_ows that the fuper-inducing of another into the Marriage-be~ ~s agamf\ the fir(\ In!htutton. And the Union that is between them not being only cm] !n a confent o~ Wills_, but natural by the joyning of two Bodies, [omethingnatural mu~ mtervene to drlfolve It, viz. the Adultery of one Parry. Excepting that ca fe, our Savi- . Ee2 our
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