nook III. THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO LIGHT. 5'3 M E T A P H 0 R. P A. R A L L E L. .a Refplendency a-nd fhining forth of the Sun of Righteoufnefs. Gloria quafi clara, of it. faith Aquimts, becaufe Glory is the bright Shining forth of Excellency, now its tranfcendent Excellency and Splendor fhines forth as may be demon!lrated many ways. r. It is glorious, in refpeEt of the Author and Fountain from whence it proceeds. 2. It is glorious in a comparative Senfe. ·3. It i• glorious .in refpeEt of itlelf. Firfl-, As Light is glorious becaufe it is the moft excellent Rays, Refplendency and 'Shinings forth of the Sun ; fa is the Gofpel, becaufe it is the glorious Shining forth .and R6plendency of Jefus ChriJl: the Sun of Righteoufncfs. Secondly, It is g lorious in a comparative Senfe, it excels the Law, hence called a better Teftament; though that was Glorious, yet it had no Glory in this HefpeEt, by reafon of the Glory that excelleth, 2 Cor. iii. ro. I. The Gofpel excels the Law in refpeEt of the Names of the one and the Names ·of the other. 1. The Law is called the L etter; the Gofpel, the Miniftration of the Spirit. 2. The Law is called a Miniftration of Death, the Gofpel a Miniftration of Life. II. The Gofpel excels in Glory above the Law. 1. In regard of the Light and Perfpicuity of it, the Law was full of Obfcurity •clothed with many Ceremonies and myfterious Sacrifices. £. They were at a great Jofs touching the main Drift and End thereof, 2 Cor. iii. J3 · God fpake as it were under a Vail. Ill. The Gofpel is clear and plain; Chrifl: beheld, ·heard, handled, &c. the My!le· ries long hid, opened and explained fully: We behold with open Face, &c. 2 Cor. !iii. 17, J 8. IV. The Law was appointed to be but a leading Minifl:ration, and in fubferviency to the Gofpel, our Schoolma!ler to bring us to Chrifl-, Gal. iii. 24· V. The Gofpel is more glorious, or excels the Law in refpeEt of the Strength of the one and Weaknefs of the other; TVhat the L aw could not do, in that it was weak .through the Flejh, God fent forth his Son, &c. Rom. viii. 3· The Law wounds, but cannot heal,; it 01ews a Man he is dead.; but it cannot give him Life; it !hews Man he ·is naked, but it cannot cloth him. The Gofpel gives Life, heals, clothes and comforts; the one fhews we are in Prifon, the other brings us out, no Salvation by the one, and none without the other. VI. The Gofpel excels in Glory above the Law, in regard of the Difcovery there is made therein of the Mercy and Grace of God;. the one fhews God is jufl: and ievere, .and will not clear .the Guilty; the other !hews he is not only ju!l, but alfo gracious. lf any Grace fhone forth under the Law, it was only Beams of Gofpel-light darting forth .darkly in it. VII. The Gofpel is more glorious in regard of the chief Admini!lrators of the one and of the other. The one were, ( 1.) Angels, If the Word fpoken by Angels were jlcd– fajl, who have receiwd the.Law by the Difpojitiou of Angels and have not kept it, Heb. ii. 1. 2. Ails vii. 53· (2.) Mofes, a Servant, one that fpa-ke on Eat~h, Heb. xii. 25. Th~ other Chrift, the Lord of Life and Glory who fpeaks from Heaven. How jhall we ejeope if we turn away fr'om him that fpeaketh from Heaven, Heb. xii. 25. VIll. The Gofpel excels the Law in refpecl: of Priefthood, Aar01z and his Sons were Prie!ls of the Law, Chrift is the only Prielt of the Gofpel. 1. The Priefl:s of the Law were but Men, no more than Men; Cl1rift, God. Man. 2. They had Infirmit·ies, Sin and Guilt in their Hearts and Lives as well as others, Chrift had none, in his Mouth was found no Guile. 3· They were made Priefl:s without an Oath, but Chrift with an Oath, Heb. vii. 21. fo ·greater Solemnity at his lnfl:alment into·Office. 4· They could not continue by reafon of Death, and they tmly were many becaufo they were notfuffered to continue, by reafon ofDeath; but Chri!t dieth not, he ever liveth to make lntercef/ion for us, but this Ma11 becaufe he continueth for ever bath an unchange– able Priejlhood, Heb. vii, 23, 24, 25. 6 P 5· Chrifl:.
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