0f THE MI or progress; of Christian religion in the world, they would ". themselves beashamed of this. folly. But every day in this matter, Prodeunt ()Intones novi,- stulti ado- lesceniuli, who talk confidently, whilst they know nei- ther what they say, nor whereof they do affirm. Sect. 34. The principal mysteries of the gospel, or the spiritual things intended, are by many looked on and rejected as foolish, because false and untrue:. though indeed they have no reason to think them false, but be- cause they, suppose them foolish; and they fix upon charging them with falsity, to countenance themselves in judging them to be folly. Whatever concerns the incarnation of the Son of God, the satisfaction that be made for sin and sinners; the imputation of his right- eousness unto: them that believe; the effectual working of his grace in the conversion of thesouls of men, which, with what belongs unto them, comprize the greatest part of the spiritual things of the, gospel, are not re- ceived by many, because they are false as they judge. Andthat which induceth them so to determine, is be- cause they look on them asfoolish, and unsuited unto the rationalprinciples of their minds. Sect. 35.-3. Many plainly scoff at them, and des- pise them as the most contemptible notions that man- kind can exercise their reasons about. Such were of old prophesied concerning, 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4. and things at this day are come to that pass. The world swarms with scoffers at spiritual things, as those which are un- fit for rational, noble, generous spirits to come under a sense or power of, becausethey are so- foolish. But these things werewe foretold of, that when they came to pass, we should not be troubled or shaken in our minds. Yea, the atheismofsome, is made a means to confirm the faith of others. Sect. 36. It is not much otherwise with some, who yet dare not engage into an open opposition to thegos- pel with them before mentioned: for they profess the faith of it, and avow a-subjection -to the rules and laws of it. But the things declared in the gospel may be re- duced unto two heads, as was before observed: (I.) Such as consist in the confirmation, direction, and im- provement of the moral principles and precepts of-the law ofnature. (2.) Such as flow immediately from the sovereign will and wisdom ,of God, being no way com- municated unto us, but by supernatural revelation only. Such are all the effects of the wisdom and grace ofGod, ND DY BIN. 153 as he was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself; the offices of Christ, his administration of them, and dispensation of the Spirit, with the especial evangelical supernatural graces and duties which are required in us with respect thereunto. The first sort of these things many will greatly praise, and highly extol. And they will declare how consonant they are to reason, and what expressions suitable unto them maybe found in the ancient philosophers. But it is evident that herein also they fall under a double inconvenience:. for, (1.) most- ly they visibly transgress what they boast of as their . rule, and that above others: for where shall we meet with any, at least with many of these sort of men, who in any measure comply with that modesty, humility, meekness, patience, self -denial, abstinence, temperance,. contempt of the world, love of mankind, charity, and purity, which the gospel requires under this bead of duties? Pride, ambition, insatiable desires after earthly advantages and promotions, scoffing, scorn, and con- tempt of others, vanity of converse, envy, wrath, re- venge, railing, are none of the moral duties required in the gospel. And, (2.) No pretence ofan esteem for any one part of the gospel, will sheltermen from the punish- ment due to the rejection of the whole, by whom any es- sential part of it is refused. And this is the condition of many. The things which most properly belong to the mysteries of the gospel, or the unsearchable riches of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, are foolishness unto them; and the preaching ofthem is called canting and folly. And some of these, although they go not so far as the friar at Rome, who said, " That St. Paul fell into great excesses in these things;" yet they have dar- ed to accuse his writings of darkness and obscurity, for no other reason, so faras I can understand, but because he insists on the declaration of these spiritual mysteries. And it is not easy to express what contempt and reproach is cast by some preachers on the preaching of then. But it is not amiss that some have proclaimed their own shame herein, and have left it on record to the abhor - rencyof posterity. Sect. 37. -5. The event of the dispensation of the gospel manifesteth, that the spiritual things of it are foolishness to the most; for, as such, are they rejected by them: Isa. lüi. 1, 2, 2. Suppose a man of good reputation for wisdom and sobriety, should go unto o- thers, and inform them, and that with earnestness, evi-
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