OF THE MIND BY MN. 1.61 Sect. 55.-2dly; The mind, by this darkness, is filled doth he describe bis ministry, Ephes. iii. 7,8,'9, 10,. 11. with prejudices against the mystery of the gospel in a peculiar manner. The hidden spiritual wisdomof God in it, as natural men cannot receive, so they do despise it; and all the parta of its declaration they look upon as empty and unintelligible notions. And this is that pre- judice whereby this darknessprevails in the minds of men, otherwise knowing and learned; it hails done so in all ages, and in none more effectually than in that which is present. But there is a sacred, mysterious, spi- ritual wisdom in the gospel, and the doctrine of it. This is fanatical, chimerical, and foolish to the wisest in the world, whilst they are under the power of this darkness. Todemonstrate the truth hereof, is the de- sign of the apostle Paul, 1 Cor. i. and ii. For he di- rectly affirms that the doctrine of the gospel is the wis- dom of God in a mystery; that this wisdom cannot be discerned nor understood by the wise and learned men of the world who have not received the Spirit of Christ; and therefore that the things of it are weakness and foolishness unto them. And that which is foolish is to be despised; yea, folly is the only object of contempt. And hence we see, that some; with the greatest pride, scorn, and contempt imaginable, do despise the purity, simplicity, and whole mystery of the gospel, who yet profess they believe it. But to cleat the whole nature of this prejudice, some few things may distinctly ob- served. Sect. 56. (l.) There are two sorts of things declar- ed in the gospel: first, such as are absolutely its own, that are proper and peculiar ynto it; such as have no footsteps in the law or in the light of nature, but are of a pure revelation peculiar to the gospel. Of this na- ture are all things concerning the love andwill of God in Christ Jesus; the mystery of his incarnation, of his offices and whole mediation, of the dispensation of the Spirit, and our participation thereof, and our union with Christ thereby; our adoption, justification and effectual sanctification thence proceeding: in brief, every thing that belongs unto the purchase and applicationof saving grace is of this sort. These things are purely and properly evangelical, peculiar to the gospel alone. Hence the apostle Paul, unto whom the dispensation of it was committed, puts that eminency upon them, that in comparison he resolved to insist on nothing else in his preaching, 1 Cor. ii. 2. And to that purpose Sect. 57. (2.) There are such things declared and enjoined in the gospel, as have their foundation in the law and light of nature. Such are all the moral duties which are taught therein. And two things may be ob- served concerning then;: (I.) That they are, in some measure, known unto men aliunde from other principles. The inbred concreated light of nature Both, though oh- scarely, teach and confirm them. So the apostle, speak-. ing of mankind in general, saint, ro',s e,, re Ch. ¢a.,gor is.v iiv auras, limn. i. 19. That which may be known of God, is manifested in themselves. The essential proper- ties of God rendering our moral duty to him necessary, are known by the light of nature; and by the same light are men able to make a judgment of their actiçns, whether they be good or evil, Rom. ii. It, 1.5, And this is all the light which some boast of, as they will one day find to their disappointment. (2,) There is on all men an obligation unto obedience answerable to their light concerning these things. The same law and light which discovereth these things; Both also enjoin their ob- servance. Thus is it with all men antecedently unto the preaching of the gospel unto them. In this estate the gospel superadds two things unto the minds ofmen: (1.) It directs us unto . a right per- formance of these things, from a right principle, by a right rule, and to a right end and purpose; so that they and we, in them, may obtain acceptance with God. Hereby it gives them a new nature, and turns moral duties into evangelical obedience. (2.) By a communication of that Spirit which is annexed unto its dispensation, it supplies us with strength for their per. formance, in the manner it prescribes. Sect. 58.--Hence it follows, that this is the method of the gospel: First, it proposeth and declareth things which are properly and peculiarly its own. So the a- postle sets down the constant entrance of bis preaching, 1 Cor. xv. S. It reveals its own mysteries to lay, them as the foundation of faith and obedience. It inlays them in the mind, and thereby conforms . the whole soul unto them; see Rom. vi. 17. Gal. iv. 19. Tit, fi. 11, 12. 1 Cor. iii. 11. 2 Cor, iii. 18. This foundation being laid, without which it hath, as it were, nothing to do with the souls of mesi, nor will proceed unto any other thing, with them by whom this its first work is refused, it then grafts all duties of moral obedience on this stockof faith
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