362 Christianity dotti not deThoy, ,J the Lawof Moles added little or nothing to theclearnefs of thole Natural Noti- ons concerning a future Bate, and the ftrengthning of this perfwafion in the Minds ofMen 5 it did rather fuppofe it, than give any new force and life to it. And for this Reafon more particularly the Apoftle tells us that the Lam was but weakto make Men good ; becaufe it did not work ftrongly enough upon the hopes and fears of Men by the weight of its Promifes, and the terrour of its Threatníngs ; and that for this weaknef, and imperfetlion of it, it was removed, anda more powerful and awakning difpenfation brought in the place of it ; Heb. 7. t8, i9. For there is verily a difannulling of the Commandment that was before' (that is of the Jewifh Law) for' the weaknefs and nnprofitablenef thereof; for the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of à better hope did; that is, the Covenant of the Gofpel, which promifeth Eternal Life. And Ch. 8. 6. for this Keafon more efpecially the Apoftle fays, that Chrift had obtained a more excellent Miniflry, being the Mediator of a better Covenant, which was efiablifh'd upon better Promifes. And Rom. I. 16, x8. St. Paul tells us, that for this Reafon the Gof- pel is the power ofGod unto Salvation, becaufe therein the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, againfi all ungodlinef andunrighteoufnefs of Men. The clear Reve- lation of a Future judgment, was that which made the Gofpel fo proper and fo powerful an Inftrument for the Salvation ofMen. The great impiety of Man- kind, and their impenitency in it, was not fo much to be wondred at before, while -the World was in a great meafure ignorant of the infinite danger of a wicked Life ; and therefore God is faid in force fort to overlook it ;, but now he commands all Men every whereto repent, becaufe he bath appointed a day in whkb he trilljudge theWorld in righteoufnefs by that Man, whom he bath ordained, whereof he bath gi- ven affurance unto all men, in that he hath railedhim from the dead, Acts 17. 3o, 31. Theclear difcovery and perfect affurance ofafuture judgment, calls loudly upon all Men to leave their Sins, and turn to God. Fifthly, The Covenant of the Law had no fpiritual Promifes contained in it, of the grace and affiftance of God's HolySpirit, for the mortifying of Sin, and enabling Men to their Duty, and fupporting them under Sufferings : but the Gofpel is full ofclear and exprefs Promifes to this purpofe. Our Saviour bath affured us, that God will give his Holy Spirit to them that ark him, Luke H. 13. and this the Apoftle tells us is actually confer'd upon all true Chriftians, thofe who do fincerely embrace and believe the Gofpel, Rom. 8. g. If any Man have not the Spirit of Chrifi, he is none of his. Hence the Gofpel is call'd by the fame Apoftle the Law ofthe Spirit of Life in Chr`zfi Jefus, v. 2d. of that Chap. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Chrifi Jefus, bath made me free from the Law ofSin and Death ; and in the next words he tells us, that herein manifenly ap- peared the weaknefs of the Law, that it left Men deftitute of this mighty help and advantage (at lean as to any fpecial promife of it) What theLaw could not do, in that it was weak through the fefh, God finding his own Son in the likenefs of finful 110, and by making him a Sacrifice forfin; condemnedfin in theflefh, that the righte- oufnefs of the Lawmight befulfilled in us, who walk not after the Flefh, but after the Spirit ; that is, that that Righteoufnefs which the Law aimed at and fignified, but was tooweak to effe&, might be really accomplifht inus, who walk not after the Flefb, but after the Spirit ; that is, who are acted and affined by a higher and better Principle than Men either have in Nature, or the carnal difpenfation of the Law did endow Men withal. And becaufe of this great defect, the Law is faid to be a ftateof Bondage and Servitude; and on the contrary, the Gofpel, by Keafon of this mighty advantage, is call'd a ftate of Adoptionand Liberty, ver. x5. forye have not received. the Spirit of Bondage, but the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father ; and 2. Cor. 3. 17. where the Spirit ofthe Lord is, there is Liberty. And to this very thing St. Paul appeals, as that whereby Men might judge whe- ther the Law or the Gofpel were the more excellent and powerful Difpenfation, Gal. 3. 2. This only would I learn ofyou, receivedye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith s? As if he had faid, let this one thing determine that whole Matter 5 were ye made Partakers of this great Privilege and Bleffing of the Spirit, while ye were ofthe Jewifh Religion, or fince ye became Chrifi- ans?
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