368 Of the Nature ofRegeneration, and itsNeceffity, Vol. I, in the condition of Servants before, might be fet at liberty, and receive the adop- tion of Sons. But how did his being made under the Law, qualifie him to redeem thofe mho' were under the Lam? Thus ; By fubmitting to it himfelf, he (hewed that he owned the Authority of it, and that he had no malice or enmity againft it; or as he himfelf expreffes it, that he came not to defray the Lam, but to full it. And being fu/ftll'd, and having ferv'd the time and end for which God intended it, it expir'd of it felf ; like a Law which is not made for perpetuity, but limited to a certain period. And our Bleffed Saviour, who came with greater Authori- ty than Mofes, and gave greater Teflimony of his Divine Authority, had fuffi- eient power to declare the expiration of it; and by Commiffioning his Difciples before and after his death to Preach the Gofpel to the whole World, he put an end to that particular Lam and Difienfation, which only concern'd the Yewifb Na- tion, by giving a general Law to all Mankind. So that from theDeath of our Saviour, and his Afcenfion into Heaven, upon which followed the general publication of the Gofpel, the Law of Mofes ceafed, and according to our Saviour's exprefs appointment, Profelytes were to be admit- ted into the Chrißian Church only by Baptifen, and not by Circumcifon. And if Circumcifìon, which was the fign of that Covenant, was laid afide, then the whole Obligation of that Law and Covenant which God had madewith the Jews, was alto ceafed. It was once indeed the markof God's chofen and pecu- liar People ; but now that God hath revealed himfelf to the whole World by his Son, and offers Salvation to all Mankind, Gentiles as well as Jews, the mall offeparation is broken down, and Circumeifion, which was the markof diftin&ion between Jews and Gentiles, is taken away and therefore he is Paid to have made peace by his Croft, and to have blotted out, and taken away the hand writing of Ordi- nances, nailing it to his Croft ; that is, from the time of his Death to have taken away the obligation of the Law ofMofes, tho' it was a good while after, before the Jews were whollyweaned from the veneration and ufe of it. Nay, it was force time before the Apoftles were clearly convinc'd, that the Gofpel was to be preach'd to the Gentiles; this being one of thofe Truths, which our Saviour promifed after his departure, his Spirit fhould lead them into the perfet knowledge of; and then they were fully inftrulted, that the Law of Mofes was expir'd, and that it was no longer neceffary to the Salvation of Men, that they should be Circumcifed, and keep that Law. And tho' it was once en- joyn'd by God himfelf to the Jews, and their Obedience to it was neceffary to their acceptance with God, yet now by Chrift Jefus, God had offered Salvation to Men upon other Terms; and whether they were Circumcifed, or not, was of no moment to their Juftification or Salvation one way or other; but provided they perform'd the Condition of this New Covenant of the Gofpel, they were all alike capable of the Divine Favour and Acceptance. But I proceed to that, which I mainly intend to profecute from thefe words; and that is the Second Particular in the Text, namely, that according to the terms of the Gofpel, and the Chriftian Religion, nothing will avail to our ju(lification and acceptance with God, but the real renovation of our Hearts and Lives ; neither Circumcifian, nor uncircumcifan : but a newCreature. For the full explication of this, I thall do thefe three Things. Firfi, Shew what is imply'd in this Phrafe of a new Creature. Secondly, That this is the great Condition of our juftification and acceptance with God, and that it is the fame in fubftance with Faith perfelled by Charity, and with keeping the Commandments of God. Thirdly, That it is very reafonable it fhould be fo. t. What is imply'd in this Phrafe of a new Creature. It is plain at firft fight, that it is a Metaphorical expretfton of that great and thorough change which is made in Men by the Gofpel, or the Chriftian Religion. TheScripture Pets forth to us this Change by great variety of expreffions, by Conver/ion, and turning flow our Iniquities unto God; by Repentance, (which fignifies a change of our Mind and Refe-
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