598 The Excellency and Univerfality of Vol. II. ever was in the worldbefore, was but darknefs, in comparìfon of the glorious Light of the Gofpel ; fo that well might our Evangelift fay, This light was the true light', which coming into the World, enlightens every man; The true light by way of excel- lency and eminency ; as our Saviour Ealls himfelf the true bread which came down from Heaven 3' fo the Doctrine of the Gofpel is called the true light, in _oppofition to thofe falfe or imperfeEi lights which were in the world before. This Doctrine of the ChriftianReligion is a perfect, and therefore a final difcovery of the will of God to man ; becaufe it can receive no amendment, therefore it shall never have a- ny change or alteration. I will conclude this particular with that Inference which the Apoflle to the He- brews makes, from theconfideration of thePerfe&ion and Unchangeablenefs of the Gofpel Difpenfation, which he calls A Kingdom which cannot be fbaken, Heb. a 2. 28, 29. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may ferve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a confuming fire. The better, and moreperfe&, and more unchangea- ble our Religion is, the better we should be the more.ftedfaftly fhould we perfft in the fincere Prof-eft-ion and Pra&ice of it : and if wedo not, the heavier will be our condemnation; For our God is a confumingfire. I proceed to the Fourth particular obfervable in the Text, viz. The great unreafonablenefs of rejecting this Dodrine of the Gofpel. It is to make the abfurdeft Judgment and Choice that is pofhble i to prefer darknefs before light. Men loved darknefs rather than light; that is, they chofe rather to continue in their former ignorance, than to entertain this in-oft clear and perfe& difcovery of God's will to Mankind. And what can be more abfurd and unreafonable, when the difference is fo palpable, and the choice fo plain ? That Man is blind that cannot diftinguifh light from darknefs ; and he is very perverfe and obftinate, who feeing the difference between them, will chufé darknefs rather than light. Such was the unreafonablenefs of thofe who re- je&ed the Gofpel when it was revealed to theWorld ; fince nothing is more clear to an impartial and confiderate Man , than that the Chriftian Religion is the beft and molt perfect, Inftitution, of the greateft and moll univerfal Concernment to Mankind, that ever was revealed to men ; and our Bleffed Saviour, who was the Author and Founder of this Religion, gave greater Evidence that he carne from God, than any other Prophet or Teacher that ever was g and the Worship of God which this Religion prefcribes, is moli agreeable to hisNature, being a fpiritual and a reafonable Service, fit for Men to give, and for God to accept. In a word, the Precepts of the Gofpel are more excellent in themfelves, and better calculated for the happinefs andperfection of humane Nature ; and the Motives and Arguments to perfuade Men to the Obedience of thefe Precepts , more powerful than thofe of any other Religion that ever yet appeared in the World. So that the differencebetween theChriftian Religion, andall others that have been received and profeft in the. World; is fo plain and apparent, that nothing but paf- fron, or prejudice, or intereft, or fotne other faulty Principle, can hinder any Man from yielding his aifent to Chriftianity. The comparifon rs alrnoft equal to that be- twixt light and darknefs ; and therefore our Saviour had great reafon to fpeak fo feverely of the Infidelity of the Jews who rejected fuch a Doctrine , propounded to them with fo much Evidence. and Advantage. And becaufe.iheJews are the great Scripture Pattern of perverfe Infidelity and oppofition to the Truth, it will not be mil's to take our estimate and meafure of the unreafonablenefs of this Spirit and temper, from the Properties and Characters which we find of it in the yews, moll of which do trill infeparably accompany this Spirit of Infidelity wherever it is ; that as face anfwers face in water, fo does the Infidelity ofthis prefent Age re- femble that of the Jews in our Saviour's time, in all thofe perverfe and unreafonable qualities which did then attend it ; and therefore I shall take notice of forceof the chiefof them, as I find them difperfed up and down in the History of the New Testament. But this, and what remains to be faid upon this Argument, I muff referve for another Difcourfe. SEK-
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