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SERM.III.'
THE eJL1tTSTIAN DTSPENSATION.
os
inward thoughts and
affections as
well as
outward actions.
As for
the
doctrine and duty
of
christian
love,
forbear
-
ance,
and
forgiveness
of
enemies,
and
a
.
readiness to
return good
for
evil,
it
is
either
raised
to
higher degrees
than before, or
at least
it
is
explained
in
a
more
spiritual
and sublime sense
than
the
Jews
were
ever
acquainted
with,
and
enforced
by
superior
motives,
and
through the
aids
of
divine grace thousands
of
christians have lived
honourably
in
the practice
of
it.
II.
"
In
the christian
dispensation,
the gospel
or co-
venant of
grace
is
revealed more perfectly and plainly
than
ever before;
not
in
obscure expressions,
in
types
and carnal
metaphors,
but
in
its own
proper
form
and
language,
that
is,
as
a covenant relating
to things
spiri-
tual
and eternal.
Every covenant
between
God
and
man,
in
the most complete sense
of
the word, implies
some
engagements on
our
side,
which
are
appointed
du-
ties,
and
some
engagements
on
God's
side, which
are
promised
blessings.
Now
in
both
these respects,
the
Covenant
of
grace
is
revealed in-the New
Testament
in
a
much more plain
and
express
manner
than
in
former
dispensations.
The
blessings
of
the
covenant
of
grace,
are regeneration
-or
a
change
of
heart,
pardon of
sin,
justification, and acceptance
with
God; adoption into
his
family, whereby
we
are made
his
children, sanctification
of
our natures,-or being renewed
after the
image
of
God,
assistance to perform duties,
and
support under
trbu-
tiles,
comfort
in life
and death, and everlasting
joy
in
an-
other
world,
in
the
presence
of
God
and our
blessed
Sa-
viour.
These
are
most plainly described
in
the New
Testament, The duties
of
this
covenant
are faith
or
trust
in
a
Messiah,
who is
much
better
known
now
hay.
ing actually
appeared
in
the
flesh,
unfeigned
repentance
toward God,
confession
of
sin,
converse with
God
in
se-
cret
prayer, lave to
God
as a
Father;
delight
in
him,
joy-
ful
hope
in his
promised
mercy, zeal for
his
honour,
and
sincere
obedience arising
from
a
principle
of
faith
and
love.
All
these
are more expressly
required
in
our
gospel.
I
grant
that
the
chief
of
these
things were
contained
also in
the
former dispensations,
particularly
the
Jewish
;
but
many
of
them were
there
veiled
under
types
and
figures,
à;nd
dark
shadows;
so
that
the
Jews
were read)/
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