DISCOURSE III. The Difference between the Law and the Gospel. In several Sermons preached at Berry-street, December, 1731. GAL. iii. 21, 22.Is thenthe law against the promisesofGod? Godforbid; For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righ- teousnes should have beenby the law: But the scripturebath concluded all under sin, that the promise of faith by Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. I HAVE longhad adesign to explain this text to you, because it seems to be a key, whereby we are let into the sense and meaning of this apostle, in his long and laboured arguments about the law and gospel, in his epistles to the Romans and the Galatians, and in the constant distinction that he there observes between them. These Galatians, who were converted to the faithof Christ, had been closely beset by some zealous judaizing christians, who would fain have had them circumcised, and engaged to keep the Jewish law ; chap. vi. 12, 13. The apostle, who well under- stood the liberty of the gospel, would not suffer them to be thus imposed upon ; and therefore heargues, he allures, he threatens, he denounces, heuses all the proper methods ofan apostle, and a preacher of christianity, to establish them in the liberty where- with Christ hadmade them free, and toguard themagainstyielding a tittle of compliance with the Jewish ceremonies and bondage. He shews them, in this chapter, that the promise was given to Abraham, the great believer, with all the blessings of salva- tion contained in it, and to all those who imitate his faith, by trusting in the gospel of Christ ; for they are the seed ofAbraham ver. 8, 9. And the law curses and condemns sinners ; Gal. iii. 10. but it does not, it cannot save them ; ver. 11. And that the law which came in four hundred years after the promise to Abra- ham, could not disannul the promise or make it of none effect. 'The question arises then in the 19th verse ; to what end then served' the law ? The answer is, to show them their sins, and to keep alive a sense of sin amongthem, till Christ should come, who was to remove sin. 'Then comes in the objection of my text, Is not the law then against the promises? Is not the promise to Abraham contradicted by the law given to the Jews ? No; by
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