SEIRMON XLVII. The Excellency and Advantages of the Christian Dispensation, with the Inpitat:ons and Promises of the Gospel. Tits. viii. 6.-11e is the Mediator of abetter Covenant which was establish. ed upon better Promises. THIS better covenant which the apostle here commends, is the christian religion, or the dispensation of the gospel under Jesus Christ the Messiah and the Mediator. Now in order to spew the superior excellency of the christian dispensation it is necessary to take a brief review of all those former dispen- sations of grace, which are more largely explained in the fore- going sermon*. The first is that of Adam. No sooner was man fallen from his state of innocency, and had lost all reasonable hopes of hap- piness, according to that constitution and covenant in paradise which our divines have generally called the covenant of works, but the goodness of God was manifested in revealing to Adam the covenant or constitution of grace, as it was contained in this obscure promise, theseed of the woman shallbruise thehead ofthe serpent; Gen. iii. 15. which in the language of the NewTesta- ment, signifies that the Saviour in the fúlness of time should be born of a woman, andshould destroy this workof the devil. Gal. iv. 5. 1 John iii. 8. This first promise, doubtless was more largely explained to our first parents, which encouraged sinful mankind by the hopes of a Saviour, and ofacceptance with God, to repent of their transgressions and return to their Maker in a way of new obedience. This is that gospel which is the saine in all ages, andwhich runs through all the bible; viz. that there is forgiveness for sinful men whoreturn to God, and this is to be manifested through a Saviour. But in the several discoveries of this gospel to men, there were several additional duties or pro- mises, or both, which distinguish them into what we call different dispensations. This constitution or covenant of grace in its dispensation to Adam; had the appointment of sacrifices superadded, which were * See sermons at Berry-Street, sermon xii. The various Distieasatioas ofthe Gospel, &eh .
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