42 eHttt[1TIAN DI3rEH3ArION. maybe represented as given to all-mankind ; because these were the two great fathers of all, one before the flood, and the other after it : But then each of these revelations was left to the care of one family to publish it to all mankind, who were to be "their posterity. But the christian dispensation is and shall be conveyed through the world, to all the heathen nations, as well as to the Jews, and that by a multitude of messengers, by apostles, and evangelists, prophets and teachers, endowedwith the gifts and powers of the Blessed Spirit, and sent forth forthis purpose. And it has been preserved and conveyed even to our nation, and to our day, by the writings of the apostles, and the ministra- tions of the preachers of the gospel through every age, and it spreads the rich 'grace of God, and the salvation of Christ, to the very ends of the earth ; nor shall any other dispensation succeed it. Other religions of God's own appointment are worn out, and vanished away, but this being once introduced, must abide Crever. VI. I might add here some other charactersof the christian dispensation, which the apostle gives it in 2 Cor. iii. 6 IS. whereby he exalts it aboveall the religion of the Jews, and es- pecially far above the Sinai-covenant. That was, saith he the ministration of the letter, a dispensation which consisted much in outward forms and figures and types : This is the ministration of the Spirit, that is, either of the substance and the thing sig- nified in these types, or wherein theSpirit of grace is more emi- nently poured out on mankind, for conversion and salvation Either of these sensesmay give it this name. That was written only in tables of stone: This in fleshly tables of the heart, by the Spirit of the living God. That was a ministration of terror and condemnation and death, in outward terrible appearances of God on Sinai, and it kept the people under a spirit of bondage and fear : This is the ministration of righteousness and life, inasmuch as all the springs of pardon and life, hope and happiness are set open the gospel of Christ. But I proceed to the VII. And last particular. " The encouragements and per- suasive helps which christianity gives us to fulfil the duties of the covenant, are much superior to those which were enjoyed under any of the former dispensations." Now these consist chiefly in examples andmotives. Do examples invite us to our duty, andby a soft and secret influence encourage and lead us on to the performance of it ? Such indeed were the names of Abraham and David, each in their day a happy pattern to their several ages : But in my opi- nion all the praises which are due to David, and Abraham, fall far short of the labours and sufferings, the zeal and patience, the holiness and the love of that divine man, St. Peuh, ;whose life is
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