I34 HARMONY Or ALL RELIGIOÑt. to clear up what is doubtful, and to supply what iswanting ; even as revelation is to supply us, where the light of reason is defec- tive or dubious. Therefore, thoughour natural duties to God, viz. fear and love, trustand obedience, prayer and praise, together with the duties of justice, truth and love to our neighbour, must be sup- posed to belong to every dispensation ; yet there was no neces- sity ofrepeating them continuallyunder everydispensation, since the law and light of nature plainly dictate and require them ; I desire this maybe always kept in view. IV. And under every dispensation, whether in innocency, or since the fall, there has been some further revelation of the mind, and will of God to men, some new doctrine or duty, pre- cept or prohibition given for men to believe or obey, beside or beyond the mere dictates of the light of reason, or mere natural religion; and these arecalled positive laws or commands, as the others are called natural or moral. Among these I am ready to suppose, the observation of the sabbath, that is, some appointed day for restfrom labour, and for public worship, holds a consi- derable place, for it seems to me to llave been instituted in pa- radise during the state of man's innocency ; Gen. ii. 3, and I think it has run through all the dispensations of God to man, though not with equal evidence. And perhaps this appointment may have always carried in it some type or figurative promise of a state of rest and glorious worship, after all the labours of our state of trial are finished: V. In each of these constitutions or dispensations, there is also generally some outward visible emblem appointed of God, to be a sign, seal or pledge of these blessings to be bestowed on man by God himself; and there is some visible ceremony, some outward action or abstinence enjoined on men, as a seal or pledge of their acceptance of, and compliance with this constitu- tionofGod. VI. These two things have been often joined in one and the same emblem, when it is consideredon one side as appointed by God, andon the other 'as to be performed by man. Such a dou- ble use had all the sacrifices of atonement in the dispensations of gracebefore Christ. The divine appointment of them sufficient- ly denotes the mercy of God, and the actual performance of them, testifies that those men accepted of God's covenant, and consented to it, that is in a way of outward profession. Now let us proceed to describe the several particular dipensa- tions ofGod and the religions whichhave been prescribed to men. CHAP. I.Tice Dispensation of Innocency, or, the Religion of Adam at first. I. As soon as God had created man upon the' earth, he
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