SECTION III. tjl ately to renounce it : For there are many texts of scripture itself which are so embarrassed and perplexed by the cavilling wit of the Deists or Socinians, that it may beexceeding hard to give a fair and satisfactory account of them ; yet none of us, who arcs christians, dare to renounce the scripture, nor those very texts, that have so much darkness about them ; because we have so much stronger proof of the truth of scripture. How many difficulties are there in thechronological and historical parts, that seem scarce reconcileable by all the learning and reason of men,; and perhaps that Spirit only can reconcile them who knows what were his own design in writing, what the idea that the first writers fixed to each word, what the sense which they intended to convey to the first readers, and what accidental variations may have crept into the text by the ignorance Or negligence, the bigotry or sacrilege of the transcribers. I have learned from my youngest years of philosophy, not to renounce any proposi-, tion, for which I see plain and sufficient evidence, from reason and revelation, though many difficulties may attend it, which I am not at present able tosolve. I know the weakness of ha- man nature. SECT. IILYet that Imay make a clearer way for this dis- course, to the assent of my readers, I would give a hint or two how the chief objections that I can think of, may be removed I. Some may oppose me by scripture, and say, Among all the texts that cali the gospel a law, there is one that makes our bleu-. sedness evidently depend on ode doing the work commanded therein. James i. 2,5. AVhoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and conti11neth therein, he being not á forgetful hearer, but adoer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Now this looks like justification by obedience to the commands of the gospel, which is the proper nature of a law. Answer I. That the gospel, which bath adviens, commands, and threatenings belonging to it, should be sometimes called a law in scripture is no wonder, forthe word law among the Jews, was in so frequent use upon all occasions, that not only doctrines, rules and constitutions were called laws, but even the natural and supernatural principles of human actions. So the law of kindness; Prov. xxxi. 20. for good humour, or a princi- ple of love and civility. So the law of sin ; Rom. vii. 25. for the principles of corrupt nature and evil inclinations So the lam of the Spirit of life for a principle of holiness ; Rom. viii. 2. And yet if all the places where some suppose the gospel to be called a law, were well examined, we should find them reduced to a very few in reality : Whence it will appear 'that this is not the common language of scripture. The text cited in the objection, seems 'rather to refer to the moral law, which is called a law rf liberty, because it is freed from its cursing and
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