of the world; but by the more fecret, filent influences of his holy Spirit; which are equally efficacious (e) if duly attended to, and improved; enabling us to attain unto all that perfection which he requires, or we are capable of, in the present state; and thereby entitling us to fome higher degree of happiness, and glory in another. By his own blood he cancels the original Covenant*; and purchases a new one full of grace and mercy; freeing us from the whole of Adam's curfe, viz. death, or utter extinction; and finally affuring us of a complete victory over both that, and hell ‡, by the gift of eternal life, and happiness. This is the true import of the Chriftian institution; and in this sense it must appear to be indeed a gospel, or good tidings of great joy to ALL people ||: which (e) See Wollaston, p. 106. or King, p. 376. 4th Ed. there * In what sense covenants are understood, was hinted above, p. 51. note i. + See p. 51. note ↑ Rev. xx. 14. In what refpects Christianity exceeded all former inftitutions, may be feen at large in Edwards's Survey, p. 313, 323. The effects, which it will fome time certainly produce, are well defcribed by Dr. Worthington, Effay on Man's Redemption, c. 11, &c. who fuppofes, perhaps not on fo good grounds, that these will be attainable even in this life. The fubftance of his fcheme is thus laid down, p 253.My perfuafion is, that our redemption by Chrift will, when it hath its perfect work, be productive of all thofe great and happy effects: That the human nature fhall, before the end of the gospel-age and confummation of all things, be delivered from fin, forrow, and ficknefs, and all the other miferies and evils of this life, proceeding from the fall of our firft parents, and in the end from death itself; without tafting of which, it fhall be tranflated from an earthly paradife, which it shall once more enjoy, to an heavenly one, which it fhall enjoy for ever. And moreover, that all the diforders of nature in general fhall be rectified, and that there fhall be a redemption of the whole creation to its first state, as well as of man, the Lord of it.' How far this differs from the Hypothefis of T. Burnet, or Afgil's famous argument, may be seen in the fame place.. therefore ought to be referved till mankind were able to comprehend, and duly receive so great a bleffing; till they were fit to make the proper ufe of fuch a scheme of infinite goodness, and philanthropy. As nothing greater could come after this, and this was to be offered but once for all; (otherwise, as the apostle fays §, Christ must often have fuffered fince the foundation of the world; often in every country, and as often in vain; his offers of falvation by their cheapnefs flighted, his fufferings difregarded;) as no farther manifeftation of God's will could be made to man either in terms more full and express, or in a way more kind, and condescending; it was fit that all suitable provifions should be made for the reception, and continuance of it in the world; all proper preparations used to fix, and ascertain its evidence; as well as to explain its worth, and make men fenfible of its true use and neceffity. To this purpose the Jews were to be trained up to the expectation of it by a series of prophecies, foretelling the time, place, and every circumstance of the Meffiah's advent; and describing the nature of his kingdom: their law was to continue till it had effectually guarded them from all kinds of idolatry, and fecured their dependence on the one fupreme God; till they had attained to fuch rational notions of his nature and providence, as qualified them for a more pure and perfect way of worshipping him; and enabled them to communicate it to the reft of the world. The Gen § Heb. ix. 26, H tiles tiles were to have fufficient experience both of the weakness of their understanding in searching after God, and the infirmity of their nature, in not acting up to what they might, and did discover; fufficient to make them wish and hope for fome heavenly guide, (to inform them how they came into their present state of ignorance and imperfection, and how, and when they should be able to get out of it,) which in fact the wifeft of them did; as particularly appears from two remarkable inftances, in Socrates's difcourfe upon prayer and facrifice*; and in Ariftotle's declaration juft before his death, [if the account of it be genuine] concerning the reasonableness of believing that the gods fhould come down from Heaven, to instruct and relieve mankind+. Thus was the confcioufnefs of their defects requifite in the heathens, to prepare them for, and difpofe them to embrace a remedy, when it should be offered; and the Jewish economy was equally requifite, to fit them for adminiftering this remedy; the one made its va lue * See Plato's fecond Alcibiades near the end. More paffages to the fame purpose are collected by Dr. S. Clarke, Evidences, prop. 7and Young, Differt, Vol. I. ↑ Auctor de Pomo [de quo vid. Fabric. Bibl. Gr. Tom. II. L. iii. p.166.] Cal. Rhod. Ant. L. xvii. 36. [See Bayle's Di&t. Art. Ariftotle, note Q1 Stanley Vit. Phil. Concerning the tradition of his having converfed with a Jew, fee Gen. Di&. Vol. II. p. 267. and Prid. Conn. Parti. B.vii. p. 475 and 480. 8th Ed. See alfo a remarkable paffage in Jamblichus Vit. Pythag. c. 28. To the obfervation above, Lord Bolingbroke replies, that the complaints and expectations of thefe men were founded in proud curiofity and vain prefumption.' Works, Vol. V. p. zzo. as if it were a piece of vanity and prefumption in any reafonable creature to be defirous of learning, what would here et effectually recommend it to the favour of its creator; and nerely pride and idle curiofity, to know what would become of in for ever hereafter! lue better understood, the other rendered its evidence more inconteftable throughout all ages. No stronger teftimony, than that of prophecy, could be given, to confirm its truth; nor any greater token of its usefulness, than that which appeared in the miferable state of the heathen world without it; both highly contributed to procure Christianity its due regard, and esteem in the world; but neither of them could have taken place, had it been from the beginning; as the objection* fuppofes. We fee then in general, that fome time must have preceded the publication of the gospel; and we ought to confider, that if it were delayed a while longer than we can particularly account for, yet as much as that period may seem to have loft, fo much we of these latter ages manifeftly get by the delay; 'tis so much nearer to us; and thereby its light and evidence more clear at prefent; its heat and influence proportionably ftronger; all which we have occasion enough for already: and well it is for us that it came fo late, if all its evidence decrease so fast by length of time, as these very fame objectors would infinuate +. And how do we know but that it might be delivered about the middle age of the world; and by that means be nearest to the several generations; and the most just proportion kept between the length of time, during which Chriff's fature advent • Pag. 42. + Chrift. as old, c 12. p. 163. 8vo. from Craig: of which fee Rotheram's Differtation, Edinb. 1743. Phil. Tranf. No. 257. Broughton against Tindal, Part iii. p. 5, &c. Randolph, Part ii. p. 34, &c. advent was to be foretold and expected; and that in which his paft appearance is to be acknowledged, and commemorated? We are hafty, and fhort-fighted: our views limited to a few years; and we become impatient at feeing any of them pass over, before the whole plot is unraveled; and would have all brought on the stage at once: but it is far otherwise with the great God, to whom a thousand years are as one day; who has an immenfely large progreffive fcheme, confifting of many underparts, and intermediate steps; all placed in their proper periods, and each rifing upon the paft; and the whole conducted in that regular, gentle manner, which is beft fuited to the moral government of a world of intelligent free agents, and moft becoming a Being of infinite wifdom and goodness. But to be more particular. The period in which our Saviour came into the world may be conceived to be the fulness of time, and fitteft for fuch a difpenfation, on the following accounts. First, as that appeared to want it most: Secondly, as it was the most able to receive and propagate it: and, Thirdly, as it was the best qualified to examine its evidence, confirm its truth, and convey it down to future ages. First, it wanted it most; and that in regard both to morals, and religion. 1. That age ftood in the greatest need of a reformation in morals; as it appears to have been the moft wicked and abandoned of any upon record. As |