methods, by which we may be reconciled to an offended Deity. If we confult the Law of Mofes, we shall discover greater light indeed, but shall still be at a loss for a real deliverance from Sin. As I mean to advert to this inquiry in a future difcourse, I need only to obferve here, that the tenour of this Law required a perfect and unfinning obedience, intimating that the man who doeth these things, that is, obferves the precepts of moral and original righteoufnefs, fhould live by them, and that curfed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them. Hence it could never make the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the confcience'; but the commandment, which was ordained to life, through the corruption and depravity of our nature, was found to be unto death'. From this short view then it appears, that Sin was generally encouraged by the Heathen • See Lect. v. 9 Gal. iii. 10. P Lev. xviii. 5. Rom. x. 5. r Heb. x. 1. ix. 9. s Rom. vii. 10. worship; worship; was condemned indeed, but rather aggravated than abolished, by the Jewish Law; and, as we shall fee hereafter, was fully expiated and perfectly atoned for only in the Christian inftitution *. I would by no means be thought to intimate, that all men under the former difpenfations, though they lived in the fear of God, yet died without hopes of his favour. No, the immaculate Lamb was flain in the divine decree even from the foundation of the world". Abraham believed God, and relied on his promises, which was imputed to him for righteousness". Many t I have taken no notice here of the religion of Mahomet, because our concern is chiefly with those schemes of religion, which were prior to the Chriftian dispensation. Our inquiry being only after a remedy for fin, when that remedy is dif covered, the pursuit is of course at an end. It may be proper however juft to obferve with respect to the Mahometan delufion, that among other ftrong arguments against it, derived from the inconfiftencies, falfehoods, and ridiculous fables that are to be found in the Koran, we may add the mean and carnal gratifications, which it proposes as its rewards. The low indulgence of the fenfes is a purfuit, which tends to debase the mind, and fink it into the mere animal nature, and confequently must be favourable to the cause of fin, instead of affifting to relieve us from it. u Rev. xiii. 8. Rom. iv. 22. of of the Jewish nation carried their views beyond the land of Canaan to better things in another country; nor can it be doubted but fome even of those who were strangers to all covenanted promises, if they did not live without God in the world, might take fanctuary in that mercy and compaffion, which appear in all his works. But then the method in which that compaffion fhould be applied, the price by which those better things should be purchased, the ground of those mighty hopes on which the patriarchs relied, was a mystery of godliness hidden in a great measure from the preceding ages and generations, till, the work of our Redemption being actually accomplished, it became a principal part among the distinguishing articles of the Chriftian Faith. There were indeed before fome bright conjectures, fome dawnings of a glorious expectation. And it will be the next part of our design to point out fome of these gradual dif、 coveries; not only to demonftrate the attention, which was paid to the earlier ages of the world, but to convince thofe who live in these latter days, days, that all the schemes of Providence from the beginning of things were working together for their conviction and benefit. But whatever favours were granted to those of old time, they were only as a light shining in a dark place*; and life and immortality were never brought into open light, till the Sun of righteousness appeared with healing in his wings", And He alone was worthy to bring these tidings to a finful world, who alone was able to make them good tidings of great joy, because he alone was able to take away the fins of the world who died for our offences, and rofe again for our juftification; and to whom all judgment being committed, there can be no condemnation for those who truly are in himÞ. Nor hath he only delivered us from the terrors and confequences of death, but opened to us the blissful treasures of eternity; even of that eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, pro X 2 Pet. i. 19. y Mal. iv. 2. mifed mifed before the world began, but in due time manifested through the preaching of the Gofpel. It must suffice at present to offer only these general hints of our deliverance by Christ, as the more full illuftration of them in the expediency, prediction, and accomplishment of our Redemption, is the chief defign of the work in which we are engaged. Tit. i. 2. See also 1 Pet. i. 20. and 2 Tim. i. 9. SER |