thus I have laid down the great Doctrin of the New-Testament in these Points as I have Reason from such an abundant Scripture Evidence to be assur'd Let me for a Conclusion recommend to all the Ministers of the Gospel the due Consideration of the whole matter For it is of most exceeding Concernment to our Ministry This is our Enablement our Sufficiency as Ministers of the New-Testament to Preach not the Letter but the Spirit to Preach it as a Ministration of Righteousness and not of Condemnation as a Ministration not of the Letter but of the Spirit For the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life Thus we shall Minister it in its Abiding Continuing Glory as it shall continue in the Kingdom of Christ set out in all its Freeness and in all its Efficacy We cannot else Triumph in manifesting the Savor of the Knowledge of Christ nor will our Ministry be of Sufficiency to be a Savor of Death unto Death to the lost as it ought to be according to the Divine Ordination laid down by the Apostle 2 Cor. c. 2 3. For if the Full and true Grace of the Gospel be not set out as a Ministration of Righteousness of Life and of the Spirit It does not offer to Men the great Gospel Experiment whether it is unto them a Savor of Life unto Life or of Death unto Death They have not that high Savor of the knowledge of Christ that is the Instrument of Grace as by a most Divine and heavenly Suffumigation or Perfume of Life to excite and bring to Life such a stream of Life to give Life from the Spirit nor on the other side till This be Administred can it according to this Gospel Canon or Rule be said That the Ministry of it is a savor of Death unto Death for to whomsoever this high savor of Life is not Administred there is not that conclusion to be made it is of Death unto Death herein being the strength of the Crisis or distinction If the highest savor of the Gospel give not Life the only flavor of Life be not effectual to Life be but like a dead Savor effect nothing produce nothing of Life it must needs be argued such are unto Death And even the Gospel Preached concludes them unto Death when it does not prevail if the most irradiant Light of Christ the Image of God shining to Men does not Enlighten Such a hiding demonstrates such Lost and their Case Desperate Rationalizing Moralizing upon the Gospel yea Scripture Legalizing upon it without a continual interweaving this high Spirituality and rich Grace of it cannot thus Conclude Seal and Bind up If the Fountain and Sources of Light and Life be not kept clear and open tho Men do indeed die and perish for want of Life and Light yet they are not Sealed and bound up for Death as the true Preaching of the Grace of the Gospel by this Ordination of God declared here by the Apostle does The close Experiment for want of this Ministration of the New Testament is not made For the Apostle says Who is sufficient so to Preach the Gospel as that it should be if not a Savor of Life unto Life the principal purpose design and scope of it then of Death unto Death This sufficiency saith he is of God who hath therein Sufficientized to Minister the New Testament not as of a Letter that Kills but as of the Spirit that giveth Life so that tho it be not indeed to all a Ministration of the Spirit giving Life to all yet it is not our Male Admistration for we are by such a faithful discharge of our selves a Savor of Death unto Death without which so faithful a Discharge we could not be so for such a Preaching only as was said puts such a Crisis upon Persons makes such a Tremendous Gospel Experiment which the only Wise God hath yet Ordained should be made by the Free Gospel Preaching And that this Experiment may be made saith the Apastle we take great care not to allay the high flavor of the Gospel by any mixture of the Doctrin of Works with that of Grace as they who minding thir own Advantages make a Trade of Debasing what is most Excellent by vending worse in Temperament with Nobler Liquors But with greatest Sincerity as in the sight of God we bring forth only pure Gospel Supream Grace and herein we use all Freedom Clearness Frankness Openness and Boldness in manifesting this No darkned unintelligible Doublings between Grace and Works as Moses who veiled so the Gospel-part of his Ministry that it became a Ministration of Death And because Paul knew how distasteful this purity of Preaching is to the Condemned World that would yet be Righteous and to the proud and stately Powers of Reason and Free Will He says we arm our selves with a Divine Courage and constancy in pursuing this Ministry and will not on any account whatsoever use Art or Guile but with all integrity represent Truth in its own Light and leave to God the Discrimination of the Lost to whom this Preaching is as the Jealousie-Water to discover them when their very Mind the highest Rational Part being Blinded by the God of this World find not the Rays of the Glory of the Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God and all our Perfection is Likeness to Him shining to them Wherein the Apostle manifestly alludes to what he had said of the Superior Glory of the Gospel to that of the Law tho that gave such a Gloâ—y to Moses his Face And he alludes also to the Veil on Moses his Face upon that Glory and to the Veil on the Hearts of the Jews to this day Implying That not to receive this Pure Gospel Light is like Jewish Unbelief who Stumbled at that Stumbling-Block of Exalting Works and their own Righteousness above Christ and Grace It is true indeed this Preaching up of our Works Endeavours relying upon our own Action is very plausible and seems to carry greater force as being more a kin to our first Constitution under the First Adam And of this the Apostle also gives a Secret as we say Gird when in this so great Point he interposes not without great Design We Preach not our selves As if Preaching intermingled with Works and Humane Powers of Holiness were setting up and exalting our selves into a Dominion over mens Consciences but saith He we Preach Christ the only Lord and our selves Servants iâ— so high a Ministry And in this Epistle Chap. 11. They who even with design against the Grace of the Gospel Teach the Law are as the Apostle says in the appearance of Angels of Light and Ministers of Righteousness Zealous enforcers of Holiness and good Life if yet they stop up these Springs and are Enemies of this Grace they are False Apostles and Ministers of Satan Evil Workers as the Apostle calls them in a taunt of their high pretence to Works and others for want of true distinguishing Thoughts desirous and most propended to be Teachers of the Law and yet dare not desert the Grand Gospel-Principles Know not what they Speak nor whereof they affirm that is do not accurately Think nor Speak nor Reconcile themselves to themselves For the Law is good if a Man use it Lawfully that is according to the Gospel direction of it But pure perfect Law is only pointed set against those upon whom the Gospel hath not Effect who are given up by it as Incurable and unto Death This I speak not I appeal to Him who Searcheth Hearts with Reflection on any Person or sort of Persons and least upon Mr. Williams of whom I desire much other Esteem But to move and perswade him and all Preachers of the Gospel to reconcile all their Notions Disputes Preaching the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God commited to their Trust which the Apostle hath defined to be then sufficiently Preached when it is Primarily and till the Gospel hath remanded the Lost under the aggravated Condemnation of the Law for refusing the Grace of the Gospel 'till then I say the New Testament is to be Preached as a Ministration of the Spirit and not of the Letter for the Letter Killeth but the Spirit giveth Life a Ministration of Life not of Death not of Condemnation but of Righteousness which Ministration shall in a short time be with Open Face and all Veils removed the Lord drawing near and all Turning to Him beholding Christ the Image of God and the Glory of God in the Face of Christ we shall be Changed into the same Image from the Glory of a lower degree now to the Glory that shall be in perfection by the mighty Effusions of that Spirit who is Jehovah that shall so soon be Now this high and richest Gospel Treasure we have saith the Apostle at the present but in Vessels of Earth Men of like Corruptions and guilt low and base Appearances of outward Condition and State and of the vile and dying Bodies for Sin that the excellency of Divine Grace and Power may be Exalted alone throughout and throughout For at the present we have as the Apostle saith all this Glory but in hope we see yet but as in a Glass tho with an Open Face this Glory But when the Angelical Ministry Rev. 14. 6. shall in the Kingdom of Christ be Missioned and sent out this Ministration shall so Exceed in Glory that all other Glory of Humane Righteousness shall utterly Disappear and when it comes it shall for ever Remain And this shall he when the Israel of God shall be Called and Turn'd to the Lord and that shall be when 〈◊〉 Times are at an End as Christ says Luke 21. 24. And when the Eclipse on the 〈◊〉 Churches going off they shall have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a full Orbed Light as that Word Rom. 1â— 25. Opposed to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Eclipse in that Chapter properly signifies and All this shall I doubt not begin at 1697. FINIS
into Gospel Truth as stated and vindicated by Mr. Dan. Williams especially in Reference to the Doctrin of justification and the nature of his Proceedings with his Testimonies hereupon By Thomas Edwards Esq Price stitcht 1 s. 6. You may be supplied with Dr. Chancey's Three Parts lately Printed against Mr. Williams 7. You may likewise be supplied with Dr. Crisp's Works 8. Where is Sold Mr. Troughten's first and second Parts of Justification and Caâ—â—â— on Job in two large Volumes in Folio Price bound 40 s. And Poole's â—â—nâ—â—sis Crâ—â—icorum in two large Volumes bound 1 l. 10 s. A Right State of Gospel Truth Presented to Mr. Williams Occasion'd by some Assertions of his so called Defence of Gospel Truth I Have upon the View and Consideration of the Reverend Mr. Williams his Defence of Gospel Truth and the many excellent Confessions of the true Grace of God wherein we stand therein found Thought it necessary for my self as in a low and humble Capacity yet having appeared as a Reconciler upon the Account of the Sermons of Dr. Crisp not to come forth as a Disputant much less as a professed Adversary but as a Reconciler of some of the Collateral and Derivative Branches of that Grace and Truth I find in that Discourse to their Principals and to Prune what seems not to be so Reconcilable that the Whole may be seen in its Order and Beauty And herein I Labour to avoid not personal Reflections I am out of the Temptation of them where I Profess Honour and Esteem only but of any Aculeate Animadversions on or Encounter with particular Expressions wherein the Fundamental Interests of Truth are not lodged or concerned but I have set my self to Establish those grand Points of Gospel Truth which I am perswaded ought at all times to be set in a clear and full Light on all Just Occasions in the most stated and Solemn Discourses and at all other times so interwoven That they may shine out and give their Light both to Prayer and Preaching While there is just room and scope yet left for all those Scriptural Expatiations into Instruction Exhortation Expostulation Reproof as Methods of Direction into the ways of Righteousness but still so as they may be enlightned by these Springs of Gospel Light Truth and Grace which I am now undertaking to Conciliate them unto This I have endeavoured in the most plain and perspicuous Method And so that whatever may appear in Mr. William's Book of a contrary Sentiment and Inclination may be comprehended so as to be resolved in some Cases of Doubt in others Foreprized or Guarded against not to say Answered And herein I have made it my Business to level the Discourse to these Heads or Points 1. To state the Gospel Doctrin concerning the Eternal Councils of God with Relation to all his Elect who are the principal Concernees in all these Points Yet with necessary Respect to all others so far especially as what is said of others or in General is necessary to be considered as Ilâ—ustrating these things with Relation to the Elect. 2. I have made an Essay upon that noblest Point of Debate How far the Law upon its own Authority necessarily and indispensibly falls in with Ratifies and confirms the Power and Authority of the Gospel And how far the Gospel finds necessary to it self and to its great Ends not to make void but to Establish the Law And whether upon all this the Gospel can by it self be properly stiled a Law which I on great Reason make out in the Negative 3. I have offered great proof that the Faith Repentance Sanctification and Good Works the Gospel requires cannot be justly deemed or taken for Conditions or Qualifications but are Effluxes as from Electing Love and Grace so from the Righteousness and Death of Jesus Christ and his Victorious Resurrection through which the Holy Spirit is given and are as free as Election and Justification Themselves When they are considered in strict Relation to the Elect however in Relation to the Non-Elect or as generally spoken of They may put on such Notions or Representations as of Conditions or Qualifications 4. I have endeavored to Illustrate the Procedure of the Day of Judgment to be so described in Scripture that the Primary and Supream Representations and that subordinate all others to themselves are most exactly agreeable to the Free Grace of the Gospel not as a Law nor requiring any Qualifications or Conditions with Relation to the Elect but as gloriously appearing with its own Product and Effect as it shall be made to appear the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God and by the appearance of Jesus Christ with his Saints in whom he will be glorified and admired at that day I begin with the first And seeing I direct this Conciliatory Discourse to them whom I suppose to acknowledge with me an Election of a certrin Number to Salvation and Glory I make this Appeal to them Are there not in Scripture highest Assertions of Eternal Love and Grace Independent upon Qualifications and Conditions in them who shall be made Partakers Do not all stand in a Frame and Connexion Election Calling Justification Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption All as free and as certain the one as the other It is true the Wisdom of God hath so contrived and ordered this Preaching the Gospel That it is to be published promiscuously to the Non Elect with the Elect and as I may say to Probe for the Elect and to draw them out with Efficacy and Power by the Spirit joining with the Word It is also most true These cannot be apply'd to particular Persons but as â—â—â—â—â—ing Grace singles them out by Calling Sprinkling the Blood of Christ on their Hearts and Sanctification but they are always True concerning the whole Number and Body and so concerning every single Person And they may and ought to be openly Asserted and Maintained in Doctrin and also to be offered in Preaching and Publication of the Gospel as occasion Requires to invite and draw Souls by so free Absolute and Independent a Grace declar'd to Lost Man in all the Election of God And who knows but it may draw this and that particular Person in a Congregation and therefore with great hopes of a Divine Co-Operation It ought to be as other Truths Promulged And I doubt not when God opens the Mouths of his Servants in the boldest and frankest Declarations of Truth as he will when the as 't were new Song shall be learnt and so taught by the 144000 on Mount Sion with the Fathers Name on their Foreheads it shall be Sealed with the greatest Number of Converts as it was in Peter's Sermon offering that Grace which thing I humbly declare my self to be waiting for as the great Consolation of Israel And there are undeniably many great Scriptures that set out the freest most absolute and Independent Grace throughout our Salvation from first to last as Patterns or Exemplars of all Scripture such
God and us but by the Blood of the Lamb offered by the Eternal Spirit and his Appearing in that Blood to the very Face of God for us in Heaven For on the least Failing or Offence the Law hath none to offer us So that there can be nothing but Condemnation On this Account therefore we find in the Gospel so many of the Laws Severities that we may be continually awakened to go to Christ 2. That we may find Inability in our selves to do any thing suitable or agreeable to that holy Law which Commands with an Astonishing and Admirable Excellency of Holiness but gives not the least Power or Strength to perform what it Commands And in both Respects The Apostle may be very well understood If there had been a Law that could have given Life verily Righteousness should have been by the Law But the Law that Commands and gives not Power is therefore called a Letter that Kills 3. That herein the Gospel may shew it self to be a Gospel indeed In the Ministration of Righteousness opposite to the Law the Ministration of Condemnation and in the Ministration of Life and Power by the Spirit giving strength to do what is Commanded and so enabling the Spirits of Saints to become the Epistle and Gospel of Christ Ministred by the Servants of Christ in Preaching the New Testament but written not with Ink or in the Leaves of the Bible but with the Spirit of the Living God and not in Tables of Stone but in the Fleshly Tables of the Heart and therefore is the Gospel in all its most proper ways of Speaking so constantly interlineated with Christ and his Spirit 4. Seeing what even the Spirit is pleased to vouchsafe in the present State is so much below the very Glory the Gospel holds out There is a continual Incitation the Gospel sets before us to desire that Change from the Beginning Glory of the present State to the Glory that shall be in the Perfect State of the Kingdom of Christ And on this Account is that Future State so often mentioned when indeed with a Face perfectedly open we shall behold as in a Mirror not as in ordinary Mirrors our own Natural Faces but Jesus Christ the Image of God in his own Glory and we now are in Degrees and shall be perfectly Changed into the same Image from Glory begun now to the Perfection of the same Glory in the Kingdom of Christ as by that Spirit Jehovah And this gives us the true Excellency of the Gospel The Law like our ordinary Mirrors shews our own Faces by that Light which first indeed represents what we ought to be but we not being that it Reproves and Condemns such Sinners or Imperfect Saints as the Best are but it shews no Glorious Image or not in Christ with an Efficacious Changing Grace and Power But this the Gospel does for us 4. The Gospel takes the Law into it self that it may though it be in it self a Ministration of Righteousness and Life and Spirit Yet that it may by the Law shew the Greatness of the Sin of Unbelief and Impenitency Reâ—â—ection of it self and Refusal of its gracious Offers And this it does on Two great Reasons 1. That all those Manifestations of the Sin and Danger of an Unbelieving Impenitent State may be Rational Instruments and Conveyances in the hand of the Spirit of that Power of Faith and Repentance flowing from it self in the New-Testament into the Hearts of the Elect. 2. That the Gospel may have in Readiness the Law to Revenge every Disobedience against it self and yet preserve its own high Title of the New-Testament and the Covenant of Grace For as the Lord saith I accuse you not You have one that Accuseth you even Moses in whom you Trust and I Judge you not The Words that I have spoken they shall Judge you at the Last Day viz. in the Virtue and the Authority of that Eternal Law of Righteousness which as hath been shewn cannot but pass along with the so gracious Gospel Dispensation And thus when the Gospel hath made offer of it self and all the Grace of it without Saving Effect The Law and Justice according to it Seises upon the Sinner for Sin against that Eternal Righteousness Essential to it self and against the Unspeakable Grace of the Gospel with dreadfullest Aggravations of Condemnation And herein Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God in our Nature is the Righteous Judge at that Day though here on Earth he judged not being Come not to Judge but to Save And his Judgment is according to that Eternal Law seated in the Heart and Thoughts of Men and yet according to the Gospel as the Apostle speaks declaring that his Judgment agreeable with the Law written in Mens Hearts and so in the Word of God which very Law written in the Heart and Thoughts of Men Accusing or Excusing is now in the hand of Christ and of the Gospel to its own great Ends of drawing them to Christ who are his and leading them under the Conduct of his Spirit And God is said there to Judge the Secrets of Mens Hearts according to the Gospel concerning that Light and Sense of Natural Conscience Because the Grace of the Gospel both exalts this Light and because also according to the saving Effects of the Gospel upon these Powers of Natural Conscience so preserved by Christ every Man is found to Honor Praise and Glory or else falls under the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God upon their hard and Impenitent Hearts and Ways by which they have treasured up Wrath against the Day of Wrath. And of all things in both States Jesus Christ is most righteously and propperly constituted the Judge as shall be further made out But notwithstanding the Law and the Gospel do thus far join themselves one to another yet which will come up close to the Decision of this Question The Law can never pass into the Nature of the Gospel nor can the Gospel become a Law For First It is most evident the Law can never become Gospel or of the excellent Nature of it as shall be seen in a brief Compare of the one with other in these following Particulars 1. The Gospel or New-Testament gives the Image of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ an Image of the Admirable Beauty and Life in Christ the Wisdom of God the Righteousness of God and the Power of God Perfect Increated Invariable Eternal ready to communicate it self in Richest Abundance to All the Election of God But the Spirit of God it self Represents the Law a Holy and Righteous Rule It must so needs be But it is Engraven only in Tables of Stone or written with Ink For Jesus Christ the Image of God in which Adam was made withdrew upon the Sin and Fall of Adam and what Adam had was lost and defaced so that there is a Rule of Glory but no Image of Glory as in the Gospel that by the Covenant
of Grace is to Communicate it self 2. The Gospel having such a Communication of Righteousness so High so Perfect can accept a Sinner by putting upon him a Perfect Righteousness and Obedience and so blot out all his Transgressions and Imperfections by a full and free Pardon the Penalty being fully Answered and discharged by Christs Death and Sufferings even as the Righteousness is fulfilled by him who is that Image of Glory But the Law being only a Rule and no more can accept no less than the whole and Perfect Obedience For the least Offence being as they speak Solutio continui a Convulsion or Breach of the whole Frame of Righteousness the Law can pronounce nothing but Condemnation to a Sinner who hath not that Full and Perfect Righteousness of the Gospel to offer to it but sollicits and stirs up and works Wrath by the discovery of Sin and it stains all Imperfect Righteousness by declaring the Offendor in one Point guilty of all It brings to nothing all outward Righteousness by shewing the very first Desire or Coveting to be Sin 3. The inward Inherent Righteousness so absolutely Necessary to be in every Person redeemed by Christ and united to him is not only enjoin'd upon him by a Letter that Kills by Commanding and giving no Power but is conveyed to him by a Quickning Spirit changing him into the same Image from Beginning Glory to Perfect Glory as by that Lord who is that Spirit Jehovah one with that Spirit and who himself is that Image and that Spirit So every one Redeemed by Christ is the Epistle and Gospel of Christ it self written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God This the Law can never do it Commands and supposes the Power which was once given but the Law never considers the Loss by the Fall nor takes Compassion of it So never it can become a Gospel For the Gospel brings every good Work from the Treasury of Eternal Love and Grace from the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant by a meeting of the Spirit of the Gospel in the Heart of every Elected in Christ and from Providential Opportunities and Advantages of such holy Action and good Work according to the Will of God Heb. 13. 4. The Reward therefore and the whole procedure of Judgment is according to the Gospel of and according to meer Grace to all the Elect of God though in and with a Splendor of Holiness and Purity But whatever is done at that day so that the Law hath the Superiority even to and upon Those who enjoy the Gospel all is turned to Condemnation and Aggravation of Punishment even to and upon all those who are not the Evangelized the Children of the Gospel by Election and yet in a way of clearest Justice and Righteousness according to their Works in that Righteous Judgment as shall presently be in a particular Head of this Dscourse made out concerning that great day 5. The Gospel hath this most illustriously peculiar to it that it toucheth nothing even that is in its own Nature most severe and farthest from Grace but it by its high Dominion of Grace it Subordinates it to the Ends Purposes and Service of Grace even the Law Sin and Death that where they Abound Grace does much more Abound where Sin by the Law does Reign unto Death All who receive abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness shall much more Reign in Life by Jesus Christ and Grace it self so Reigns As therefore it hath been made out Even the Law is throughout taken into this great Service of the Gospel for the great Ends and Purposes of Grace but now the Law takes nothing under its Cognizance but so far as it comes under its Hand with Relation to Fallen Man it turns it like it self into a Killing Letter and into a Ministration of Condemnation Let us therefore consider the most different Influence of the Law in Three Dispensations that Comprehend all the Dealings or manner of Treaties God hath had with Man since the Transgression of Adam 1. That which is the most Universal Dispensation of God towards all Mankind and is generally stiled the Law or Light of Nature or as the Apostle calls it The Work of the Law written in the Heart wherein All should be doing by Nature the things contained in the Law Men being a Law to themselves And this though it be the lowest of Divine Dispensations to Men in order to recovery of the Elect in order to Humane Society for the Elects sake yet it is general to All Only in Children and Ideots it is hidden and close folded up for want of the Use of the Faculties else it is the same And it is by the Interposal of the Mediator for the Elects sake that there should be a World under the Patience and long-Suffering of God and by the same Patience and long-Suffering there was a Reserve and Reprieve from the utter Loss of the Image of God as from Christ Communicated on account of which he is said to enlighten every Man that comes into the World which Light is capable of more and more degrees of Clearness and Power if closely attended to whereby the World becomes habitable by being under the Government of that Eternal Wisdom by which Kings Reign Princes and all the Judges of the Earth decree Justice Prov. 8. 15. Now this Reserve of the Image of God in Man as it falls under the Law or the strict Rule of Holiness It serves only to Self-Accusation as to every particular Person that he hath not acted up to that Law and Light within and yet still if they did live up to the highest degrees it could not make a Recovery or Restoration of any Man without Christ For without any the least Acceptance of what is done according to it It only Aggravates what was not done to the height so that That Accusation of Thoughts the Apostle speaks of the Law hath its Power over and the Excusings or Apologies of Thoughts are from the Grace of the Gospel which does allow them in Abatement of Condemnation for any good thing found in them or done by them and therefore the Apostle says God will Judge the Secrets of all Hearts at that Day according to this Gospel by Jesus Christ shewing that with Relation to this Light given by the Mediator and for his sake God will proceed with great Gospel Equity and Mercy which may be another and greater Senâ—e of those words before given to all those who have laid together those Remainders or Reserves of the Light of Nature and the Patience and Goodness of God of which he hath given so many Witnesses So that it shall be more Tolerable for such than others who have trodden all these under Foot and run into all Excess of Riot Cruelties and all Uncleanness with Greediness But in all the Elect the Grace of the Gospel makes much a higher use of this Light for it lifts them up above it into a New-Creation
may be said of Repentance Arg. 2. The supposal of the Gospel's being a new Law necessarily supposes a new Power given as large as that Law So that whoever teaches the Gospel a Law must also assert All to whom the Gospel comes must have a Power vouchsafed enabling them to Faith and Repentance which seeing Mr. Williams disowns as given to All the Argument is very heavy upon him But as I have stated Faith and Repentance within the first Law The first Power given obliges without any Power vouchsafed a new even as to all other Duties of Obedience as hath been said For the further Illustration of the Point that a new Law requires new Power Let it be supposed Adam had no power of Faith or Repentance ever given him he could not forfeit from his Posterity what he never had If there be then a Law of Faith and Repentance given there must be a Power of Faith and Repentance answering that Law and so there must be such universal power of Grace given as may answer that Law in all to whom it extends as a Law But now let us look upon Faith and Repentance to be a Law included within the universal Law of Righteousness as I do and as must needs be done viz. Upon two Suppositions 1. That Man is fallen into Sin 2. That God is pleased to offer a Mediator and a Pardon and so to accept the Righteousness of another and Repentance after Sin It will then follow the Faith and Repentance commanded are but the exertions of that Power of the Image of God first given for the same Power that tends to Conservation in the first Righteousness works to Restitution to that Righteousness when lost upon any possibility of Recovery Herein therefore is the Grace of the Mediator to all Mankind that he hath shored up the lapsed Faculties of Humane Nature Universally that there are some Reserves of that Law and light of the First Creation some of the Characters and first impressions for very great Ends both as to the Government of the World as also to fasten the grace of the Gospel unto to whom it comes and seeing the Patience and Long-suffering and Bounty of God to mankind is a Witness of some merciful Intention Finding therefore such motions of the Law of Nature within and of merciful Providence without here is so much of the general goodness of God leading Men to Repentance as will leave even the Gentiles without Excuse at that day Now then God requiring of Fallen Man no other thing than what he gave him power for at first and what he hath by the Mediator sustained him in some Reserves of According to the Thoughts therefore Accusing or Excusing in the day of Christ and according to God judging the Secrets of all Hearts by the Gospel preserving these Remainings of the Law of Nature shall all be determined upon at that day And thus every thing stands clear and fair according to the discourses of Scripture according to sound Reason whereas all else must be full of Trouble and Rencounter against the Grace of the Gospel as against that so evident Experience of God's giving the very Light of the Gospel by his own Free Will and Grace and those Laws of Humane Justice and Equity of which we have so inward a sense and surely in every thing it appears that the First Law of Righteousness continues and stands fast Thus its Authority falls freely on the Gospel either as there is any witness of it among the Heathen or as it is published and made known to any by the immediate Preaching and Reading of it and as the Gospel for all its great Uses and Ends takes it into it self But yet still it is it self a Ministration only of Life of Righteousness and of the Spirit and the Transcript of the everlasting gracious purposes of God from Eternity Arg. 3. If the Gospel be a New Law it must have a Promulgation as universal as it is a Law and seeing it is the only Name under Heaven given to the Children of Men whereby they can be Saved if it were a Law it would certainly be by the goodness and equity of God Proclaimed and made known to all Man-kind even to every Person for Faith Repentance and Obedience but as it is a counterpart of that supream purpose of Grace in God towards his Elect and not a Law It is enough that it be made known to so many as are Called according to Purpose to all others God is at Freedom For even the general Patience and Bounty of God are sufficient manifestations of some Mercy that should excite Men to seek after God and to turn from Sin and leaving them inexcusable if they do not that Natural Law requiring it when there are such hopes to seek after God as far as they can according to those Hopes and Manifestations even as in all Natural Duties and the Case is but the same in perishing without Gospel as in perishing without Law for thus the Apostle Argues while he is discoursing with Pagans Rom. 2. 3 4. according to Natural Light But this Promulgation is not sufficient for a New Law of so great good to all Man kind Arg. 4. The Gospel if it were a New Law it must needs be a Law of Works and indeed else it were no Law for tho it be sounded in Grace and though it be a Law accepting Sincerity in the place of perfect Obedience yet it must if it be a Law as some mistakingly speak and would have it resolve it self into the last Issue into something done by our selves by our own power even tho we are assisted by the grace of the Spirit in it yet there must be a power in us to accept or refuse that Assistance and if so beside the Apostle's constant Remonstrance to any such Works or â—aw of Works in the Gospel Covenant 1. It is evident by the Experiment made in Adam how hazardous the smallest dependance on our own Created Will is So the Promise could not be Sure to the Seed as the Apostle Discourses Rom. 4. 2. 2. The Reward would be of Debt and not of Grace because to him that Worketh tho in the least of Work as the Apostle expresly says it is so Rom. 4. 4. 3. There would arise cause of Boasting to him that should so Work because by that part how littlesoever it should be of Work he improves and exerts his Power so as Thousands do not which gives cause of Boasting now there is nothing the Apostle more excludes than Boasting as most contrary to the design of God in the Gospel Arg. 5. Iâ— the Gospel be a Law it is necessarily supposed to be founded in the Grace of the Redeemer and in every thing weighed out by him that it should need no further Grace for the pardon of Sins against it it being a Law purchased by the Blood of the Redeemer Now if no Sin against the Law of the Gospel as that Law is apprehended a