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that, from which the fçriptures proceeded, and to which they amply bear witnefs as the means of falvation, which we apprehend there is a danger of neglecting; and of dwelling upon the letter, without a proper regard to the fpirit; a danger against which the fcriptures themfelves contain many falutary cautions.

There is also a name by which the holy fcriptures are frequently distinguished, which appears to be in divers refpects èxceptionable, namely, The Word of God. This is an appellation which is otherwife applied in thofe writings; and it tends to create a confufion of ideas, unneceffarily to denominate several subjects by the fame name. Chrift is called, The Word of God.* The term + is alfo applied to that holy principle or fpirit, by which he carries on the work of falvation in the hearts of true Chriftians; and frequently to the preaching of the gofpel; but by applying it to the facred writings, a mifapplication of paffages in them is frequently occafioned. That thefe writings contain the words of God, we readily admit; but we think it fafeft, as well as most proper, to defignate them by that appellation, by which the apoftle has diftinguished them; and by way of priority to all other writings, to ftyle them, The holy Scriptures; concerning which we believe with Paul, that they were "given by inspiration of God; and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteouf

* Rev. xix. 13.

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+ Heb. iv. 12.

I Pet. i. 23.

1 John ii. 14.

nefs ; that the man of God may be perfect, tho roughly furnished unto all good works."*

CHAPTER III.

ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

The Fall of Man and Promife of a Redeemer.-Diffe rent Modes of Divine Communication to Man.-Prof. pects and Prophecies of the Gospel Day.-Christ comes among the Jews.-The Benefits of his coming defigned to be univerfal.-Objects of his coming recapitulated.---Chriftian Redemption a Work of Love.---Divinity of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.---The Trinity. ---Juftification.---The Refurrection.---Arguments and Evidences of Chriftianity.---The true and perfect Christian.

HAVING established the truth and divine authority of the fcriptures, we next proceed to the confideration of the most important doctrines of the Christian Religion.

Man having, by disobedience to the divine command, loft that state of innocence and purity in which he was originally created; and having thereby fubjected himfelf and his offspring to fin and mifery; it pleased his gracious and merciful Creator, in the riches of his love, early to point out, This was done at the

and to promife a Redeemer.

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very time when fentence was pronounced on our first parents for their tranfgreflion; for then their tempter and seducer received this judgment: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman; and between thy feed and her feed; it fhall bruife thy head, and thou fhalt bruife his heel."*

But notwithstanding the promife was thus early made, many ages elapfed before it pleafed God completely to fulfil it during which time, however, he did not leave mankind wholly to themfelves; but, by the miniftration of angels, by that holy Spirit which was more plentifully to be poured forth in the Chriftian difpenfation, and by other means, he communicated his will to the children of men striving with and reproving the ungodly because of their iniquities, as well as exhorting and comforting the righteous under thofe trials, unto which this probationary state, and in fome inftances, the love and the fear of their God, rendered them liable. Typical offerings and facrifices for fin were also established, in allusion to that one offering, by which "he hath now perfected for ever them that are fanctified."+

Among other fources of confolation, was the profpect which was at times given to the patriarchs and prophets, of the day of Christ, and of the excellence of his difpenfation; concerning which we have many predictions left upon record, abundantly setting forth thofe advantages which were defigned to mankind by him, whom we have represented to us as the Sent of the Father.

By

* Gen. iii. 15.

+ Heb. x. 14.

thefe prophecies, as well as by the types of the Mofaic law, the minds of many were gradually prepared for the reception of the promised Meffiah; and many there appear to have been, who, with Simeon and Anna, “waited for the confolation of Ifrael, and looked for redemption in Jerufalem," by the coming of him, who was peculiarly prophefied of, as "a light to lighten the gentiles," as well as for "the glory of his people Ifrael."+t

Thus, "when the fulness of the time was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law," from thofe ceremonious obfervances, which were defigned to be as a "Schoolmafter to bring them to Chrift." But the great object of Christ's coming was by no means confined to the Jewish people; amongst whom, and by whom, he fuffered that ignominious death, by which it hath pleased God (and furely it ought to fuffice us, that it has thus pleafed him,) "to reconcile all things to himself.Ӥ

The evangelical prophet, above seven hundred years before our Saviour's perfonal appearance on earth, speaking in the name of the Almighty, declares, "It is a light thing, that thou shouldest be my fervant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preferved of Ifrael: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayeft be my falvation unto the end of the

*Luke ii. 25, 38. + Gal. iv. 4.

†† Ifa. xlii. 6.

Gal iii. 24.

Luke ii. 32.

Col. i. 20.

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earth."* Confonant with this gracious prediction, are these declarations of the apostle John, In him was life; and the life was the light of men." "That was the true light, which lighteth "He every man that cometh into the world +." is the propitiation for our fins; and not for ours only, but also for the fins of the whole world."+ Many are the prophecies concerning the univerfal extent of the benefits of Chrift's coming, the accomplishment of which is fully borne witness to, by the writers of the New Teftament.

This

is particularly and frequently done by Paul, who, being, in an especial manner, the apostle of the Gentiles, has abundantly fet forth, "that the Gentiles fhould be fellow-heirs, and of the fame body, and partakers of the promise in Chrift Jefus by the gospel." Thus was broken down that partition wall, which formerly exifted between Jews and Gentiles; all were united in one common caufe; and all had an equal intereft in him, with whom "there is neither Greek nor Jew; circumcifion nor uncircumcifion; barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; male nor female; but Christ is all, and in all; and all are one in Chrift.'||

From what has already been expreffed, it appears evident, that the love of God, in fending his Son into the world, was not limited to any part of it but that the benefits were defigned to extend as far as the effects of Adam's tranfgreffion. Thus the apostle, speaking of the refurrec

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*Ifa. xlix. 6. Ephes. iii. 6.

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