Short Survey of the Bible,
London, 1753.

YALE
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

A short survey of the "B\bl

e

A SHORT

SURVEY,

OFTHE

BIBLE,

^SKSKSKSK^

A SHORT
SURVEY OF THE
BIBLE, WITH
Suitable INFERENCES. ALSO,
Some REMARKS on its CONTENTS,
AND THE
Importance of MEDITATION.
To which are added, viz.

Sec. I. Some Enlargement
on Luke xxiv. 44. wherein
are tranfcribed fome of the
Prophecies in the Pfalms re
lating to Christ, with
their Fulfilment.
II. The Renewal of the Law,
by Moses.
HI. An Explanation of fome of
thejewijh Sacrifices and Offer
ings, by comparing them with
the Sufferings of Christ.

IV. A Parallel between Moses
and Christ.
V. The Divinity of Christ
proved, from a variety of
Scriptures.
VI. A view of fome inani
mate Things , by which
Christ is reprefented in
Scripture.
VII.The trueCaufeof the Mif-
carriages of Mankind, from
firfttolaft.

Divided into Two Parts.

LONDON:
Printed in the Year 1753.

MW-7 153s

PREFACE.
f~\ UR eternal welfare is infeparahly connetl-
^"^ ed with the belief and experience of the
truths contain 4 in the Bible. *Tis therefore^ the
indifpenfble duty of all who enjoy that rich blef-
Jtng, diligently to attend to its doflrines and pre*
cepts ; as the negleB of it, and the irretrievable
lofs of their fouls, are link'd together. '7*is th&
foundation of all fpiritual knowledge ; a lamp
unto our feet, and a light unto our paths : A
light Alining in a dark place it is juflly JliTdy
for wofully dark and benighted would this world
be without it ; and fad is their cafe who defpife
or negleSl it ; better will it be with Sodom and
Gomorrah in the day of judgment than with
fuch. The defgn of this treatife is to point out a
few ofthe blejftngs it contains , and the importance
and advantage of an interefl in them \ (princi
pally intended for the benefit of young perfons, and
thofe who receive favours of this fort from the
truly generous ;J in order to promote thejludy of
the word of God, to the negletl of which, is owing,
that ignorance and wickednefs we find among
us. It

PREFACE.

It will not be expe&ed that infojhort a trea-
tife 'Ifhould enlarge on the creation of the world,
the deluge, the hiftory and chronology of the Bible ;
tny defign is only to take a view of thofe mofl glo
rious and i?nporta?it parts, which is the principal
defign of revelation to make known, and in which
every other part centers ; viz, Our recovery from
the ruins of the apoftacy, the refioration of the
divine Image on our fouls, and the everlafiing
enjoyment of the blejfed God.
I have in feveral places collected fuch parts of
the Scriptures as are adapted to the fubjeSl, in
hopes that the Divine Spirit who indited them,
would attend his own word with a divine energy
to the hearts of fome of my readers ; and on his
aid depends the fuccefs. I rather chofe this me
thod, as no arguments can be fo forcible as thofe
which bring the credentials of heaven for their
fupport, and bear its imprefs.
¦Would mankind fittdy the Scriptures, without
prejudice, a?td with a fincere defire of profiting
by it's contents, there is nothing fo great, or good,
but might be expetled thro the. divine blejfing, as
the refult of it : a?td till this is in fome good de
gree the cafe, errors, innovations, and evil prac~
4 ticety

PREFACE.
tices, mufi be expected, as the confequence of fol
lowing their own imaginations.
Man, without revelation, fir ays in a bewild
er d path, without a guide, and is continually
liable to be mified : and no wonder if they who are
not direEled by this unerring rule, differ in their
fentiments, as they do in their faces : with what
pleafure thenmufi a fincere mind, who, after he
has gone round the circle of finite knowledge, and
treated enjoyments, inpurfuit of fubfiantial hap-
pinefs, (where he who feeks it is ever difappointed,)
receive the Sacred Oracles, convinc d of their ju-
preme excellency, and divine original!

J>tl

A S H O R I

S U R V E Y
O FT HE',
B I B L E.

HERE is no hiftory fo antient as the Bible, neither
is there any fo excellent. How dark and fabulous
is every other account of the origin of nature ! and
no wonder, as none but the- great Author him'felf
can poflibly acquaint us with it :. Where waft thou.
when I laid the foundations of the earth? Job 38. 4. — It begins
with our creation, and by gradual advances, difplays the wonders
of Divine Providence, as well as the riches of Divine Grace, till
it reaches: thro' to the eternal world. " Its-parts are fo many,
" its. beauties and glories fo numerous," that fo far from
being able to recount ox furvey them all in a (hort treatife, 'tis
eternity only can fully open its inyaluable treafures.

B

SECT.

m
g/E C T. I.
and Fall of Man.
Divine Revelation, which only can acquaint us with
our origin, afferts the dignity of human- nature in its
innocent and happy ftate : aflures us that man was created in
his Maker's Image ; holinefs was ftamp'd on his foul •, was
favour'd with communion and intercourfe with him, and
form'd for the inexpreffible delights of the /heavenly world,
in the full enjoyment, of him.— —But how is the fine gold
changed ! what an alteration appears-when we furvey his prefent
condition ! He is at enmity with God his Creator, and kind
benefactor, (Oh-^wful thought !) P/ide, the.Xin.of the apoftate
angels, has go^ftfong pof^pion ofj&ih, he famjo the Jjmighty,
depart from me ; I defire not the knowledge of thy ways. The
Divine Image, that was on his foul, is defac'd ; his rationality,
and all his boafted powers, which ought to be devoted to the
fervice of him who gave them1, afe employ'd in mean perifh-
ing delights, and even againft his Creator : and in this apoftacy
is every individual"gsf the huq^ndpecies invelv'd. Wjbo can
hr^ig a clean thing out of an unclean? Job xiv. 4. * t '"..-:
But, bleffed be God we are not to flop here ; tho' it is a
deplorable condition, 'tis not an irremediable one.  And
now, O Soul, as there is hope concerning theeV fuppofe God
before the revelation, of his Son, had given thee liberty to make
thy Own terms, eankift thou .have afk'd any thing equal to
what he has given ?  No furely ; The contrivance of thy
falvation, requires, Infinite Wifdom and Infinite Love.
SECT.
* The following Scriptures afford us a plain defcription of the fed effecls
of our Apoftacy, Pf. li. ;. Shapen in iniquity. Eph:i\. 3. By natinie
children of wrath. Rom. iii. io, 18. There is none righteous. ' i Cor. xv. zz.
In Adam all die.' z Pet. ii. 19. Servants of corruption, j Tit. i. 15. The
mind and confeience defiled. Jtr.va. 17. Evil heart. Ezek. xi. 19 Stony
heart. Eph. iv. 18. Alienated from the life of God. <ver. 22. The old man
which is corrupt. Mark. vii. 21, 22. Out ofthe heart of man proceed evil
thoughts, &c Gen. vi 5. Evil Imaginations. Mark. iii. 5. Blindnefs of
heart. Epb'.u.'x. Bead in trefpafles and fins.

,i;'3 j
S EC T. II.
Ihe • Method tf tbe . Sinner's Recovery.
STAND amaz'd, O my foul! and fay with the Prophet,
Farwyzth'tiMghts are notjaari thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, faith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, fb are my ways. higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your tkaugfrts*. This Love infinitely exceeds the bounds-
of our moft exalted1 conceptions. — Here's indeed good tidings^ pf-
great Joy.; 3u3.m a Saviour is bprn, To its a Son is given % a'nd-
he no lefs than the Son of Goo, the brightnefs of his Father's
Glory, and-exprefs Image of -his perfon. Wonderful, Councillor,
'The MIGHT T GOD, The :ewtlafiing Father, and Prince of
peace; and he is become JEHOVAH our right eoufnefs*. —
He condefcended to take our nature upon him, with all its
Iinlefs infirmities, and is netajham'd even to call us his brethren'.-
We have- not an High Prieft which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our .infirmities ; but was in all points tempted like as
we are, ye.t without Jin*. As the high prieft under the law
was anointed with holy oil, (an. emblem of the Divine Spirit,)
fo our Vgpeait High Prieft wasvanOinted with the Holy Ghoft",
to qualify him for his Office and arduous undertaking.
. It ought, fu rely to melt the hardeft heart who, reads the d;e-
fcription of his fufferings in the word of God. ; He was brought
as a lamk to the Jlaughter.. . He fuffer\d- :the Juftfor the unjuft
that he might bring us to .God. Tho' he„was rich, yet for our
sakes he became poor, that we thrtf his poverty might. b& rich'.
Was buffeted, reviled, fpit Upon, fcourged, numbered with.tranf-
grejfors, and poured out his' foul unto deaths. — But this :is. not
all; hisifoul iufferings were by far the moft fevere: there was
the wrath of an offended God, .due to finners, which he- muft.
bear as their Surety. A weight ! that we muft all have, funk
under! and^had he not been GOD as well as Man, could not
have fupported it •, but his Divine Nature aflifted the Huma
nity to undergo thefe Sufferings. What agonies did he feel
in the Garden, when his fweat was as it were great drops of
bloodh / What diftrefs of Soul ! when he cried on the crofs,
B 2 My
aTfar. Iv-. 8, 9. b |er. xxiii. 6. c Heb. iv. 15. . d Heb ii. 11.
e'A<as x. 38. f z Cor. viii. 9. s Ifcd.lui. 12. h Luke xxii 44..

[43!
My. God, My God, why. haft thou forfaken me1? And what
greater proof can we have of the Squl- Sufferings of our Lord,
than his agonies give us : 'tis plain he had fomething much
greater. to bean, ' than the .feparation of foul and, body, as
Martyrs have even met death with a fmile, and triumph'd in
flames:" " Behold the' Man, : whoendured the Crofs and de-
?' fpifed the Shame ; look and love, wonder and mourn!" :
" Christ here abolifhed the ceremonial law. There was
" no farther occafion for the types of beafts, nor for the
" typical actions of flaying and facrificing them : he' here rea-
" liz'd thofe types. The fire and fwdrd were fatisfkd; and.
" the fire on the altar, was extinct The^fword was fheath'd
"in his' blood,1 the fire of God's wrath.enter'd his foul; and
" belie vers* are no longer to eat the typical paffover, but to
""feed by faith, on that bread which came down from heaven*,
" that bread and wine, which is the fupport of our fouls here, .
"• and will be the fupport of our fouls, and fpiritual bodies here-
tf after." As the corn, which makes the bread that fupports our
natural bodies, muft be ground or bruifed, and endure, the fire,
before it becomes bread ; fo our fpiritual food muft undergo the
fame,' before it could yield us anynourifliment. Whofo eateth my
flefh,and drinketh my bloodj hath eternal life, and I will raife
him up at the laft day1.
" Ch r ist here finifh'd ihe work his Father had given him to dp.
A Work ! on which depends the eternal falvation and happinefs
ofthe human race ;— -On which, was built the faith and hope
of all good men before its completion, and has employ'd. the
tongues of faints ever fince : — A work, that ought continually
to be the Joy arid wonder of our fouls now, and the celebration ,
of which will be our everlafting employment. And our great
High Prieft is now gone with his own blood into heaven itfelf,
(of which the Holy of Holies was a reprefentation,) ; having
obtained eternal redemption for us?. And as the high prielt
bore the names of the- children of Ifrael in the breaft-plate on his
heart, before the Lord", fo our High Prieft bears our names
really oh his heart, in his Interceffion for us ; and they are faid
to be graven on the palm's of his hands ° ; and we are by his fuf-
ferings and mediation, reftor'd to all our forfeited. privileges,
and are hereby laid under eternal bonds of gratitude and love. Infer-
' Mark xv. 34. k John vi. 41. 'Johnvi. 54. "> Heb. ix. 12.
n Exod. xxviii. 29. ° Ifai. xlix. 16. 

I Si
'Inferences.:
i. , This mews the evil there is in Sin, that nothing left
than the blood of Chrift can cleanfe us .from it: And the
juft'ice of God demands, that either the finner, or his furety^
bear the" weight' of it.
2. The atonement of Chrift turns all the perfections ofGod
to the advantage and comfort of she believer. His holinefs
and juftice, which are terrible attributes to the finrier, are -the
confblation and joy of 'the chriftian ; on thefe are grounded .his :
faith ' in the promifes, for they are' all' yea and amen in Cbrifi
Jefus?. '3. Remember, this falvation was provided, and wrought'
out by God himfelf. He trod the wine-prefs alone*; Believers
are redeemed ones', and 'tis an evidence that we are fuch, if
we are prepar'd to join in that fong of praife, Rev. i. 5, 6.
Unto him that loved us, and wafhed us from our Jins in his own
blood. ,4. That Jefua Chrift is able, to-fave them to , fhft uttermoftj
that come unto God by him ' ; and as willing as he is able. Come
unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give
you reft'. . Him that cemeth to me, I will in no wife caft out1.
, r 5. Don't let the number'or aggravations of thy fins drive
thee ;from Chrift : be they ever fo many, or great, his bloody
can cleanfe'thee from them. The blood ofjefus Chrift his Son
cleanfeth us from all Jin". And tho' tin has ' abounded, grace
has much more' abounded™. The forgivenefs of the vileft finners'
is left on record to prevent dejpair. Thofe that are righteous
in their own eyes, (and remain fo,) are hot the perforis he-
came to fave. I am not come to call the righteous, but finners /«'
repentance*. 6. Whatever our wantsor difficulties are, there's enough
in Chrift to fupply and relieve them. In him dwelteih all- the
fulnefs of the Godhead bodily7, or fubftantially.

p z Lor. i. 20. t Ifai. Ixiii. 3. r Heb. vii. 25. = Matt. xi. 28.
' John vi. 37. n 1 Johnl. 7. "'Rom. v.'zo. * Matt, ixr 13.-
)' Colofs. ii. 9.

[6]
j. As ever you expect to conquer fin, and get the victory
over your fpiritual enemies, never fet about it in your own
ftrength; ' Without me ye can do nothing*. Look up daily to
him, vthofe. grace is fufficient for thee, and has promifed, as-
thy days, fo fhall thy Jlrength bea. - We cannot live upon
grace received ; for conftant fupplies of fpiritual food from
Chrift, are as neceffary for the health and vigour of our fouls,
as natural food is for our bodies.
8. How vain is the confidence of thole, who truft in any
thing fhort of Chrift for eternal falvation ! Some are apt to.
imagine, that becaufe they belong to a particular feet of chri-
ftians, (that moft likely in which they have been educated,)
they fhall certainly be faved. But this is not the queftion that
will be afk'd thee at the great tribunal : if the right eoufnefsr of
Chrift is found upon thee, thou wilt be faved in any ; but if
not, — : — No name thou art diftinguifh'd by among men, can
avail thee any thing.
SECT. III.
The bleffed Eff eels of the Redeemer'* Sufferings,
and Obedience.
ift. justification. " Which is an abfolution frOrri
J " guilt, and freedom from condemnation.  Be-
" hold here the fweet harmony of the divine attributes, in
" juftifying and pardoning the believer ! One attribute is
*' not raifed upon the ruin of another, but juftice and mercy
" both triumph, and fhine with equal fplendor. Oh glori-
" ous and all wife contrivance ! whereby God made fuffici-
" ent proviiion for the reparation of his honour, for the vin-
" dication of his holinefs, and at the fame time for the con-
" folation and eternal falvation of all repenting and believing
*' finners."
2. Adoption. That is taking a perfon into the relation
of a Son, who was not fo by nature. By reafon of our apo
ftacy we are ftrangers, aliens, &c. and none are reftored to
this glorious privilege but by faith in Chrift Jefus, For ye
are
':.;'¦" l  ;  *"  -'  '  — — —  — —
1 John xv. 5. a Deut. xxxiii. 25.

£ 7 J
Are all the children -ef God by faith in 'Chrift Jefus : Gal. iS.
26; " and Chrift invefts every believer, weak as well as ftrong,
«* irt the bleffed privilege of adoption. ... , Chrift. of a Son be-
«' came a fervant, that vrcofftaves might become y«w."
3. Sanctification, • Is making perfons holy, who were
irtipure' and defil'd before : 'tis warning away the filth of fin ;
(And fuch were fome of you; but ye are wafhed, but ye are
fanclified, but ye are juftified in the name of the Lord J-efust
and. by the fpirit of our God. 1 Cor. vi. n.) of which, the
Wafhings in the ceremonial law were 'typical3. 'Tis making
us meet for the heavenly inheritance ; without holinefs no man
fhall fee the -Lord*. Nothing fhall enter the new Jerufalem
that difturbs or defiles.  ¦ Sandtification is a progreffive
work ; 'tis begun in regeneration, but will not be perfected
till we arrive at the heavenly world. Sin, tho' it hasreceiv'd
its mortal wound in every believer, dies a lingring death,
will often difturb him, and'nevef leave him, till the ndSfiblu-
tion of foul and body. . Inferences.
1. The chriftian religion makes its way to the heart.
It not only invefts every believer in the moft glorious
privileges, but, 'tis alfo a transforming religion; it re
news aft the powers of our fouls, and in fome degree re-
inftamps the divine Image on them. A religion lefs powerful
could never make us partakers of a. divine nature, which(is an
effential qualification for our advancement to glory. And what
is the exceeding greatnefs of his power to us-ward who believe.
Eph. i. 19.
2. It is the office of the Holy Spirit, the third perfon in
the glorious Trinity, to apply the bleffings of the Redeemer's.
purchafe. Without this application Chrift had died in vain ;
for we are naturally fo wedded to our fins, and fond of this
world, that all the excellencies which are in Chrift, both in
his perfon and offices, will never make way to our hearts,
till the Divme Spirit convinces of Jin, and fhews us our need of
a Saviour. And 'tis the fame Divine Agent, that carries on
the work in our foul's, againft all the oppofition of fatan, and
our own corruptions. 'Tis he opens our blind eyes, unftops Our
,  b H;b, xii. 14. c Prov. xu.4. 26.

I'S]
.our deaf ears, foftens our hard hearts, and opens them to re
ceive the Saviour : 'tis he unfolds the covenant of grace, cur-
ties on the work, of fanclification, and feals us to the day of re*
iemption. ,.:.._ •-
3. 'h.% all our knowledge and c experience .in .divine
things, is owing intirely, to the influences of the Divine Spi
rit upon our hearts, how earneft fhould we be with God, that
,he Would afford us this invaluable blefiing 1 and for our en
couragement we are raffured. that he will give the Holy Spirit
to them that afk him. < [If ye then, being, evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your -children.: how much more fhall your hea
venly:. Father give the holy Spirit to them that afk him ? Luke
xi. 13.
S EC T. IV.
Affcort View of the Chrifiian Ethicks, or Moral
DoElrine which the Bible affords.
fyfATTH. xxii. 37. Thou fhalt Jove the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all
thy mind.
Fer. 39. Thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf.
Pf. ci. 5. Whofo privily fiandereth his neighbour, him
will I cut off : him that hath an high look, and a proud heart,
will I not fuller.
Matth. v. 44. Love your enemies, blefs them that curfe
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
defpitefully ufe you, and perfecute you.
Matth. vii. 12. Therefore all things whatfoever ye would
that men fhould do to you, do ye even fo to them.
Matth. xviii. 21, 22. Then came Peter to him, and faid,
Lord, how oft fhall my brother fin againft me, and I forgive
him ? till feven times ? Jefus faith untb him, I fay not' unto
thee, until feven times : but, until fevehty times feveri.
q , Mitlh

[ 9]
Matth. vii. i. Judge hot, that ye be not judged.
Matth. xviii. 4: Whofoever therefore fhall humble hirh-
felf as this little child, the fame is greateft in the kingdom of
heaven. Matth. v. 48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Fa
ther which is in heaven is perfect.
Rom. xii. 19, &c. Dearly beloved, avenge not yOurfelve*,
but rather give place unto wrath : for it is written, vengeance
is mine ; I will repay, faith the Lord. Therefore if thine
enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirft, give him drink ; for
in fo doing thou fhalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rom. xii. 18. If it be poffible, as much as lieth in you^
live peaceably with all men.
Gal. v. 22, 23. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace*
long-fuffering, gentlenefs> goodnefs, faith, meeknefs, and
temperance. Gal. vi. 7; Be not deceived ; God is riot mocked : for
whatfoever a man foweth, that fhall he alfo reap.
1 Theff. v. 22. Abftain from all appearance of evil.
James i. 22. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own felves,
Heb. xiii. 16: To do good, and to communicate, forget
not : for with fuch facrifices God is well pleafed.
James iii. 17. The wifdom that is from above is firft pure*
then peaceable^ gentle, eafy to be intreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrify.
1 John iv. 20. If a man fay, I love God, and hateth his.
brother, he is a liar;
«i. This commandriient have we from him, that he whd
Ioveth God, love his brother alfo.
G PhlU

[ io]
Phil. iv. 8. Finally, brethren, whatfoever things are true,
whatfoever things are honeft, whatfoever things are juft,
whatfoever things are pure, whatfoever things are lovely,
whatfoever things are of good report ; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praife, think on thefe things.
Inferences.
i. Thus we fee, that though the finner is pardoned by
the free unmerited grace of God, through Chrift, nothing
can be more forcible than the commands and exhortations even
to confummate purity : fo far as 'tis attainable in the prefent
life. Precepts, that if regarded, Rapine, Tyranny, and thofe
cruel devaluations that are made in the world, by the lawlefs
rage of uncontrouled paffion, would give way to Juftice,
Mercy, and all the happy fruits of righteoufnefs. Inftead of
thofe acts of violence, injuftice, prophanenefs, and immora
lity, with all the long train of evils, which fin has introduced,
and which we are daily witneffes of, the contrary happy tem
pers would prevail, arid the world would be reftored, in fome
good degree, to its original conftitution. The wilful-tranf-
greffor, however fanguine his hopes may be of an intereft in
the privileges of the Gofpel, has neither part, or lot, in this
matter. " A Land 'may fall into the mire, but none except
" fwine will wallow in it." Chrift came to fave us from our
fins, not to fave us in them.
2. Tho' in many things the chrifiian falls fhort of his
'duty, and too often tranlgreffes the bounds of thefe pure
and divine precepts, yet, it is the defire of his foul, to have
them engraven on his heart, and his life and conversion a
perfect tranfcript of them : when he falls ihort, he laments
it, and can't be fatisfied till the breach is made up between
him and his God, through the blood of Jefus. And after his
moft diligent obfervance of thefe divine precepts, he'll ac
knowledge himfelf an unprofitable fervant ; and will by no
means think his .imperfect obedience, fufficient to juftify him
in the fight of God : but, as a conformity to thefe happy
tempers is the prevailing bent of his foul, fo, he looks on
them as evidences of the fincerity of his faith in Chrift ; as
that which is of the right kind, ever purifies the heart.
'2 SECT.

[ II ]
SECT. V.
The Bible contains awful Denunciations againfi
(and Warning to) the Sinner.
pSAL. ix. 17. The wicked fhall be turned into hell,
and all the nations that forget God.
2 Pet. ii. 4, 5, 6. If God fpared not the angels that fin
ned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into
chains of darknefs, to be referved unto judgment ; and fpared
not the old world, but faved Noah, the eighth perfon, a
preacher of righteoufnefs, bringing in the flood upon the world
of the ungodly ; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomor
rah into afhes, condemned them with an overthrow, Making
them an enfarriple unto thofe that after fhould live un
godly. Prov. i. 24, 27. I have called, and ye refufed, I have
ftretched out my hand, and no man regarded ; but ye have
fet at nought all my counfel, and would none of my reproof:
I alfo will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your
fear cometh ; when your fear cometh as defolation, and your
deft.ruct.ion cometh as a whirlwind ; when diftrefs and anguifh
cometh upon you.
Rom. ii. 4, 5. Or defpifeft thou the riches of his good-
nefs, and forbearance, and long-fuffering ; not knowing that
the goodn.efs of God leadeth thee to repentance ? But after
thy hardnefs and impenitent heart, treafureft up unto thyfelf
wrath againft the day of wrath, and revelation of the righ
teous judgment of God.
1 Cor. vi. 9. Know ye not that the unrighteous fhall
not inherit the kingdom of God ?
Job xx. 5. The triumphing of the wicked is fhort, and
the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment.
Job xi. 20. The eyes of the wicked fhall fail, and they
.fhall not efcape, and their hope fhall be as the giving up ofthe
ghoft. C 2 • ¦ PJ«1.

[ 12 ]
Pfal. xxxvii. 28.. For the Lord loveth judgment, and for-
faketh not his faints, they are preferved for ever : but the feed
of the wicked fhall be cut off.
Prov. iii. 33. The curfe of the Lord is. in the houfe ofthe
wicked : but he bleffeth the habitation of the juft.
Prov. iv. 14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and
go not in the way of evil men.
Prov. v. 3, 4, 5. The lips of a ftrange woman drop as
an honey-comb, and her mouth is fmoother than oil. But her
end is bitter as wormwood, fharp as a two-edged fword. Her
feet go down to death : her fteps take hold on hell.
Jer. x. 10. The Lord is the true God; he is the living
G;od, and an everlafting king: at his wrath the earth fhall
tremble, and the nations fhall not be able to abide his indigna
tion. R-ev. xx\ 12, 15. And I faw the dead, frnall and great,
ftand before God ; and the books were opened : and ano
ther book was opened, which is the book of life : and the
dead were judged out of thofe things which were written in
the books, according to their works f. And the fea gave up
the dead which were in it •, and death and hell delivered up
the dead which were in them : And they were judged every
man according to their works *. And death and hell were
caft into the lake of fire : This is the fecond death. And
whofoever was not found written in the book of life, was. caft
into the lake of fire.
Addrefs to the Sinner.
Can's t thou read thefe fcriptures, O Sinner, and remain un
concerned ? Would'ft thou be fox if ruin was impending over; thy
» ¦ ' . , • - ¦
¦f Matt. 2 j. 1 4, 3 1. * How fhould the confideration of this promote
our diligence in the improvement of the talents God has entrufted us with !
and after all, who would dare to venture the decifion of this impartial tribu
nal, on the foot of his own imperfeft obedience ? Let us, from a fenfe of
our own failures arid imperfections, look to Chrift for a righteouihefs which
^an bear the fcrutiny of heaven.

[13]
thy temporal concerns ? Haft thou not had repeated convic
tions that thy condition is unfafe ? Thou haft a monitor with
in thee that' affures thee fo, if thou haft not hardened and
blinded it ; and yet thou doft wilfully go on in a courfe of fin.
Thou art not only joining with Adam in his apoftacy from God,
but, art, in fome meafure falling a fecond time, and aggravat
ing thy condemnation, by neglecting or refufing the Saviour,
which God has appointed to deliver us from the curfe of his
broken law. How fhajl we efcape, if we neglecl fo great faU
vation "?
The frequent lofs of thy friends and acquaintance, inform
thee, that before long it will be thy time to exchange worlds ;
and fuppofe God fhould fay concerning thee, as he did of Ha-
naniah the prophet, Jer. 28. 16. This year .thou fhalt die :
Or to the rich man in the Gofpel, Thou fool, this night thy
foul fhall be required of thee : Luke xii. 20. what account art
thou prepar'd to give at God's Tribunal ? Art thou notin
debt ten thoufand talents b ? Reflect on thy paft and prefent
mercies : who gave thee being, and all the rich variety of
bleffings thou enjoyeft ? However remote the channels thro'
which thou receiveft thy comforts may feem, they may eafily
be trac'd up to the Fountain of life and happinefs : and at the
fame time thou reflecteft on thy mercies, reflect on the returns
thou haft made, Hear, 0 heavens, and give ear, O earth :
for the Lord hath fpoken ; 1 have nourifhed and brought up chil
dren, and they have rebelled againft me. Ifai. i. 2. Ingratitude,
is looked upon by men as one of the blackeft crimes ; and if
our fellow creatures have a right to our love and regards in
eonfequence of their kind offices, how much more has the
bleffed God ? 'Tis for our own benefit that God is fo graci-
oufly importunate with us to obtain his favour; If thou be
righteous, what giveft thou him ? or what receive! h he of thine
hand? Thy wickednefs may hurt a man as thou art, and thy
righteoufnefs may profit the fon of man c.  Perhaps you ima
gine religion to be a melancholy thing, and that you'll be rob
bed of every pleafure if you embrace it ¦, but, 'tis then you'll
begin to know what true pleafure is. Wifdom's ways are
ways of pleafantnefs, and all her paths are peace. Prov. iii. 1 7.
Thou wilt exchange the falfe named pleafures of fir., for plea-
fures that are noble, fatisfying, and eternal. None have true
caufe
a Heb. ii. 3. " Matt, xviii. 24. c Job xxxv. 7, 8.

[ 14 J
caufe for joy but the chriftian, and his are unfpeakable and full
of glory, i Pet. i. 8. " The pleafures of fenfe are precari-
"¦ ous, uncertain, and perifhing ;" but thefe are abiding, and
can never be loft. " Believers carry their happinefs about
f ' them, they carry it within themfelves ; the world cannot
" rob them of it, and God will not." And your joy no man
taketh from you. John xvi. 22. But the joy ofthe finner is
folly6: Shame, Difquiet, Difeafe, and eternal Death, are the
fruits ofthe finner's Joys ; but thofe of the chriftian are rati
onal and fublime ; they proceed from heaven, and will be per
fected in it. Objection.
" You exhort us to repent and believe, and at the fame
" time tell us 'tis not in our own power, but that faith
" is the gift of God." Anfwer.
'Tis certainly true, that repentance towards God, and
faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift (graces effential to the
chriftian character) are the gift of God : nothing lefs than
Almighty power can infufe a principle of fpiritual life into a
foul dead in fin : but in order to anfwer the objection, I would
afk this queftion, viz. The bleffing of God being abfolutely
neceffary to the fuccefs of our temporal concerns, whether a ra
tional creature has a right to expect it without the diligent ufe
of means ? This is God's appointed way, in which he diftri-
butes both temporal and fpiritual bleffings ; and is exemplified
in the directions our Lord gave the ten Lepers, Luke xvii.
12, 14. who met With the defir'd bleffing in the way of their
duty ; and is left on record, as a direction for us to follow their
example. So it is in the ufe of means, the Divine Spirit in-
creafes his graces in the fouls of believers. Afk the chriftian,
and he'll inform you concerning the gradual work of divine
grace on his foul. The work of grace in the heart, is compared
to a grain of muftard-feed, " which though very fmall when
" fown, afterwards increafes to a large tree: Luke xiii. 19.
" So grace, in the heart, which is at firft fo very fmall as to
" be hardly perceivable, will gradually increafe and flourifh,
" till it be perfected in heaven."  Now finner, what are
the
i Prov. xv. 21.

[ 15 I
the means and mercies thou enjoyeft ? I'll only take notice of
three particulars.
J. Thou haft a Divine Revelation, which is contain'd in the
Bible ; to guide thy fteps in the way of peace ; and is able to
make thee wife unto falvation, thro' faith which is in Chrift Jefus.
2 Tim. iii. 15.
2. Thou Enjoyeft Sabbaths ; which are the ftated feafons of
publick worfhip ; where the word of God is explain'd by
faithful men, who are anxious for the welfare of your fouls,
and whofe prayers to God are, that you may be faved.
3. The Mercies and Enjoyments of the prefent Life; which
thou haft in a greater or leffer degree, as God has been pleas'd
to diftribute to thee.
Let us enquire what are thy improvements under thefe rich
advantages ; and in order to judge of this, afk thyfelf the fol
lowing queftions. Let us begin with the firft of thy privi
leges, viz.
Thou haft the Bible. What ufe doft thou make of this ?
doft thou read it with diligence care and attention, or is it a
neglected book ? If thou waft going a long Journey or Voyage,
thou would'ft certainly confult a map of the country, or make
diligent inquiry concerning the way^ 'the dangers, and accom
modations, and make fuitable provifion : art thou as careful
to do fo in thy Journey to the eternal world ?
Thou Enjoyeft Sabbaths. Doft thou conftantly attend
divine worfhip, with a fincere defire of being profited thereby ?
or is it only to pleafe the ear, or fome other trifling motive ?
Doft thou confult the word of God, in order to be acquainted
with the duties incumbent on thee on the Lord's-day, both
publick and private, or is it a day thou devoted to carnal
pleafure? Is it thy defire to worftjip God in Spirit and in Truth,
or art thou fatisfied with the meer external performance of
religious duties ?
The Mercies and Enjoyments ofthe prefent Life. Are
thefe laid out and improv'd for the glory of God, and the

[ 16]
gbod of thy fellow-creatures ? or art thou fo ineonfiderate and
foolifh, as to devote the time and Talents God has entrufted thee
with, to finful and fenfual pleafures; notwithftanding thy
eternal ftate is to be determined by the Image thy foul bears
when thou leaveft this world ? — Either thou wilt be renewed
after the Image of Chrift, or elfe, by having ftrengthened tne
finful habits of thy corrupt nature, thou wilt wear the Image
of Satan. Let me add another Queftion.
Dost thou Pray ? There can be nb fpiritual principle in
that foul v/ho is a ftranger to this duty. And if thou doft pray,
art thou concerned for an anfwer to thy prayers ? or doft thou
fatisfy thy confcience with the meer external part of this duty,
and never think more of what thou haft prayed for ? This is to
tnock God. But if thou art truly concerned for the welfare of
thy foul, thy prayers will be fimilar to Jacob's refolution, viz.
/ will not let thee go, except thou blefs me. Gen. xxxii. 26.
If thy confcience informs thee that the darken: fide of thefe
Qyeftions belongs to thee, fad is thy prefent condition ; and if
thou ftill goeft on in the practice of fin, till death overtake
thee, thou'rt loft for ever. — But if the brighteft fide of them
be the prevailing bent of thy foul, 'tis a good indication that
the Spirit of God has been at work upon thy heart : thy face is
fet towards Zion, and for thy encouragement read over thefe
portions of Scripture e. Thefe are fome of the things which
belong to the chriftian character, but he'll by no means flop
here ; this would leave him far ihort of heaven : nothing: lefs
than faith in the atonement and righteoufnefs of Chrift can give
the foul a title to eternal life, as the following part of this
Section will inform you.
There are others, who could almoft be perfwaded to part
with their fins, and give up every thing which is an obftacle in
their way to heaven, except their own righteoufnefs : but can
by no means be prevailed on to part with that, in point of
dependauce. Their Alms, Abftinences, and moral Virtues,
make the ladder by which they muft reach heaven. — Moral
Virtues, are no doubt very ornamental, and make the polTeffors
valuable members of Society ; but, let us not lay a greater weight
* Matt. vii. 7-1 1. Chr.p. xxi. 22. Luke xi. 5-14. Chap, xviii. i-g.
Johnxiv. 31. Chap. xv. 7.

[i7]
weight on them than they can poffibly fupport ; This would
be to build on the Sand, and fly in the face of the divine ap
pointment. 'Tis as if a poor ftarving creature was to apply to
his friend for relief, but rather than not have it in his own way,
he'll perifh. — The garments of your righteoufnefs are filthy
rags,* and you muft go to Chrift for better, or be found naked.
Thou fay eft, I am rich, and increafed with goods, and have need
of nothing ; and knoweft not that thou art wretched, and mifera-
ble, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counfel thee to buy of me
gold tried in the fire, that thou may eft be rich ; and white raiment,
that thou mayeft be cloathed, and that thefhame of thy nakednejs
do not appear. Rev. iii. 17, 18.
There is but one Phyfician of Value, and if you apply to
any thing for healing, but what he has prefcribed, you are
neglecting the only means by which your inveterate difeafe can
be cured. There's but one Fountain opened for Sin, and un-
lefs thou art wafh'd there, thy fins remain with thee : how
ever they may be glofs'd over by partial reformation, God,
who fearches the heart, will one day bring them to light ; and
if thou refufeft the method Divine Wifdom has appointed to
cleanfe thee from them, 'twill be a dreadful day to thee.— Sad
it is " that our depravation teaches us to quarrel with or con-
" teft the grace we need. If none of this grace had been pro-
" vided, we muft have lived and died in our fins: and now
" it is provided and declared, we are loth to admit it ; as be-
" ing injurious to our own power and liberty. We muft have
" leave to turn the fcale in the procefs of our falvation, or we
" will not be faved." — The Bridegroom, who has invited us
to the Marriage g, has himfelf wrought very coftly robes for
us to appear in h ; infinitely richer than we are able to procure ;
and if we prefume to go in any other drefs than what he has
provided, it will be afk'd us, viz. Friend, how earneft thou in
hither, not having a wedding-garment? Matt. xxii. 12. And
the Apoftle, to convince the Galatians how vain their hopes
were of attaining life by the works ofthe law, proves, by a
quotation from Deut. xxvii. 26. that we are all under its
curfe ; Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things which
are written in tbe book of the law to do them. And then points
out the remedy, viz. Chrift hath redeemed us from tbe curfe of
the law, being made a curfe for us. Therefore nothing is more
certain, than that thou, or thy Surety, muft bear the curfe.
D Be

flfai. lxiv. 6.  t Matt,j--

[ x8l
Be careful to avoid the beginnings of Sin. And this is 9,
caution well worth our notice. How many have found by fatal
experience the dreadful effects of giving way to one Vice ! 'tis
like ftanding on a Quickfand, that will, (unlefs the grace of
God prevent) inevitably draw us in farther and farther, till we
are loft for ever.
SECT. VI.
1%e Bible affords the flrongefi Foundation for
the Confolation and Joy of the Chriftian.
7 SAL iii. io. Say ye to the righteous, that // fhall be well
with him.
Pfal. xxxi. 19. O how great is thy ,goodnefs, which thou
haft laid up for them that fear thee ; which thou haft wrou°ht
for them that truft in thee, before the fons of men !
Pfal.xxxu. 1, 2. Bleffed is he whofe tranfgreffion is for
given, whofe fin is covered : bleffed is the man unto whom
the Lord imputeth not iniquity.
Deut. xxviii. 2-6. All thefe bleflings fhall come on thee*
and overtake thee, if thou fhalt hearken unto the voice of the
Lord thy God. Bleffed ftjalt thou be in the city, and bleffed
(halt thou be in the field. Bleffed Jhall be the fruit of thy body,
and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the
increafe of thy kine, and the flocks of thy fheep. Bleffed Jhall
be thy bafket and thy ftore. Bleffed fijalt thou be when thou
comeft in, and bleffed (halt thou be when thou goeft out.
Pfal. xxxvii. 1 6. A little that a righteous man hath, is better
than the riches of many wicked.
Pfal. lxxxiv. 11. For the Lord God is a fun and fhield;
the Lord will give grace and glory : no good will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly.
Pfal. cxxvi. 5 They that fow in tears, fhall reap in Joy,
Pfal. xxxvii. 23. The fteps of a good man are ordered by
the Lord ; and he delighteth in his way,
Rami

1 19 1
Rom. viii. 28. All things; work together for good, to them
that love God ; to them who are the called according to bis
purpofe. Luke xii. 32. It is your Father's good pleafure to give you
the kingdom.
1 John iii. 1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
beftowed upon us, that we fhould be called the fons of God.
2. Beloved, now are we the fons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we fhall be: but we know that when he fhall
appear, we fhall be like him ; for we fhall fee him as he is.
Jer. xxxi. 3. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlafting love.
Pfal. xxxiv. 8. O Tafte, and fee, that the Lord is good :
bleffed is the man that trufteth in him.
Pfal. v. 1 1. Let all thofe that put their truft in thee, rejoyce.
Rom. v. 1 . We have peace with God, thro' our Lord Jefua
Chrift. Rom. viii. 6. To be fpiritually minded, is life and peace.
1 Pet. 1. 6-8. Tho' now for a feafon (if need be) ye are in
heavinefs thro' manifold temptations : That the trial of your
faith being much more precious than of Gold that perifheth,
tho' it be tried with fire, might be found unto praife, and
•honour, and glory at the appearing of Jefus Chrift: Whom
having not feen, ye love ; in whom tho' now you fee him
not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with joy unfpeakable, and full
of glory.Pfal. cxxxix. 17. How precious alfo are thy thoughts unto
me, O God ! how great is the fum of them !
Pfal. cxix. 103. How fweet are thy words unto my tafte!
yea, fweeter than honey to my mouth.
Ifai. li. 11. The redeemed of the Lord fhall return, and
come with finging unto Zion, and evedafting Joy fhall be upon
D 2 their

[ 20 1
their head : they fhall obtain gladnefs and joy, and forrow and
mourning fhall flee away.
John x. 27, 28. My fheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and tbey follow me. And I give unto them eternal life, and
they fhall never perifh, neither fhall any pluck them out of
my hand.
1 Pet. i. 3-5. Bleffed be the God, and Father of our Lord
Jefus Chrift, which according to his abundant mercy, hath
begotten Us again unto a lively hope, by the refurrection of
Jefus Chrift from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible,
and undented, and that fadeth not away, referved in heaven
for you, Who are kept by the power of God thro' faith unto
falvation. Heb. xiii. 5. I will never leave thee nor forfake thee.
Pfal. xxxvii. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the
upright : for the end of that man is peace.
Ifai. lvii. 2. He fhall enter into peace.
Coloff. iii. 4. When Chrift who is our life fhall appear, then
fhall ye alfo appear with him in glory.
1 Cor. ii. 9. Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have
entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath pre
pared for them that love him.
Matth. xxv. 34. Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherie
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation ofthe world.
Rev. xiv. 13. Bleffed are the dead which die in the Lord.
1 Pet. i. 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the falva
tion of your fouls. Inferences.
1. How happy is the condition of every true believer!
what he has in hand, and what he has in reverfion, are
bleffings vaftly larger than his finite mind can at prefent
comprehend. Beloved, now ars we the fons of God, and it
doth

I " J
ioth not yet appear what we fhall be. i John iii. 2. He is
heir to an everlafting inheritance, and that made fure to him
by him who cannot lie*. The beft inheritance in the prefent
life can by no means infure the heir of his poffeffion, but this,
is fure to all tbe feed* : he has received the earneft, and fhall
receive the whole. -^ — Whether thou can'ft trace up thy pri
vileges to that glorious chain of bleffings contained in the $tb
of the Romans, or not, they all belong to thee. Thou haft drank
of that fpring whofe waters fail not, and fhalt, e'er long, drink
at the fountain. Whofoever drinketh of the water that I fhall
give him, fhall never thirft : but the water that I fhall give him,
fhall be in him a well of water fpringing up into everlafting
life. John iv. 14. Troubles, trials, doubts and fears, will
ftill await thee, in confequence of the remainder of fin ; but
thefe, fhall not prove thy ruin ; for he, whofe Arm is engag'd
to fave thee, is Almighty. And under all your trials, keep
in mind that excellent advice of Solomon, which is quoted by
the Apoftle, Heb. xii. 5. My Son, despise not thou the chaft-
ning of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.
So far from looking upon fanctified afflictions as evils, you
can truly fay, 'Tis good for me that 1 have been afflicledc: and,
perhaps, you can recall the corrections of your heavenly Fa
ther with great pleafure, having experienced the happy iffue
of them, viz. That they have mortified your corruptions,
•weaned you more from this world, and brought you nearer
to your God. You are fenfible of the evil and perverfenefs
of your hearts, and confequently, of the need of your hea
venly Father's care, to prevent that ruin into which thy fins
would otherwife involve thee c : 'twill be but a little time be
fore thy warfare fhall be ended, and thou be received into the
Joy of thy Lord : where, you fhall drink full draughts of that
love, you but tailed here below, and what will make your
happinefs compleat, you fhall be ever with tbe Lord'.
2. How many are the endearing relations that Chrift
Hands in to every believer! viz. Father, Ifai. ix. 6. Hus
band, Ifai. liv. 5. Brother, Luke viii. 21. Friend, &c.
Cant. v. 16. and who can fill thefe relations as Chrift can ?
How often are we difappointed by our earthly friends ? if
their inclination is to ferve us, their ability is often wanting ;
but

Num. xxii. 19. b Rom. iv. 16. c P&l. cxix. 71. d John xv. z,
Theff. iv. 17. 

but he, never difappoints the hope of thofe that truft in hull i
but either gives the thing they defire, or what he knows is
better for them. Be conftantly looking up to this glorious
Sun of Righteoufnefs, who enlivens the whole fpiritual creation %
that his influences may cherifh the good feed fown in thy
heart, and make it grow to maturity : that he would difpel
thofe mifts of ignorance, fin and folly, that too often furround
thee, and marr thy comforts ; and let the difagreeable fenfa-
tions thy own imperfections and wants give thee, carry thee
out to furvey him, who is altogether lovely ; and fuftains the
glorious characters that are fuited to thy exigencies, on pur-
pofe to fupply thee out of his fullnefs : and if we know by
experience what it is to go out of ourfelves, and liv.e on Chrift}
we are poffefs'd of a knowledge which is invaluable.
Exhortation.
Seeing ye are partakers of fuch glorious privileges* Freely
ye have received, Freely give%. Be earneftly concerned for
the propagation of this bleffed Gofpel, which has made you
wife unto falvation, through faith wbich is in Chrift Jefus hi
that others may partake of its excellent benefits. Embrace
every opportunity to do good, to the fouls as well as bodies of
men, and fuit your fupplies to their particular wants. Be ready
both to every good word and work ; and as ye have opportunity,
do good unto all men, efpecially unto them who are of the houfhold
of faith : Gal. vi. 10. " And wherefoever you fee the Image
" of Chrift, don't refufe to efteem and embrace that foul,
" becaufe he worfhips in another affembly, or according to a
" different form :" we have no right to make our judgment
the ftandard for others. Difference of education, and a vari
ety of circumftances, make it impoffible for all men to agree
exactly in their fentiments. " Let us look upon the excel-
*' lencies of our brethren, rather than their defects," and
when we find an inclination to cenfure others, let us firft turn
inwards, and fee it we cannot find fome employment there.
" Let us reverence true chriftianity, wherefoever we fee it,
" and judge of it by effentials, rather than circumftantials."
Remember the character of the chriftian, as 'tis defcribed in
the word of God, viz. He who loveth God, loveth his brother
alfo.  Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven %
Matt.

e Matt. x. 8. — b

[23]
Matt. v. 1 6. that religion may appear from your example
(to be what it really is.) Amiable, Attracting, and Orna
mental, *
SECT. VII.
A few Remarks on the Contents of the Bible.
Remark i. TT acquaints us with our Origin : we had been
J_ in a great meafure unacquainted with God
and ourfelves, as well as many parts of nature, without it.
2. It gives us a hiftory of the world, from the beginning
of time : the fecret fprings and actings of the minds of men
in paft ages are laid open ; their hearts are here anatomiz'd.
It acquaints us with various revolutions which have hap
pened in the world, fome of which we can trace the remains ;
and likewife acquaints us with futurity, which, was it not for
the Bible, we fhould be utter ftrangers to.
3. It contains the chriftian inftitution, " which is the great
*' inftrument in the hand of God, for the renewing of fouls,
*' and refining them for the heavenly kingdom. Being en-
" graven in the mind, and planted in the heart, it muft be
*' the great preparative for perfection and glory. It has been
" attended with the bleffing of God, in all ages. It has many
" times fuddenly transform'd the fpirits of men, and quickly
" fubdued their pride, prejudices, and paffions, and led them
" joyful captives to its law, and to its grace. It has ad-
*' vanced thoufands to all the purity and patience, holinefs
" and perfection, this world is like to admit of: and there-
" fore we may juftly fay, it has advanced them to the per-'
" fection of heaven."

* A conduft of this fort is quite confiftent with a true zeal for the glorious
dodlrines of the Gofpel, thofe immoveable Pillars of our faith and hope. It
would be a falfe named and pernicious charity to overlook or think lightly
of the dangerous errors of others, either in dotlrine or practice ; and were we
to give way to this, truth would become fuch a variable and indeterminate
thing, as not to be known or regarded. How noble and amiable does a zea
lous concern for Chrift and truth appear, when 'tis direaed by a prudent and
Chrift-like fpirit !

I Hi
4. 'Tis in fome meafure a tranfcript of the Book of Life i
Phil. iv. 3. Here we may fee whether our names are writ
ten there.
5. It is a Mine ; and the richeft that ever was, or will be
difcovered ; Here's the Pearl of great Price. The jewels of
other mines only can adorn the body, but thefe enrich the
foul, fo are intrinfically fuperior, as well as in point of dura
tion : the former we muft foon leave behind us, but thefe trea-
fures we carry with us into the eternal world. And it has ano
ther quality fuperior to all other mines, viz. how-much- foever you
carry away, you cannot impoverifh it ;  There's an invifible
hand that conftantly fupplies it. But, let it be remembred, that
this mine is like others in one refpect, viz. The indolent will
be little better for the jewels it contains : The kingdom of hea
ven fuffereth violence^ and if you are not earneftly concern'd
for an intereft in thefe bleffings, and don't think them worth
your fupreme regard, you are throwing contempt upon the
only things that can truly enrich you here, or make you happy
hereafter. 6, When doctrines are reduc'd to practice, we can then
judge of their excellence. How many are the noble attefta-
tions, both in the lives and deaths of thofe who have fuffered in
defence of this glorious Gofpel ! they experienced divine aids
convey'd to them thro' its promifes, which enabled them to
feal to the truth of it with their blood.
7. The chriftian religion is calculated to take away all un
due pride, and boafting. To one, God gives five talents, to
another two, and to another one ; Matt. xxv. 15. So that he
who has received moft, has no liberty to triumph over him
who has received leaft, as they are all the gift of God.
8. The attainments of all chriftians are not equal ; but
fincerity is infeparable from the loweft. The feed fown in good
ground, was not equally fruitful ; fome brought forth an hun
dred-fold, tome fixty, and fome thirty : but, tho' this is the
cafe, it by no means allows any to fit down with prefent acquire
ments, or, to think they have-already attained; but teaches us
to prefs forward, toward the mark, for the prize of the high
calling of God in Chrift Jefus K
 9-
 'Phil. iii. 14. 

[ *5l
o> The Bible is the touch-ftone by which all doctrines are
to be tried. To the law and to tbe teftimony : If they fpeak not-
according to this word, it is becaufe there is no light in them,
Ifai. viii. 20.  Here are Jikewife contained the fprings 01'
all Our comfort. 'Tis better to have Scripture-evidences of our
new birth, than if an Angel from heaven was to fay, thy fins are
forgiven thee.
10. The Bible contains a wondrous intermixture of law and
love ; of grace and obligation to duty ; both wonderfully
interwoven and combin'd for our conduct unto glory :
fuch as eminently befpeak it a divine inftitution and difcove ¦
ry.' And both thefe neceffarily go into and compleat the
chriftian character. " Matters of faith and morality are pro-
mifcuoufly blended together, and fometimes run into each
other, or are fo clofely united in their contexture here (as
they ever ought to be in our lives) that ahafty orlefs atten
tive eye may pafs over them without perceiving the diftin-
guifhing marks of the tranfition, or the incommunicable
properties of each. But, let us take care to render unto
faith the things which belong unto faith, and to chriftian
morality what properly belongs to the eftablifhment and enr
forcement of chriftian morality. They have the fame Fa
ther, and exact our affent and obedience upon the fame au
thority. There muft be an infeparable union, and an invio
lable friendfhip between them. Thus united, like Saul and
Jonathan, they will be lovely and pleafant, with regard to
our religious enquiries, as well as in our lives, and even af
ter death, in their happy effects, they fhall not be divided.
What God hath joined together, let no man put afunder."
11. The Bible acquaints us why God either executes or a-
verts his judgments. Two inftances will be fufficient to take
notice of, as they explain the reft. First. The Deluge, when
God fpared not the old world, but faved Noah, the eighth per
fon, a preacher of righteoufnefs, bringing in the flood upon the
world of the ungodly k. And tbo' the long-fuffering of God waited
in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing ', which
was an hundred and twenty years, they, like too many in our
day, were as the deaf adder that ftoppeth her earm, and abufed
the divine lenity. Becaufe fentence againft an evil work is not
E executed
>¦¦  1 - ¦'¦ ¦¦'¦  '  ¦ ' ¦' ¦ 1 .1. ¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦—- ¦  «—
* 2 Pet. ii. 5. l I Pet. iii. zo. m Pfal. lviii. 4.

[ 26 ]
executed fpeedily ; therefore the heart of the fons of men is fully
fet in them to do evil. Eccl. viii. u.  The world was
drowned in wickednefs before it was drowned with water :
and 'tis univerfally true, that fin is the certain forerunner of
judgment ; and though men in every age, have had enfamples
of the dreadful confequences of fin, they, like the antidilu-
vian world, indulge the practice of it, till death comes as a
mighty flood, whofe force they can't oppofe, and carries them
down to endlefs perdition. Secondly, The Ninevites, whofe
ruin would have been as certain, if they had not repented, Yet
forty days and Nineveh fhall be overthrown ".  Thefe en
famples are written for our admonition, i Cor. io, ii. and
will be an aggravation of our mifery, if after all, we neglect
the things which belong to our everlafting peace.
12. The chriftian religion, at the fame time that it pro
vides for our future happinefs, affords the beft inftructions for
our arriving at the higheft felicity this world is capable of; and
is compriz'd in the following words : Set your affection on
things above, not on things on the earth. Coloff. iii. 2. An
inordinate affection for the enjoyments ofthe prefent life, and
earthly relations, is the fource of moft of the evils mankind
either fear or feel. " Upon whatfoever foundation happinefs
" is built, when that foundation fails, happinefs muft be de-
" ftroyed ; for which reafon it is wifdom to chufe fuch a foun-
" dation for it, as is not liable to deftructive accidents. If
" happinefs be founded upon riches, it lies at the mercy of
" theft, deceit, opprefiion, war, and tyranny ; if upon fine
" houfes and coftiy furniture, one fpark of fire is able to con-
" fume it -, if upon wife, children, friends, health, or life,
" a thoufand difeafes, and ten thoufand fatal accidents have
" power to deftroy it :" But if our treafure is in heaven,
'tis plac'd beyond the power of thefe to deprive us of it,
'tis where neither moth nor ruft doth corrupt, nor thieves break
through and fteal ; and if our treafure is in heave::, cur hearts
will be there alfo, in a prevailing degree : and, as it is from
fenfe ofthe uncertainty and emptinefs of all temporary enjoy
ments, that the chriftian has fought after an inheritance in a
better country, fo confequently, he'll be lefs affected with the dis
appointments he meets with in the prefent life. The founda tions

n Jonah iii. 4.

[ 27 ]
tions of his happinefs are immoveable, and their duration
eternal. 13. The Bible informs us of dangerous enemies, which
are invifible to us. We wreftle not againft fie fh and blood, but
againft principalities, againft powers, againft the rulers of the
darknefs of this world, &c. Eph. vi. 12. The chriftian is
juftly denominated a Soldier ; he's engag'd in a conftant war,
both againft enemies without and enemies within : and he who
feels this conteft in his breaft, is the only happy man. " In
" that mind where vice and corrupt nature abfolutely prevail,
" the war is at an end ; but the peace that enfues, proves fa-
" tal to the foul, and debars it from any future hopes of liberty
" and happinefs." But, let it be remembred, that we are
incapable of ourfelves to overcome our own corruptions, much
more to defeat Satan's wiles : he's a powerful, as well as fubtil
enemy : he not only made way to the hearts of our firft pa
rents, but ftill reigns in the children of difobedience ; and con-
ftantly makes ufe of the allurements of this world to fe-
duce, enfnare, and inveigle fouls. How many are there who
while they are living on the bounties of heaven, prove by their
practices that they are his vaffals, and are led captive by him
at his will ! But the fame book that acquaints us with his ftra-
tagems, provides us with armour, and informs us how to de
feat him : and herein we are to follow the example ofthe great
captain of our falvation, who foil'd him by the moft effectual
method, viz. // is written. Matt. iv. 4, 7, 10. This book
is the greateft enemy the devil has : it proclaims liberty to cap
tives, &c. ° and directs us to look to him, who has vanquifh-
ed this enemy, and who only is able to deliver us out of the
paw of this roaring lion, who walketh about, feeking whom he
may devour, r
14. The divine law contains a great variety of injunctions*
(I think they have been reckoned fix hundred) and demands
an exact and perfect obediance to each of them, even in thought,
word and deed. Curfed is every one that continueth not in all
things which are written in the book of the law to do them,

Gal. iii. 10.

E 2 Objection.
• Ifai. lxi. 1. f 1 Pet. v. 3.

[28]
Objeclion.
" How is it pofTible for imperfect and finful creatures
" to pay an exact obedience to a perfect law ?"
Anfwer.
'Tis indeed utterly impoffible fince the fall to. do this,
Or to attain life and happinefs by it. By the deeds of the
law, there fhall no flefh be juftified in his fight, Rom. iii. 20.
But the wifdom and goodnefs of God is glorioufly difplay'd
in the ftrict demands of the divine law, viz. Firft, The main
tenance of the attributes of the Divine Legiflator, who will
not difpenfe with the leaft violation of it. // is eafier for hea
ven and, earth to pafs, than one tittle of the law to fail, Luke
xvi. 17. Think not that I am come to deftroy the law or the
prophets : I am not come to deftroy, but to fulfil. For verily I
fay unto you, till heaven and earth pafs, one jot or one tittle fhall
in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled, Matt. v. 17, 1 8,
Secondly, the conviction of the sinner, which is ne-
Ceffarily previous to his enquiry after that remedy which God has
provided to deliver us from the curfe of his broken law. ¦.
Behold the man, who magnified the law, and made it honoura
ble, Ifai. lxii. 2 1 . For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak thro' the flesh, God fending his own Son, in the likenefs
of finful flefh, and for fin condemned fin in the flefh, Rom. viii.
3. Chrift is the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that
believetb, Rom. x. 4.
1 5. It is the grand defign of revelation to ftrike at the
root of thofe fins which are more immediately included in our
apoftacy, viz. Pride, Enmity againft God, a defire of Inde
pendency, &c. and to bring the man to his right mind : to
make him bow to the divine authority, and fay with Saul,
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? The Chriftian is por-
tray'd by various delineations in the facred records, but they
all unite in the heart's return to God. — Men of this character,
are far from fetting up their own opinions in oppofition to Re
velation ; they eftcem it, as their moft invaluable mercy ; and can
fay with the Pfalmift, / love thy commandments above gold, yea,
above fine gold. Thy teftimonies have I taken as an heritage for
ever : for they are the rejoycing of my heart. Thro' thy precepts
I get understanding, therefore I hate every falfe way, Pfal.
cxix,

[*9l
cxix, civ, cxi, cxxvii. Thefe are not tbe proud and felf-
conceited, whom God rejects with abhorrence ; but the meek,
whom he'll guide in judgment, and to whom he'll teach his way.
Tho' the chriftian finds too often by fad experience that thefe
feeds of rebellion are not totally eradicated ; but the nearer we
advance to perfection in the divine life, the readier we are, not
only to fubmit to the divine appointment in the glorious
fcheme of our redemption, but to the whole will of God.
\6. The Bible acquaints us with the true caufe, why many
who fet out in the religious life, and feem to wage war againft
Satan and their own lufts^ are overcome, and turn their backs :
and that is becaufe they truft in their own ftrength, and place
their confidence in a Garrifon whofe foundation is bad, and is
continually liable to be undermined. 'Tis as impoffible to
perfevere in the divine life± without divine aids, as for a child
forfaken from the womb, to live and grow to years of matu
rity. But the Bible not only informs us of our dangers, but
points out the method of our efcape, viz. The Name of the
Lord is a strong Tower : the righteons runneth into it, and
isfafet. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help7 .
Unlefs thy law had been my delight, I fhould then have perifhed
in mine ajflicliott*. Thou wilt keep him in perf eel peace , whofe
mind is ftayed on thee : becaufe he trufteth in thee. Truft ye in
the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlafting
ftrength1. Surely he fhall deliver thee from the fnare of the
fowler u.
17. As Chrift is made of God unto us, Wifdom, Righteouf
nefs, Sanclification, and Redemption™, 'tis evident before our
reception of him, we are deftitute of thefe glorious perfections
and bleflings ; and however wife we may be for this world,
we are fools in God's account : however righteous we may
appear in our own or others eyes, if we have not the righteouf
nefs of Chrift imputed to us, we fhall be found naked : how
great foever our pretentions to fanctity, if we are not renewed
by the Divine Spirit, we fhall ftill be unholy : and though we
boaft the freedom of our wills, we are mflavery to Satan, and
he fecretly ufurps the throne in our hearts. — None but the
chriftian can be truly wife, truly good, or truly happy. 18.

'Prov. xviii. io?i Pfal. cxlvi. 5. ! Pfal. cxix. gz. « Ifai. xxvi. 3, 4.
• Pfal. xci. 3. w 1 Cor. i. 30.

[ 3° 3
18. " The chriftian inftitution is capable and worthy to be
" the univerfal religion ; it meddles not with the frames and
" models of civil government ; but leaves them, as it finds
" them, fuitable to the law of nature, and to the genius and
" welfare ofthe people, to which they belong. It fuits with
" the law of nature in difallowing tyranny and anarchy ; but
" it can fubfift in and under all forms of civil polity. It for-
" bids tumults, feditions, confpiracies and rebellions under
" all. And requires due order, fubjection, and allegiance un-
" der all." — But then we are to remember, ' the power of
* the magiftrate reaches no farther in matters of religion, than
s to fee that the ftate fufferno damage, and the peace of man-
* kind and the government be fecured.' Where the rights of
confcience are invaded, by public authority, to join in religi
ous worfhip with Idolaters, or any who fubvert the chriftian
religion, this would be to deny Chrift ; and here we are to fuf-
fer perfecution, rather than fubmit.
19. If we take away the Deity, and atonement of Chriji
from the Bible, what remains ? » ¦ ¦ The moral law con
demns. Curfed is every one that continue th not in all things
which are written in the book of the law to do them x.  . The
ceremonial law can be of no benefit, For it is not poffible that
the blood of bulls and of goats fhould take away fins r. — The
precepts of the Gofpel, tho' perfectly pure, lovely, and har
monious, would be of little fervice to the finner, for want of
the power and grace of Chrift to make them effectual : for till
the dominion and guilt of fin are removed, the foul is not ca
pable of receiving its pure and fpiritual precepts. If you take
this Sun of righteoufnefs from the fpiritual world, it would be
juft the fame as if the natural Sun was removed from our cre
ation, which would foon become cold, dark, and fruitlefs.
If a man abide not in me, he is caft forth as a branch, and is
withered. Without me ye can do nothing. John xvi. §,6.
20. The Bible affords the beft inftructions for the training
up of young minds, and fitting them for ufefulnefs in this life,
and by the divine bleffing, for the happinefs of a better ; and
likewife affords us many cautions againft the danger of ne
glecting them. And ye Fathers, provoke not your children to
wrath : but bring them up in the nurture and admonition
^  of
x Gal. iii. 10. y Heb. x, 4.

[ 3* 1
of the Lord. Eph. vi. 4. Corretl thy fon, and he fhall give thee
reft : yea, he fhall give delight unto thy foul, Prov. xxix. 1 7.
 And of Eli it is faid, / will judge his houfe for ever,
for the iniquity which he knoweth : becaufe his fons made them-
f elves vile, and he reftrained them not, 1 Sam. iii. 13. The
rod and reproof give wifdom ; but a child left to himfelf, bringetb
his Mother to Jhame, Prov. xxix. 15. Would parents con-
fider the importance of this duty, fure the neglect of it could
not be fo general. How many are laying the foundation of
bitter forrows, both for themfelves and their children, by ne
glecting to check the firft appearances of vice, that offspring of
corrupt nature ! So that as they increafe in years, their fin
ful habits are increafed and ftrengthened, and they often be
come a curfe to their parents, and the peft of fociety. 'Tis
a common but very pernicious fentiment that many entertain,
who don't chufe to be at the pains of forming the minds of
their children, or are not aware of the importance of it, viz.
" They'll know better as they grow older : " but experience
proves this untrue : without conftant cultivation, they'll dege
nerate, and will neither obtain a proper fenfe of their duty, nor
a defire to practife it. The fituation in which they come into
the world, calls aloud for this parental care ; their tender
minds are then capable of receiving every impreffion, as wax
receives the Image of the feal : and their firft impreffions are
always lafting ; Train up a child in the way he fhould go, and
when he is old, he will not depart from it, Prov. 22. 6. Their
young and active minds will be bufied, and 'tis our wifdom to
to chufe fuch employment for them, as will at the fame time
delight and improve them. And after all our pains, if we
are not particularly careful with whom they converfe in our
abfence, our inftructions will be in a great meafure loft upon
them. And if the bleffing of God, the good of fociety, the
happinefs of our children, and our own comfort, are any in
ducements to our diligence herein, thefe, and many more, are
the happy effects of it : and if we look around us, we may
fee many inftances, wherein the divine bleffing is confpicuous
in a remarkable degree, in thofe families, who have taken the
divine precepts as their guide herein : And I may add, that one
pious family, who have a due fenfe of the importance of this
duty, may, by the divine bleffing, be the means of tranfmit-
ting bleffings to the lateft pofterity. 21.

[ 32]
2i. The Bible opens a correfpondence with heaven ; even to
eommunion and intercourfe with the bleffed God. And what
an amazing inftance of condefcenfion is here ! Thefe are the
higheft pleafures a rational mind is capable of j and how fur-
prizing is it that any who have heard of them, fhould not im
mediately and joyfully embrace them. Were we invited by
an earthly Prince, to partake of his favours and friendfhip, I
believe few would fend a refufal ; But the cafe is very differ
ent here, there are few but do fo ; and make every excufe
they can invent to fhun this intercourfe. / have bought a piece
of ground, &c. Luke xiv. 18, 20.  If a ferious thought
at any time enters the mind, 'tis efteem'd an intruder : and
every method is purfued to get rid of fo troublefome a gueft.
Company, Diverfion, Wine, &c. are called in to drown the
heavenly meffenger. They know that two can't walk together,
unlefs they are agreed ; and that in order to converfe with God,
they muft in fome meafure be like him : But they have no
relifh for pleafures fo refined, but delight in thofe things which
are even the reproach of human nature ; and at the fame time
they are partaking of the indulgencies of heaven, are violating
its laws, and turning their backs on the Author of them ;
*' and, after perpetual difappointment, in the fearch of plea-
" fure which they never found, ftill continue the purfuit, till
" every hope is precluded, and life terminates either in the
" ftupor of infenfibility, or agonies of defpair."  Let
us now furvey a good man, in as diftreffing a fituation as per
haps is poffible, viz. David, who was obliged to forfake his
own country, and take fhelter in that of an enemy. Ziklag,
the little portion that Achifih gave him, burnt with fire : His
Wife's taken captive, and his own countrymen fpake offtoning
him, 1 Sam. xxx. 1-6. But he had ftill his comforts left ;
his beft things no human power could take away. David
encouraged himfelf in the Lord his God. — You, perhaps, may
never be in fuch a fituation ; but the time will come, (and it
may be foon,) when flefh and heart muft fail ; when none
of the comforts of this life, can relieve thee ; and if thou haft
not God in Chrift for thy fupport, defpair and ruin will be
the fatal confequence. But, if thou art fo happy as to have
God for thy portion, thou haft then a friend that will never
forfake thee ; in times of trouble and difficulty, he'll be near-
eft, and will put underneath thee his everlafting arms ; And
in thy laft conflict, when other friends and comforts fail, has
7 cordials

[33]
cordials that can revive thy fainting foul ; and give it, (if he
fees beft,) a foretafte of that Joy into which the righteous fhall
enter. 22. " God has wifely diftributed the knowledge and
' glory of Chrift through the whole of the books of the Old
' and New Teftament, whence it communicates itfelf, by
' various parts and degrees unto the proper ufe of the church.
' If all the light of the heavenly luminaries had been contracted
' into one, it would have been deftructive, not ufeful to our
' fight ; but being by divine wifdom diftributed into Sun,
' Moon, and Stars, each giving out his own proportion, it
' is fuited to declare the glory of God, and to enlighten the
' world : So if the whole revelation of the glory of Chrift,
' and all that belongs unto it, had been committed into one
' feries and contexture of words, it would have overwhelmed
' our minds, rather than enlightened us. In one place we
' have a defcription of h\s.perfon, and the glory of it ; fome-
' times in words plain and proper, and fometimes in great
' variety of allegories, conveying an heavenly fenfe of things
' unto the minds of them that do believe ; in others, of his love
' and condefcenfion in his office, and his glory therein. His
' humiliation, exaltation, and power, are in like manner in
' fundry places reprefented unto us. And as oneftar differ-
' eth from another in glory ; fo, it was one way, whereby
' God reprefented the glory of Chrift, in types and fhadows
' under the Old Teftament ; and another, wherein it is de-
' clared in the New. Illuftrious teftimonies upon all thefe
1 things are planted up and down in the Scriptures, which we
' may collect as choice flowers in the paradife of God, for the
' object of our faith and fight thereby."
23. The Bible gives us the ftrongeft affurances of the final
perfeverance of every true believer : (Being confident of this
very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will
perform it until the day of Jefus Chrift, Phil. i. 6. My fheep
bear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give
unto them eternal life, and they ftoall never perifh, neither ftoall
any pluck them out of my hand, John x. 27, 28 ) Though his
evidences are often clouded, and he may be fometimes fearful
left he fhould one day perijh by the hands of his enemies : But the
important truft, which he has committed to Chrift, remains fe-
cure.   " As we cannot work grace in our own hearts, (o
" in an hour of darknefs, we cannot clearlv difcover that grace
F " that

t34l
<* that is there, to the full fatisfaction of our confidences, unlefs
" the fame fpirit that wrought it is pleafed to reveal it to us
" by his affifting influences. It is by obfervations and affift-
*c ances borrowed from the Sun, that hour-lines are drawn on
*' a Sun-dial, and they abide there in the dark ; but we cannot
" find what hour of the day it is, unlefs the Sun fhines upon
" thofe hour-lines : fo grace in the heart is wrought by the Holy
f ' Spirit, and it abides ftill even in the darkeft night of temp-
" tation, when once the Spirit of God has wrought it there,
" it fhall never be quite loft ; for the feed of God remains :
" but the foul cannot difcern it clearly, fo as to take comfort
" from it in an hour of darknefs ; unlefs the Spirit, like the
" Sun, dart his beams of light into the world, and difcover his
" own work."
SECT. VIII.
"the Neceffity and Benefit of Meditation.
AMONG the various duties the Bible enjoins, there is
none more beneficial, tho' none more neglected, than
meditation. 'Tis a duty ftrongly inculcated in the word of God,
and practis'd by good men ; therefore we may be fure it is a
neceffary one : And there's another evidence of its value, viz.
It directly oppofes the ftream of corrupt nature. This duty,
like a cement, fattens facred truths to the heart : " For want
" of this, fermons are unprofitable; what we hear, will without
" it, pafs like water thro' a fieve ; and our food may as foon
" nourifh without digeftion, as we be profited, without refiec-
" tion and meditation". And I may add, without thefe, our
mercies are in a great meafure loft upon us. " Thofe who
" neglect it, are like travellers, acquainted with other coun-
" tries, and ignorant of their own. — This duty may appear
" irkfome at our firft entrance upon it ; but when we are en-
" gaged in it, 'tis fweet and pleafant." 'Tis not a curfory
work, a few tranfient thoughts of religion, it muft be attended
to with ferioufnefs, and J relj T- examination: and we are hereby to
enquire into the ftate of our fouls, with the fame diligence and
attention, we ufe in our temporal concerns ; that if our condi
tion is bad, ruin may be prevented ; and if good, that we may
take the comfort of it. If you have neglected it hitherto, be
wail your negligence, and make confcience of it for the future :
. and .remember", that action is the end of meditation ; it muft be

C 35 1
be reduc'd to praclice. Among others, the following are pro
per fubjects for our meditation, viz. Death, Judgment,
Eternity, The Evil of Sin, The Vanity of Earthly En*
joyments, The Goodnefs of God, The Promifes, The
Love of Chrift. A few of the advantages of it, are as follow.

" It brings God and the foul together.
It makes the heart ferious.
It warms the affections.
It fits for prayer.
'Tis a ftrong antidote againft fin.
6. It brings delight, and leaves .peace behind.
j. It leffens our efteem of the world.
8. It anticipates eternal happinefs."

i.
2. 3-
4- 5

PART

¦?£?• .^a. .^. ."sv .ar .&. .*&. res* •«• .«• /3> /£»• -W- »:cf* .w> S3, w -®- -w^ y£? • •»'¦

PART II.
CONTAINS

Sect. I. Some En
largement on Luke
xxiv. 44. wherein is
tranfcrib'd, fome of
the Prophefies in the
Pfalms relating to
Chrifi, with their Ful
filment. Sect. II. The Re
newal of the Law, by
Mofes. Sect. III. AnExpla-
nation of fome of the
yewifh Sacrifices and
Offerings, by com
paring them with the
Sufferings of Chrifi.

Sect. IV. A Parallel
between Mofes and
Chrift. Sect. V. The Di
vinity of Chrift proved,
from a Variety of
Scriptures. Sect. VI. A View
of fome inanimate
Things, by which
Chrift is Reprefented
in Scripture.
Sect. VII. Thetrue
caufe of the Mifcar-
riages of Mankind,
from Firft to Laft.

PART SECT. I.
«SWg Enlargetnent on Luke x;nv. 44.
1T^y> are /&£ Words zvhich I fpake unto you, while 1 was yet
with you, that all things muft be fulfilled which were written
in the Law of Mofes, and in the Prophets, and in tbe Pfulms
concerning me.
i ft The Law of Mofes.*
THAT the ceremonial law with all its appurtenances,
Tabernacle, Heb. ix. ii. High Prieft, &c. Heb. ii. 17.
were typical of Chrift, the word of God has fufficiently evinc'd.
Its parts are fo many and various, that it by no means falls
within the reach of thefe few fheets to enumerate them ; I would
therefore, recommend the Epiftle to the Hebrews, to lead you
into the true intention of them ; tho' their explication is by no
means confined to that epiftle. — 'Tis a religion that unlefs con-
fidered typically, could not profit its votaries: Forlt is not poffibk
that the blood of bulls and of goats fhould take away fins: But,
as it look'd forward to that glorious event, when their great
Antitype fhould perform really, what thefe reprefented, 'tis an
inftitution worthy the Divine Author. — And here I would ob-
ferve, how eafy it is to pervert the defign of the beft inftitu-
tions. What fatal effects was this attended with in the un
believing Jews, who made the word of God of none effetl thro'
their traditions ; and refted in the outward obfervanee of thefe
ordinances, notwithftanding ail the. cautions our Saviour gave
them againft trufting in any thing fhort of him. What clear
evidence did he give that he was the true Meffiab: referr'd them
to their own Prophets, which they proielVd to believe, but
really did not. For had ye believed Mofes, ye would have be
lieved
* This includes the moral as well as ceremonial law, wli:h drift fulfilled,
tho' not abrogated. Matt. v. 17, 18. Luke xvi. 17.

[ 4? ]
lieved me : for he wrote of me : But if ye believe not bis writ
ings, how fhall ye believe my words ? John v. 46, -47.

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not ; But if I
do, tho' ye believe not me,, believe the works, t John x. ^y, 38.
And fo ftrong is the evidence of Mofes and the Prophets, that
Abraham affures the rich man inhell, that if his brethren hear
not them, they would not be perfwaded, tho' one rofe from the
dead. Luke xvi. 3 1 .  This fatal miftake of the Jews, will
explain to us the two following parts of fcripture :
1 ft. TO what purpofe is the multitude of your facrifices unto
me ? faith the Lord. I am full of burnt -offerings of rams, and
the fat of fed beafts, and I delight not in the blood of bullocks,
or of lambs, or of he-goats. Bring no more vain oblations, in-
cenfe is an abomination unto me. Tour new-moons, and your
appointed feafts my foul hateth : they are a trouble unto me, I
am weary to bear them, Ifai. i. 11 — 14. And again. He that
kjlleth an ox, is as if he flew a man : he that facrificeth a lamb,
as if he cut off a dog's neck : he that offereth an oblation, as if
he offered fwine's blood : he that burneth incenfe, as if be bleffed
an idol, Ifai. xlvi. 3. Here we fee that God rejects his own
inftitutions, tho' then in their full force. Not for any defect
in them, but for the abufe of them, in ufing them for pur-
pofes they were not defign'd, neither could effect, viz. To
make atonement.
2. B UT now after that ye have known God, or rathtr are
known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly ele
ments, whereunto ye defire again to be in bondage? Gal. iv. 9.
So ftrong was the Apoftle's zeal for the glory of Chrift, that
tho' thefe elements or rudiments were of divine appointment,
he gives them the title of beggarly. And no wonder, for
their ufe had long before ceas'd with their accomplifhment,
and continuing the practice of them, was virtually denyinc
that Chrift was come, and in effect difowning and difclaim-
ing him.
Similar to this, was the conduct of the people in the time
of good Hezekiah, who obferving they burnt incenfe to the
brazen ferpent, brake it in pieces, and called it Nehufhtan, a
brazen bawble. * TyE

2 Kings, xviii. 4.

L 4i J
The kind accommodations we enjoy in the prefent life,
though they are abufed by many, and turn'd to the vileft pur-
pofes ; that by no means decreafes their value ; Every creature
of God is good. 1 Tim. iv. 4. but, when we permit them to
rival him in our efteem, we make idols of them, and from
blefiings, we change them. into curfes.
2. In the Prophets. Here again I'm confin'd, for the
prophecies are fo numerous, that it would greatly exceed the
bounds of this Treatife to furvey them :, Tea, and all the Pro
phets from Samuel, and thofe that follow after, as many as have
fpoken, have likcwife foretold of thefe days, Acts iii. 24. And
if you examine your Bible with diligence, and a fincere defire
of reaping advantage from it, you'll obtain, by comparing its
feveral parts, a growing improvement in the knowledge .both
of the Law and the Prophets.
3. In the PSALMS concerning me. Here I fhall
tranfcribe a few of thofe prophecies which are moft obvious,
with their completion.

PSALMS.
Pf. xci. n, 12. For he
fhall give his angels charge o-
ver thee, to keep thee in all thy
ways. They fhall bear thee
up m their hands, left thou dafh
thy foot againft a ftone.

Pf. cxviii. 25, 26. Save
now, I befeech thee, O Lord :
O Lord, I befeech thee, fend
now profperity. Bleffed be he_
that cometh in the name of
the Lord.
Pf. lxxviii. 2. I will open
my mouth in a parable : I will
utter dark fayings of old.

New Teftament.
Luke iv. 9, n. If thou le
the Son of God, caft tbyfelf
down from hence. For it is
written, He fhall give his angels
charge over tkee, to keep thee.
And in their hands they fhall
bear thee up, left at any time
thou dafh thy foot againft a
ftone. Matt. xxi. 9. And the mul
titudes that went before, and
that followed, cried, faying,
Hofanna to the fon of David :
Bleffed is he that cometh in the
name of the_ Lord.
Matt.xiii. 35. That it might
be fulfilled which was fpoken by
the prophet, faying I will open
G rny

[42]

PSALMS.

New Teftament.

Pf. cxviii. 22. The ftone
which the builders refufed is
become the head of the cor

ner.

Pf. ex. i . The Lord faid
unto my Lord, fit thou at my
right hand until I make thine
enemies thy footftool.

Pf. ii. 2. The kings of the
earth fet themfelves, and the
rulers take counfel together a-
gainft the Lord, and againft
his anointed.

Pf. xii. 9. Yea, mine own
familiar friend in whom I
trufted, which did eat of my
bread, hath lift up. his heel a-
gainft me.
Pf. xxxix. 9. I was dumb,
I opened not my mouth.

Pf. Ixix. 21. They gave
me alfo gall for my meat, and
in my thirft they gave me vi
negar to drink. Pf.

my mouth in parables, I will
utter things which have been
kept fecret from the foundation
of the world.
Matt. xxi. 42. Jefus faith
unto them, did you never read
in the fcriptures, The ftonewhicb
the builders rejecled, the fame is
become the head of tbe corner.
Matt. xxii. 43. How then
doth David in fpirit call him
Lord, faying, The Lord faid
unto my Lord, fit thou on my
right hand, till 1 make thine
enemies thy footftool ?
Matt. xxvi. 3, 4. Then aft-
fembled together tbe chief ' prieft s,
and the fcribes, and the elders
of the people *, and confulted
that they might take Jefus by
fubtilty, and kill him.
John xiii. 18. But that tbe
fcripture may be fulfilled, He
that eatetb bread with me,
hath lift up his heel againft
me. Matt. xxvi. 62, 63. An-
fwereft thou nothing ? what is
it which thefe witnefs againft
thee ? But Jefus held his peace.
Matt, xxvii. 34. They gave
him vinegar to drink mingled

with gall

Matt.

* Here we may include Herod and Pilate. Luke xxiii. 1 1 .

PSALMS.

I 43 ]

New Teftament.

Pf. xxii. 7. All they that
fee me, laugh rne to fc.orn :
they fhoot xmt the lip, they
fhake the head.
Pf. xxii. 8. He trufted on
the Lord, that he would de
liver him : let him deliver him
feeing he delighted in him.
Pf. xxii. 1. My Qod, My
God, why haft thou foriaken
me ?
Pf.xxn. 18. They part my
garments among them, and
caft lots upon my vefture.

P/! cxxxu. 11. The Lord
hath fworn in truth unto Da
vid, he will not turn from it,
Of the fruit of thy body will I
fet upon thy throne.
Pf. lxxii. 1 7. His name fhall
endure for ever : his name fhall
be continued as long as the
fun : and men fhall be bleffed
in him ; all nations fhall call
him bleffed.
P/xxxi. 5. Into thine hand
I commit my fpirit.

Pf. Ixix. 9. For the zeal of
thine houfe hath eaten me up.

Matt, xxvii. 39. And they
that paffed by, reviled him,
wagging their heads.

Matt, xxvii. 4^. He trufted
in God, let him deliver him
now if he will have him : for
he faid, I am the Son of God.
Matt xxvii. 46. My God,
My God, why haft thou for-
faken me ?

Mark xv. 24.
they had crucified
parted his garments,
upon them, what
fhould take.

And when
him, they
cafting lots
every man

Pf-

Luke i. 32. He fhall be
great, and fhall be called the
Son of the Higheft ; and the
Lord God fhall give unto him
the throne of his father David.
Ver. 33. And he fhall reign
over the houfe of Jacob for ever,
and of his kingdom there fhall
be no end.

Luke xxiii. 46. Father, into
thine bands I commend my
fpirit. John ii. 17. And his difci-
pies remembered that it was
written, the zeal of thine houje
hath eaten me up.
G 2 John

L 44 J

PSALMS.

Pf. lxix. 4. They that hate
me without a caufe, are more
than the hairs of mine head.

Pf. c::xxix. 8, 9. Let his
days be few, and let another
take his office. Let his chil
dren be fatherlels, and his
wife a widow.

Pf xxxiv. 20. He keepeth
all his bones, not one of them
is broken.

Pf. xvi. 8, 10. I have fet
the Lord always before me :
becaufe he is at my right hand,
I fhall not be moved. There
fore my heart is glad, and my
glory rejoictth : my flefh alfo
fhall reft in hope. For thou
wilt not leave my foul in hell ;
neither wilt thou fuffer thine
holy One to fee corruption.

Ver. 7. Thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee.

New Teftament.

John xv. 25. That the word
might be fulfilled that is writ
ten in their law, They hated me
without a caufe.
Acts i. 16, 20. This fcrip
ture r, :11ft needs have been ful
filled, which the Holy Ghoft by
the mouth of David fpake be
fore concerning Judas. For it is
written in the book of Pfalms,
Let his habitation be defolate,
and, his biflsoprick let another
take. John xix. 36. For thefe
things were done, that the fcrip
ture fhould be fulfilled, A bone
of him fhall not be broken.
Actsii. 25, 27. For David
fpeaketh concerning him, I fore-
jaw the Lord always before my
face, for he is on my right hand,
that I fhould not be moved.
Therefore did my heart rejoice,
and my tongue was glad : more
over alfo, my flefh fhall reft in
hope, Becaufe thou wilt not
leave my foul in hell, neither
wilt thou fuffer thine holy One
to fee corruption.

Acts xiii. 33. As it is alfo
written in the fecond Pfalm,
i hcu art ;;-:y Sox, this day have
I begotten thee.

P

Pf. cxlvi. 8, The Lord 0- j Matt. ix. 30. And their eyes

:neth the eves of the blind

were opened.
Pfi^

Rom.

L 45 J

P SAL MS.

Pf. xiv. 7. O that the fal
vation of Ifrael were come out
of Zion !
Pf. xviii. 49. Therefore
will I give thanks unto thee,
O Lord, among the heathen :
and fing praifes unto thy
name.

Pf. Ixxviii. 15, 16. He
clave the rocks in the wilder-
nefs, and gave them drink as
out of the great depths. He
brought ftreams alfo out of
the rock, and caufed waters to
run down Jike rivers.
Pf. viii. 6. Thou madeft
him to have dominion over
the works of thy hands ; thou
haft put
feet.

all things under Ins

New Teftament.

Ver. 2. Out of the mouth
pf babes and fucklings haft
thou ordained ftrength.

PJ. Ixviii. 18. Thou haft
afcended on high, thou haft
led captivity captive.

Pf. Ixxxix. 8, 9. O Lord
God of Holts, who is a ftrong
Lord like unto thee ? or to thy
faithfulnefs round about thee ?
Thou ruleft the raging of the
fea : when the waves thereof
arife, thou ftilleft them. §
Pf\

Rom. xi. 26. There fhall
come out of Sion the deliverer.

Rom. xv. 9. As it is writ
ten, For this caufe I will con-
fefs to thee among the Gentiles,
and fing unto thy name.

1 Cor. x. 4. And did all
drink the fame fpiritual drink :
For they drank of that fpiritual
Rock that followed them : and
that Rock was Chrift.

Eph. i. 22. And hath put
all things under his feet, and
gave him to be the head over
all things to the church.

Matt. xxi. 16. Have ye ne
ver read, Out of the mouth of
babes and fucklings thou haft
perfecled praife ?
Eph. iv. 8. Wherefore he
faith, when he afcended up on
high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men.
Mark iv. 39. And he arofe,
and rebuked the wind, and faid,
unto the fea, Peace, be ftill :
and the wind ceafed, and there
was a great calm.

Heb.

PSALMS.

[46 ]

Pf. ii. 8. Afk of me, and
I 'fhall give thee the heathen
for thine inheritance, and the
uttermoft parts ofthe earth for
thy poffeffion.
Pf. xcvii. 7. Worfhip him
all ye gods.
Pf. xlv. 6, 7. Thy throne,
O God, is for ever and ever :
the fceptre of thy kingdom is
a right lceptre. Thou loveft
righteoufnefs, and hateft wick-
ednefs : 'therefore God, thy
God hath anointed thee with
the oil of gladnefs above thy
fellows. §
Pf. cii. 25. Of old haft thou
laid the foundation of the
earth, and the heavens are the
work of thy hands. §

Pf. xcv. 3,8. For the Lord
is a great God, and a great
King above all gods. In his
hand are the deep places ofthe
earth : the ftrength of the hills
is his alfo. The fea is his, and
he made it : and his hands
formed the dry land. O come,
let us worfhip and bow down :
let us kneel before the Lord
our maker. For he is our
God, and we are the people
of his pafture, and the fheep of

New Teftament,

Heb. i. 2. Hath in thefe laft
days fpoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom alfo he
made the worlds.
Heb i. 6. And let all the
angels of God worfhip him.
Heb. i. 8, 9. But unto the
Son he faith, Thy throne, 0 God,
is for ever and ever ; a fceptre
of righteoufnefs is tbe fceptre of
thy kingdom : Thou haft loved
righteoufnefs, and hated iniqui
ty ; therefore God, thy God, hath
anointed thee with the oil of
gladnefs above thy fellows.
Heb. i. 10. And, thou, Lord,
in the beginning haft laid the
foundation ofthe earth ; and the
heavens are the works of thine
hands. Heb. iii. 3, 8. For this
man was countedworthy of more
glory than Mofes, inafmuch as
he who hath builded the houfe,
bath more honour than the houfe.
For every houfe is builded by
fome man ; but be that built all
things is God. And Mofes verily
was faithful in all bis houfe as
a fervant : But Chrift as a Son
over bis own houfe. Wherefore
as the Holy Ghoft faith, To day
if ye will hear his voice, harden not

Note. Thofe paflagcs in the Pfalms which evidently difplay the Divinity
of drift, 1 hawe marked 'thus §

PSALMS.

[47 1

New Teftament.

of his hands : to day if ye
will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts, as in the provo
cation, as in the day of temp
tation in the wilderrrefs. §
Pf. lxxviii. 4t, 56. Yea,
they turned back and tempted
God, and limited the Holy
One of Ifrael. They tempted
and provoked the moft High
God, and kept not his tefti-
monies. §
Pf. ex. 4. Thou art a
Prieft for ever, after the or
der of Melchizedek.

Pf. x\. 6, 8. Sacrifice and
offering thou didft not defire,
mine ears haft thou opened :
burnt-offering and fin-offering
thou haft not required. Then
faid I, Lo, I come : in the
volume of the book it is writ
ten of me : I delight to do thy
will, O my God : yea, thy
law is within my heart.

Pf lxviii. 20. He that is
our God, is the God of falva
tion ; and unto God the Lord
belong the iffues from death. §

not your hearts, as in the pro
vocation, in the day of tempta
tion in the wildernefs.

' 1 Cor. x. 9. Neither let us
tempt Chrift, as fome of tbem
alfo tempted, and were deftroy ed
of fer penis.

Pf. vii. 9. For
teous God trieth the
and reins. §

the righ-
hearts

PP

Heb. v. 6. As be faith alfo
in another plaee, Thou art a
Prieft for ever after the order
of Melchizedek. Heb. x. 5,-6. Wherefore
when he cometh into the world,
he faith, Sacrifice and offering
thou wouldeft not, but a body
haft thou prepared me : hi
burnt-offerings, and facrifices
for Jin thou haft had no plea
fure : Then faid I, Lo, I come
(in the volume of the book it is
written of me) to do thy will,
O God.Rev. i. 18. /am he that
liveth, and was dead ; and be
hold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen ; and have the keys of
hell and of death.
Rev. ii. 23. I am he which
fearcheth the reins and hearts.

Rev.

PSALMS.

[48]

Pf. xl. 3. And he hath put
a new fong in my mouth,
even praife unto our God.

Pf. xlv. 3, 4. Gird thy
fword upon thy thigh, O moft
mighty : with thy glory and
thy majefty. And in thy ma-
jefty ride profperoufly, becaufe
of truth and meeknefs, and
righteoufnefs : and thy right
hand fhall teach thee terrible
things. Pf. xxiii. 1, 2. The Lord
is my Shepherd, I fhall not
want. He maketh me to lie
down in green paftures : he
leadeth me befides the ftill
waters.

Pf. ii. 9. Thou fhalt break
them with a rod of iron, thou
fhalt dafli them in pieces
like a potter's veffel.

New Teftament.

Rev. v. 9. And they 'flung a
new fong, faying, Thou art
worthy to take the book, and to
open the feals thereof : for thou
waft Jlain, and haft redeemed
us to God by thy blood, out of
every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation.
Rev. vi. 2. And I flaw, and
behold a white horfe ; and he
that fat on him had a bow, and
a crown was given unto him,
and he went forth conquering,
and to conquer.

John x. 11. I am the good
Shepherd. Rev. vii. 17. For the Lamb
which is in the midft of the
throne, fhall feed them, and fhall
lead them unto living fountains
of waters : and God fhall wipe
away all tears from their eyes.
Rev. xix. j 1, 16. And I
flaw heaven opened, and behold,
a white horfe ; and be that fat
upon him, was called faithful
and true, and in righteoufnefs
he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire,
and on his head were many
crowns ; and . he had a name
written that no man knew but
he himfelf : And he was chat bed
with a vefture dipt in blood-:
and his name is called The
word

PS4LMS.

C 49 3

New Teftaqient.

word of God. * And out of
his mouth goetb a fharp fword,
that with it he fhould fmite the
nations ; and be fhall rule them
with a rod of Iron ; and h^
treadeth the wine-prefs of the
fiercenefs and wrath of Almighty
God. And he hath on his vef-
ture, and on his thigh a name
\ written, King of Kings, and
Lord of Lords.

* John i. 1. Heb. iv. 12.
Inferences.
1. Tho' the ceremonial law is abolifhed, 'tis by no means
ufelefs to us : 'Tis a fchool in which we muft be trained, if
we defire to be mighty in the Scriptures. 'Tis a copious fub-
ject : The apoftle Paul, a man juftly admired for his eloquence,
and whom we can't fufpect of tautology, perfwaded the Jews
concerning Jefus, both out of the law of Mofes and the pro
phets, from morning till evening, Acts xxviii. 23. We are not
to look upon the chriftian religion as a new one ; fo far from
that, it is the oldeft in the world : the faith of the believing
Jew under the law, and that of the Chriftian, are both the
fame : the gofpel was firft preached to them, Heb. iv. 6. It was
{ireached to Abraham, Gal. iii. 8. but our evidence is doub-
ed ; we have firft the fhadows, and then the fubftance : and the
better we are acquainted with thofe rituals that fhadow'd
Chrift, the brighter we fhall fee that glorious Sun of Righteouf
nefs break forth, and eclipfe thofe initiating ordinances, which
were then to have an end :  an end as to the practice of
them, but not to the Study of them.
2. The greateft part of the Pfalms appear to be prophetic
Of the Birth, Life, Miracles, Sufferings, Death, Refurrection,
and Triumphs of the Mefftah ; and of the deftruction of his
and our enemies : and they likewife afford us the cleareft proofs
of his Divinity. All the prophets prophefied of Chrift, and
therefore 'tis no wonder that David, who was not only a great
prophet, but likewife an eminent- type of Chrift, fhould record
H his

[ 5°1
his actions ; this was his darling theme, and he was richly fur-
nifhed for it by the Holy Spirit. Abraham flaw his day, and
was glad, but David expatiates and particularizes the glories
of our great Immanuel. The afflictions, perfecutions, and wars
of David, which reach'd thro' his whole life, paved the way
for that peace and reft his fon Solomon enjoyed ; fo herein, as
well as in many other particulars, they are both eminently ty
pical of our Lord Jefus Chrift, whofe warfare and fufferings
opened the way to his peaceable reign above ; who after he had
conquered his and our enemies, fat down on the right hand of
the Majefty on high.-  That the Pfalms are fuited to almoft
every, cafe in the chriftian life, is evident, and confequently, to
the circumftances of our Lord, when he fojourned here, who
was in all points tempted like as we are, fin only excepted. This
book, as well as other parts of Scripture, was his directory, as
well as ours, he came to fulfil its precepts and prophecies ; and
the Divine Spirit who indited it, and feals it to the confolation
of believers, was poured on him without meafure, to qualify
him for the arduous undertaking. The promifes, directions, and
precepts, contained in this book, are not confined to Chrifi,
except what relate to thofe actions which none but he could
effect, but ftand on record for the fupport, guidance, and con
folation of the Chrifiian, to the end of the world, who is to
tread in his fteps. — — The Chriftian here fees that exact con
formity to the Divine will, and that perfect character fo often
defcribed in the Pfalms, to which he can make no pretenfions,
fit well on the holy Jefus ; and will endeavour to imitate him
as far as he can ; but, as he falls very fhort, he lifts up his eyes
with wonder and joy, and beholds the completion of the cha
racters and prophecies of this book, in the glorious actions of
his great Lord and Mafter ! and draws this moft comfortable
conclufion, viz.  That the unfpeakable benefits which arife
thereby, are placed to his account.
3. As the law and the prophets, by which are underftcod
the whole of the old Teftament, are filled with predictions of
Chrift, and the greateft part of the New Teftament, an account
of the accomplifhment of them, we may juftly infer, that
Chrift is the fum and fubftance of both Teftaments : and there's
fuch an affinity between the word of God and Chrift, that they
both bear the fame title, and in a variety of places 'tis difficult
to determine which is more immediately meant. So that the
various parts of the Bible unite in Chrift, as fo many lines
drawn

[ 5-1 ]
drawn to a center • and the Chriftian who has a real experience
of this, muft needs have ftrong ground for faith : he has First,
— The witnefs of the Prophets. — Secondly, — The witnefs of?
the Apoftles, to the fulfilment of their prophecies in Chrift.
Thirdly, — The witnefs ofthe Spirit in his own foul, and a
threefold cord is not quickly broken. The Chriftian s, hope is not
that ofthe hypocrite, which fhall perifh; 'tis a hope that enter-
eth into that within the vail, and 'tis a hope he would not part
with for ten thoufand worlds.
SECT. II.
The Law given by God to Mofes at Mount Sinai,
appears to be a Renewal of that he had given
the Patriarchs before : with fome additional
Inftrutlions.
TH E worthies before the renewal of the law, are included
with thofe under the law, Heb. 11. Their faith was
the fame : there never has been fince the fall but one way^ to
heaven ; and God has in every age afforded fuch fupplies of
knowledge and grace as his children flood in need of. If the
word of God had not given us an account of their mode of
worfhip, we could not with reafon have fuppofed that men
whom God favoured with his converfe, could be unacquaint
ed with his laws and ftatutes for upwards of two thoufand years,
but by comparing their religious fervices, we find them (fo far
as they are recorded) exactly tally with the law afterwards
renewed. Objection.
" As the moft important parts of the law were given to the
" Patriarchs, what need was there of a renewal ?"
Anfwer.
Many reafons may be given for the neceffity of its renewal ;
a few of which are as follow.
i. The great increafe of the people; whereby God was
pleas'd to give his laws under fuch regulations, and with fuch
. H.z ' addi-

r 5* i
additions, as fhould fuit their prefent and future Circum-
ftances, and be a ftanding rule for the Jewifh nation, to the
coming of the Meffiah.
2. As the children of Ifrael had been for a great number
6f years in bondage, and did not enjoy the free exercife of
their religion, (at leaft for that part of the time that they were
feverely oppreffed ; as appears from what Mofes faid to Pha
raoh, Exod. viii. 26. for their facrifices were an abomination to
the Egyptians : * And had their religion been lefs odious to
them, we may be well affured the Egyptian tafk-mafters would
not have permitted any avocation from bufinefs :) 'tis there
fore no wonder if thro' difufe they fhould forget many parts
of their own religion.
3. Directions for building the Tabernacle, and appointing
the fervice of it ; likewife appointing cities of refuge.
4. Fixing the Priefthood to the tribe of Levi, and in the
family of Aaron ; and appointing the place of worfhip ; firft,
in the Tabernacle, and afterwards in the Temple, at Jerufalem,
the mount Zion wbich he loved. Before the renewal of the law
the firft-born of every family were priefts.
5. It was then committed to writing, and has thereby, under
the care of providence, been preferved thro' all fucceeding ages.
, Let us take notice of a few inftances, whereby it appears
that men in the earlieft ages of the world were not unacquaint
ed with the divine laws.
ift. Abel, we find facrificing, and as we afterwards find
it a divine injunction, we are fure he did it by divine direction.
God does not adopt human inventions, and place them in the
number of his laws : fo far from that, the inventions of men,
in matters of religion, are exploded through every part of the
Bible. His facrifice was a lamb or kid, a type of the Lamb of
God, who takes away the fins of ihe world. And as we find
Adato'% fon facrificing, by divine appointment, it leaves us
no room to doubt that thofe beafts were facrificed by Adam,
the fkins of which cloathed him.

. * Hiftory informs us that the Egyptians paid religious adoration to fome of
the heafts the Ifraelites ufed in facrjfice.

I 53 1
a. Noah, is commanded by God to take a certain num
ber of clean and unclean hafts and fowls into the Ark. This
muft include a diftinct knowledge of the clean and unclean, and
likewife a comprehenfive one, to reach through fo great a part
Of the animal creation : And their being denominated clean
or unclean, muft be determined, by their being previoufly ap
pointed by God either as fit or unfit for food or facrifice : *
and we find him as foon as he came out of the Ark, offering
of every clean beaft and fowl in burnt-offering. And as Noah
was inftructed in the ufe of facrifices, we have the greateft rea-
fon to fuppofe that he knew the ufe of Incenfe, Salt, &c. as
they accompanied the facrifices ; tho' the directions for pre
paring the Incenfe is not recorded till after the renewal of the
law. — Noah was alfo a preacher of righteoufnefs ; and this muft
include a confiderable acquaintance with the divine laws, as
well as their fpiritual fignification. *f As God favoured the
Patriarchs with frequent appearances, and revelations, (many
more I doubt not than we have recorded) we can't fuppofe
but they had many promifes relating to the Meffiah, befides the
firft. So Enoch's walking with God, includes the knowledge
and practice of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord ;
and no doubt that eminent Saint was favoured with the fame
intimacy with God which other good men enjoyed, though
there are no appearances to him recorded.
3. Abraham, a man eminently favoured by God, and
who is even called his friend, was well acquainted with the di
vine laws -, or he could not have been qualified for the dis
charge of thofe important duties which God mentions with
approbation, viz. For I know him, that he will command bis
children and his houfhold after him, and they fhall keep tbe way
of the Lord, to do Justice and Judgment, Gen xviii. 19.
Both which are very comprehenfive duties. We find him
likewife acquainted with the divine inftitution of tithes, Gen.
xiv. 20. and facrifices, Gen. xxii. 13. fo that it appears he
underftood both the ceremonial and moral law. 4.

* 'Tis generally thought that ftefli was wot eaten before the flood, as com-
ipon food ; but 'tis very probable that part of the facrifices were eaten, as we
afterwards find commanded.
+ Noah was by divine commiffion a faithful preacher of moral righteouf
nefs repentance and reformation, and of the righteoufnefs which Is by faith,
pf which he himfelf was an heir, and a preacher of the righteous judgments
afGed. D' Guvt*iJP"'-°*-l> ? P<*t " c.

[54l
¦ 4- Jacob, we find Underftood the ufe of drink-offerings,
and the religious ufe of oil, Gen. xxxv. 14. Likewife the
law relating to tithes, Gen. xxviii. 22.
5. Judah, was acquainted with the law that relates to
marriages ; he commands his fon Onan to marry his bro
ther's wife, in order to raife up feed to his brother, Gen.
xxxviii. 8.
So that by collecting the fore-cited places of Scripture, it
plainly appears the Patriarchs underftood the fubftance of the
law renewed by Mofes ; which was afterwards practis'd in a
more pompous manner, in the Tabernacle and Temple.
Remarks.
1. The Hiftory ofthe world for the firft two thoufand five
hundred years is extremely fhort : there is nothing faid of
Enoch's prophecy, Jude xiv. or of Noah's preaching ; 2 Pet.
ii. 5. and we fhall find it neceffary in many other inftances,
to confult that part of the word of God which was written in
fucceeding times, in order to form a true judgment of the
Patriarchal ages. — Their religion appears evidently the fame
with that of the true worfhippers of God in every fucceeding
age, to the coming of the Mffiah. And tho' the ceremonies
of it were abolifhed by Chrift, the effentials of it remain now,
and ever will, as the foundation of our faith and hope. They
had the fame object of worfhip, — The fame faith, — Abel,
Abraham, and all good men in every age, had the fame gra
cious habits wrought in their fouls by rhe Spirit of God, which
believers have now, and will all unite in the fame fong of
praife ahove, viz. Thou waft fllain, and baft redeemed us to
God by thy blood, Rev. v. 9.
2. That Abel underftood the fpiritual meaning and inten
tion of his facrifice, is evident, from the account the Apcjlle
gives of it in his epiftle to the Hebrews, viz. By faith Abel of
fered unto Gcd a more excellent facrifice than Cain, Heb. xi. 4.
And the word of God acquaints us, that faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing, by the word of God, Rom. x. 17. either imme
diately or mediately, " fo that faith is founded on fome word,
" and relies on a divine command or promife." — And here
we may obferve the difference between Cain and Abel's offering,
which fhews the rcafon of their different reception by God •,
and

r 55i
and they nearly' referable the charaders given ofthe Publican
and Pharifee, Luke xviii. io — 14. Cain brought an offering
o\~ firft- fruits in acknowledgement of the bounty of providence,
but no facrifice in acknowledgment of his own finftilnefs and
need of pardon : but Abel's offering manifeftly includes the three
following particulars,
1. A confefiion of fin.
2. His own inability to atone for it.
3. His faith in the atonement of Chrift ; of which his offering
was a ftanding memorial thro' all the Jewifh difpenfation.
Remark 3. As the faints in the early ages of the world had not
the written Bible, but were taught by God himfelf, in the know
ledge of the fame laws afterwards renewed by Mofes, fo of all other
men, we can't fuppofe thefe ignorant ofthe true intention of
them. And tho' the hiftory of thofe times is extremely fhort,
yet by enumerating the foregoing particulars, we find it fuffi-
cient to acquaint us with the following things, viz. That their
faith was the fame as ours, and built on the far^e foundation,
— That they were taught by God himfelf, — That their mode
of worfhip was the fame with that continued through the whole
Jewifh difpenfation, — That they have left bright examples, by
their Urongfaith and holy walk, and are entered on the poffeffion
of that better country, even»the heavenly, and into a city which
hath foundations , whofe builder and maker is God, Heb. xi. 10.

SECT. III.
A brief explanation of fome of the Jewifh Sa
crifices and Offerings, by comparing them
with the Sufferings of Chrift, recorded in the
New Teftament.

Types.
« Incense, a rich perfume
ufed in facrifices, was a compo-
1 fition

Explanation.
" The Inter ceffion of Chrifi :
and likewife typified the com- pli-

Types.

f SO

Jition ef various aromaticks,
Exod. xxx. 34, 35.

The Burnt-offering.

The Sin offering.

The Peace-offering.

The Meat, and Drink-of
ferings.

The Free-will-offerings.

The Paffover. *

Explanation'*

plicated perfections both in his
perfon and actions, which
make his interceffion preva
lent. The wrath of God, which
Chrift endured. Tho' other
offerings, which had part of
them burnt in the fire, repre
fented the foul- fufferings of
of Chrift, as well as this.

us

Christ was made fin for
, 2 Cor. v. 21. He appeared

to put away fin, by the facrifice
of himfelf, Heb. ix. 26.
Christ made peace through
the blood of his crofs, Coloff.
i. 20.
M T FLESH is meat in
deed, and my BLOOD is drink
indeed, John vi. 5$.
Christ offered himfelf
freely. Lo, I come to do thy
will, O God, Heb. x. 9.
Christ our paffover isfacri-
ficedforus." 1 Cor. v. "j.%

Remarks.

1. " The facrifice of Chrift includes in it the virtues and
" qualities of all the other facrifices, with this advantage, " viz.

* " The Paffover was roaft with fire, to note the marp and dreadful
pains which Chrift fhould fuffer, not only from men, buf from God alfo.
$ As the fteftroying angel paffed over the houfes marked with the blood of
ihe pafchal lamb, fo the Wrath of God paffes over them whofe fouls are
fprinkled with the blood of Chrift."

tsf]
f ' viz. that it contains the fubftance of what they were thd
" fhadows." We are informed, Gen. viii. 20, 21. that
Noah offered burnt offerings, and the Lord fmelled a fweet fa
vour : and though this expreffion is very often ufed, 'tis never
annexed to any but the burnt -offering, or fome other offering,
that had part of it burnt upon the altar of burnt-offering, with
Of, Incenfe, Salt, &c. and is called an offering made by fire
of a fweet favour unto the Lord. Lev. iii. 5. There are feve-
ral things forbid to be burnt on the altar, and among the reft
is Cain's offering, viz. The firft-fruits. As for the oblation of
the firft-fruits, ye fhall offer them unto the Lord: but they fhall
not be burnt on the altar for a fweet favour, Lev. ii. to. The
ufage of this expreffion under the law, leads us to fee the
beauty and propriety of the fame expreffion in the New Tefta
ment, viz. Walk in love, as Chrift alfo hath loved us, and hath
given himfelf for us, an offering, and a facrifice to God for a fweet*
fmelling favour, Eph. v. 2.
2. The Bullock and Goat for the fin-offering, whofe blood
was brought into the Holieft of all, on the great anniverfary
day of atonement, were burnt without the camp. Wherefore
Jefus alfo, that he might fanclify tbe people with bis own blood,
fuffered without the Gate, Heb. xiii, n, 12. Burning the beafts
afford us a lively emblem of the foul-fufferingsofourLordy<?/w
Chrift. The wrath of God, which is frequently reprefented by
fire, entered deep into his foul, when he cried upon the crofs,
My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken- me ? 'Tis worthy ob-
fervation, that oil and frankincenfe were forbid to be ufed both
in the fin- offering, and jealoufy- offering, Lev. v. n. Numb. v.
15. and one is explained by the other, viz. bringing iniquity to
remembrance : plainly intimating, that there was no mercy,
benignity, &c. (of which oil is an emblem) extended towards
our Lord when he was made an offering for fin. Neither his
various perfections (reprefented by frankincenfe) were to be re
garded, fo as to alleviate his fufferings, when he paid the full
price of our redemption, and drank even the dregs of the bitter
cup of his Father's wrath.
3. Incense, by which is reprefented the Interceffion of
Chrift, is never faid to be a fweet-fmelling favour, unlefs where
it is joined to a facrifice or offering made by fire, and then the
whole of the offering, incenfe included, is laid to be fo; and.
the incenfe which was carried into the Holy ff ffjlies, was burnt
I With

[ 5» J
with the fire taken off the altar of burnt-offering : which plainly
intimates, that the Interceffion of Chrift, without his facrifice,
would not have been effectual ; but both together, make his
offering a fweet fmelling favour unto God.  How vain then,
are the hopes of thofe deluded creatures, who leave out the
atonement of Chrift, and expect to find acceptance with God,
from fomething done by themfelves ; when, even the Inter
ceffion of Chrift could not be prevalent with God for us, with-
out full fatisfaction firft given to divine Juftice.
4. We may in fome meafure judge of the heinous nature of
fin, by the bitter fufferings Chrift endured to expiate it. How
dreadful then is the condition of thofe who make a mock at
it, or think it fo trifling that God will eafily overlook it, and
are unconcerned about the confequences of it ! Not confider-
ing, that the wicked fhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture, into the cup of his indig
nation ; and fhall be tormented with fire and brimftone, in the
prefence of the holy angels and in the prefence of the Lamb, Rev.
xiv. 10. Oh! liifs the Son, left he be angry, andye perifh from
the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little: blessed are
ALL THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM ! Pf. ii. 12.
SECT. IV.
A few Inflames whereiti the Prophecy in Deut.
xviii. 15. was fulfilled, viz. The Lord thy
God will raife up unto thee a Prophet from
the midft of thee, of thy brethren, like
unto me.

MOSES.
" Thedeliverer r om Eypt,
Exod. iii. 10.

The man Mofes was very
meek, above all men which
were upon the face of the
earth, Numb. xii. 3. Pha-

CHRIST.
" The deliverer from Jin
and Satan's bondage, Heb. ii.
14, 15.
I am meek and lowly in
heart, Matt. xi. 29.

tie-

M O S>E S.

I 59]

Pharaoh fought the life of
Mofes. Exod. ii. 15.
Mofes fled from Egypt.
Mofes refufed to be called
the Son of Pharaoh's daughter,
and have the kingdom on con
dition of being an Idolater ;
chufingthe reproach for Chrift,
Heb. xi. 24, 25.
Mofes inftituted the Paffover,
a type of the enfuing Deliver
er md deliverance,}3,xod.x\i. 3.
Mofes's typical deliverance
produced a new Mr a, Exod.
xii. 2.
Mofes gave Manna, the ty
pical bread, Exod. xvi. 4.
Mofes gave water out of the
rock, Num. xx. 11.
Mofes fafted forty days in
the Mount, Exod. xxxiv. 28.
When Mofes came down
from the Mount, the fkin of his
face fhone, Exod. xxxiv. 2,5-
Mofes was born and fent at
a time when the Church was in
flavery to Heathens, and in
great danger of being feduced
by their falfe worfhip. Mofes

CHRIST.

Herod the life of Chrift,
Matt. ii. 16.
Chrift to Egypt, Matt. ii. 1 3.
Chrift refufed all the king-'
doms ofthe world, choofing:
the glory that was before him,
Matt. iv. 8, o. Heb. xii. 2.

Chrift inftituted his holy.
fupper, a memorial of the real
deliverance, Matt. xxvi. 26.
So did Chrift' s real deliverv
ance.

Chrift gave the true bread,
John vi. 58.
Chrift gives the water of
life, Johniv. 14.
Chrifi fafted forty days in
the wildernefs, Luke iv. 2,
When Chrift was transfigure
ed, his face fhone as the Sun,
Matt. xvii. 2.
Chrift came when the Jews
•were under the Roman yoke,
and were greatly funk into er
ror and wickednefs.

12

Chrift

[ fo]

M O S E §.

Mofes had Aaron to intro
duce him, Exod. iv. 1 6.
Mofes worked miracles be*
fore the Ifraelites and Egypti
ans, as a proof of his divine
miffion. The people fometimes blef
fed, and fometimes were ready
to ftone Mofes.
Mofes was an hiterceffor, in
behalf of the children of Ifrael.
Mofes conducted the chil
dren of Ifrael thro' the wilder-
refs, to the borders of Canaan,
Deut. xxix. 5.''

CHRIST.

Chrift had John to ufher
him, Matt. iii. 3.
So did Chrift before the
Jews and Romans.

Such was the behaviour of
the people towards Chrift.
Chrift is our Interceffor.

Chrift conduces his people
thro' the wildernefs, and brings
them fafe to the heavenly Ca
naan, Ifai. Iv. 4. Pf. lxxiii,
24."

Most of the eminent faints andpiyphetsunder the Old Tefta
ment were types of Chrift, but " Mofes appears to have been
the moft eminent figure of Chrift that ever was, — In the dan
ger that attended his infancy, ¦ — In the fpecial care that God
took of him, — In his excellent qualifications, — In the divine
authority of his office and laws,— -In his miraculous way of con
firming them, and in the intimacy of his acquaintance with
God." Dr. Guyfe's Paraph. Acts vii. 22.

SECT.

v.

O

*5*

[61]
S E C T. V.
A few Paffages colletled from the Scriptures,
which illufirioufiy difplay the Divinity of Chrift.
Jf XOD. xix. 2, 3, Ifrael camped before the mount,
and Mofes went up unto GOD.
Exod. xxxiv. 1, 2,-^5. And the Lord faid unto
Mofes, hew thee two tables of ftone, &c. and be ready
}n the morning, ' and come up in the morning unto
mount Sinai, and prefent thyleff there to me, in the
top of the mount. And the Lord defcended in the
cloud, and flood with him there, and proclaimed the
name of the Lord.
Exod, xxxiii. n. And the Lord fpake unto Mofes
face to face, as a man fpeaketh unto his friend.
Exod. xix. 11. For the third day the Lord will
come down in the fight of all the people upon mount
Sinai. Exod. xxiv. o, 10. Then went up Mofes and Aaron,
Nadab and Abihu, and feventy of the elders of Ifrael.
And they faw the God of Israel.
Neb. ix- 5, •— * 13. Stand up, and blefs the Lord
your God fer ever and ever; and bleffed be thy glo
rious name, which is exalted above all bleffing and
praife. Thou even thou art Lord alone, thoa haft
made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their
hoft, the earth, and ail therein, the feas, and all there
in, and thou preferveft them all, and the hoft of hea
ven worfhippeth t.hee. Thou art the Lord the God,
that didft choofe Abram, and broughteft him forth
put of Ur of the Chaldees, and gaveft him the name
of Abraham : And fhewedft figns and wonders upon
Pharaoh, And thou didft divide the fea before them.
Moreover, thou leddeft them in the day by a cloudy
pillar, and in the night by a pillar of fire. Thou cameft
down alfo upon mount Sinai, and fpakeft with them
from heaven, Exod.

3 §
Co.*
>i< S
•—. *».
—. **.
^ Si.
00 «s«
• «»
ft" fct-. 5

t 6a ]
Exod. iii. 2, — 6. And the Angel ofthe'
Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out
of the midft of a bufh. And when the Lord
faw that he turned afide to fee, God called unto
him out of the midft ofthe bufh, and faid, Mofes,
Mofes, And he faid, here am I, And he faid,
draw not nigh hither : put off thy fhoes from off
thy feet, for the place where thou ftandeft is holy >
ground. Moreover he faid, I am the God of thy
father, the God of Abraham, the God of Ifaac,
and the God of Jacob. And Mofes hid his face :
for he was afraid to look upon God.
Mark xii. 26. Have ye not read in the book
of Mofes, how in the bufh God fpake unto him.

3

2

55.

R>
a.

Si
s' W
S °
£-cr

Gen. xvii. 1, — 3. And when Abram was ninety years old
and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and faid unto him, I
am the Almighty God ; walk before me, and be thou per
fect. And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him.
Gen. xii. 7. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and faid,
unto thy feed will I give this land.
Gen. xxvi, 2. And Ifaac went unto Abimelech king ofthe.
Philiftines, unto Gerar, And the Lord appeared unto him.
Gen. xxxv. 1. And God faid unto Jacob, arife, go up to
Bethel, and dwell there : and make there an altar unto God,
that appeared unto thee when thou fleddeft from the face of
Efau thy brother,
Gen. xxxv. 9,— — 1 1. And God appeared unto Jacob again,
when he came out of Padan-aram ; and bleffed him. And God
faid unto him, I am God Almighty, &c,
Uof. xii. 4, 5. Yea, he had power over the Angel, and
prevailed : he wept and made fupplication unto him : he found
him in Beth-el, and there he fpake with us. Even the Lord
God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial. * Ifai.

* Exod. iii. 15. Neh. ix. 6.

I *3 ]
_ Ifai: ix. 6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Sort is
given, and the government fhall be upon his fhoulder : and
his name fhall be called Wonderful, Counfellor, The Mighty
God, The everlafting Father, the Prince of peace.

Judges xiii. 17, — 22. AndManoah faid unto
the Angel of the Lord, what is thy name ?
And the Angel 'of 'the Lord faid unto him, why
afkeft thou thus after my name, feeing it is
fecret, or vjonderful ? b So Manoah took a
kid, with a meat-offering, and offered it upon
a rock unto the Lord : and the Angel did
wonderoufly, and Manoah and his wife looked
on. For it came to pafs, when the flame went
up toward heaven from off the altar, that the
Angel of the Lord afcended in the flame of the
altar : And Manoah and his wife looked on,
and fell with their faces to the ground. And
Manoah faid unto his wife, we fhall furely die,
becaufe we have feen God.

to
<3 *» ^.

S? *s *» <*»-

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aS €

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n>

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to
00

a- * ** *
p. "S ^ O.

It is evident the Angel before mentioned is a divine Per
fon, he's exprefly call'd Jehovah in the original, in every
place above mentioned where the word Lord is ufed -, which is
an incommunicable name of God, Pf. lxxxiii. 1 8. * And that
the appearances of God under the Old Teftament difpenfation,
was God the Son, a variety of Scriptures abundantly teftify.
There are feveral other appearances of Chrift in the form
of our nature, recorded, befides thofe already taken notice of,
viz. Gen. xxxii. 24 — 30. And Jacob was left alone : and
there wreftled a man with him, until the breaking of the day.
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have feen
God face to face.
Gen. xviii. 2.
Jofh. v. 13.
Dan. iii. 25.
Judg. xiii. 10,
1 1.
We
b Ifai. ix. 6.
Lord, is Jehovah.
Likewife, Ifai. xlv. 5, 6. where the wotd translated
(HI
We are informed by thofe verfes quoted from Nehemiah,
that it was the fame Divine Perfon, who defcended on mount
Sinai, which led the children of Ifrael through the Wildernefs ;
and this evidently appears to be the Lord Jefus Chrift, and opens
a rich difplay of fuch glorious works, which none but Almighty
power could effect. The Pfalmift elegantly defcribes it, Pf.
Ixviii. 7, 8. 0 God, when thou wenteft forth before thy people*
when thou didft march through the wildernefs. Selab. The earth
fhook, the heavens alfo dropped at the prefence of God : even
Sinai itfelf was moved at the prefence of God, tbe G 0 D of
ISRAEL. And Pf. Ixxviii. 12, &c.
The New Teftament likewife abounds with proofs of the
Divinity of Chrift ; a few of which, you have in the following
parts of it :

John i. 1.
chap. x. 30.
Rev. i. 8, 11.
Phil.ii. 6.

Heb. i. 3—8.
1 John, v. 7.
Rom. ix. 5.
Coloff. i. 16, iji
chap. ii. 9.

Inference.
Th e clofer we examine the Scriptures, the ftronger we fhall
behold the condefcenfion and love of our great Redeemer. A
few inftances of it we have in the foregoing Scriptures ; and
tho' we are not favoured with the appearances of Chrift now,
which the Old Teftament faints enjoyed, nor with his bodily
prefence, which his difciples and others enjoyed in the days of
his flefh, (nor indeed need it, as we have a perfect revelation
of God's will) yet, he is with his people to the end of the
world ; ( I will pray the Father, and be fhall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you fer ever, John xiv. 16.)
and has in every age afforded fuch fupplies, as were beft fuited
to the wants of his children ; to ftrengthen their faith, and car
ry on the divine work in their fouls. The love of Chrift is the
foundation of all true religion : We love him, becaufe he firft
loved us, 1 John, iv. 19. This love fets all the fprings of the
foul in motion ; and he who has felt the conftraints of it, is
well convinced that the chriftian religion is not lifelefs, fpecu-
lative, and imaginary ; but quickning, transforming, and real :
and the fame motives that produce his gratitude, love, and
1 obedi-

t6J]
obedience, will prevent his giving way to fin.—*-^-UnthankfuU
nefi and unholinefs go together. JTis certain he has not an equal
fenfe of this love at all times, in this imperfect ftate ; though
'tis immutable on God's part. A thoufand avocations and
fnares, interrupt, and often entangle his foul : but at times
he's difengaged from almoft every fetter, and .this love is
again fhed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghoft, Rom. v. 5.
he again beholds his glorious Redeemer, as the chief among ten
thoufand, and altogether lovely. ,,  Love is ftrong as death :
'tis this overcomes all difficulties, and makes hard things eafy :
If a man can be brought even to lay down his life for another,
Love is the motive ; and when it is divine, 'tis the fpring of
all true goodnefs ; and the more we have of it, the nearer
we refemble the glorious Author of our being : God is love,
1 John, iv. 16  A religion that is not animated by the love
of thrift, will neither honour God, nor profit the foul. 'Tis this
foftens our hard hearts,  checks the force of fin,  flops the
progrefs of unbelief, — counterworks the enemy of fouls, and
reduces rebels to obedience. The love of Chrift is the delight
ful theme of the chrifiian now, and when his capacity of receiv
ing fhall be enlarged, this love fhall keep pace with it ; its
Fountain is eternal, and can never be exhaufted.
SECT. VI.
A View of fome ina7ti?nate Things, by which
Chrift is reprefented in Scripture.
BREAD.
'yOHN vi. 35, 58. I am the Bread of life. He that eateth
J of this Bread, fhall live forever.
ROCK.
Pf. Ixii. 1, 2. My foul Waiteth upon God •, he only is my
rock- Pf. xviii. 2, 31. The Lord is my Rock, and my fortrefs,
and my deliverer. For who is God, fave the Lord ? or who
is a Rock, save our God?
1 Cor. x. 4. . They drank of that fpiritual Rock that fol
lowed them, and that Rock was Chrift.
K Matt.

[ 66 ]
Matt.vu. 24V Therefore whofoe ver heareth thefe fayings
of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wife man
which built his houfe upon a Rock.
FINE.
John xv. 1, 4, 5. I am the true Vine, and my Father is
the hufbandman. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine : no
more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the Vine, ye are
the branches : He that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame
bringeth forth much fruit : For without me ye can do
nothing. TREE.
Gen. ii. 9. The Tree of life alfo in the midft of the garden.
Rev. ii. 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of
the Tree of Life, which is in the midft of the paradifeof God.
Rev. xxii. 1, 2. And he fhewed me a pure river of water
of life, clear as cryflal, proceeding out of the throne of God,
and of the Lamb. In the midft of the ftreet of it, and of
either fide ofthe river, was there the Tree of life, which bare
twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month :
and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations.
FOUNTAIN.
Zech. xiii. 1. In that day there fhall be a Fountain opened
to*the houfe of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerufalem, for
fin, and for uncl'eannefs.
Pf. xxxvi. 9. For with thee is the Fountain of Life.
Rev. xxi. 6. I am Alpha and Omega *, the beginning
and the end : I will give unto him that is a-thirft, ofthe Foun
tain of the water of life freely.
John vii. 37. If any man thirft, let him come unto me,
and drink.
DOOR.
Jobnx. 9. I am the Door: by me if any man enter in, he
fhall be faved, and fhall go in and out, and find pafture.
WAY.
John xiv, 6. I am the Way, and the truth, and the life : no
man cometh unto the Father but by me. Heb.

* Compare it with Ifai. lxiv. 6.

1 67 ]
Heb. ix. 8. The Holy Ghoft this fignifying, that the Way
into the holieft of all, was not yet made manifest f while
as the firft tabernacle was yet ftanding.
Heb. x. 20 Having, therefore, brethren, boldnefs to enter
into the holieft by the blood of Jefus, by a new and livinq
Way, which he hath confecrated for us, thro' the vail, that is
to fay, his flefh.
CORNER-STONE.
Pf. cxviii. 22. The Stone which the builders refufed is
become the head Stone of the corner.
Ifai. xxviii. 16. Therefore thus faith the Lord God, Be
hold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a ftone, a tried Stone,
a precious Corner-_/?<jȣ, a sure foundation.
Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of. the apoftles
and prophets, Jefus Chrift himfelf being the chief Corner-
ftone. TEMPLE. •: '
John ii. 19, 21. Deftroy this Temple, and in three days I
will raife it up. But he fpake of the Temple of his body. *
S UN.
Pf. lxxxiv. 1 1. For the Lord God is a Sun and fhield :
the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he
withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Mai. iv. 2. Unto you that fear my name, fhall the Sun of
Righteoufnefs arife with healing in his wings.
Inferences.
We can't collect the characters-in nature by which Chrift \%
reprefented, from any part of the Bible, but they afford us
bright difplays of his Divine Power, Goodnefs and Love ; and
he has accommodated himfelf in the moft familiar manner to
our underftandings. The better we are acquainted with their
properties, the more enlarged will be our pleafure, when the
Divine Spirit applies any of their titles, as fuited to our parti-
K 2 cular

f i Tim. iii. 15-
* The Tabernacle and Temple were both of the fame ufe and figmficancy,
and were both typical of Chrifs human nature Heb. vw. 2. The Divinity
dwelt emblematically in the Tabernacle, and afterwards in the Temple- Kt
really in Chrift. For in him doitllttb all the fulnef of th, GoScaJ U,ij.
Coloff. ii. 9.

[ 6S ]
cular wants. However an harmonious difpofition of words may
pleafe the ear, if they are not annexed with fuitable Ideas, tne
pleafure is only tranfient ; 'tis thefe alone are likely to mend the
heart, becaufe they leave an Image on the mind. 'Tis the me
thod Divine Wifdom has taken to inftrudt us, and is the only
medium of conveying knowledge in our prefent embodied ftate.
SECT. VII.
A few Obfervations on the latter Part of Ifai.
xxxi. i. They look not unto the holy One
of Ifrael. Which Words, tho" few, acquaint
us with the true caufe of the Mifcarriages of
Mankind, from firft to lafi : and is exempli
fied in Two Particulars : I. In Adam. II. In
his Pofierity. . Likewife the contrary Charac
ter of the Chriftian.
Obfervation i.
AG r o w i n g improvement in knowledge and Grace is
the perfection of the chriftian ftate below, and would
(in all probability) have been the perfection of innocent na
ture, if man had not fell. Though at the believers entrance
into the heavenly world he'll be entirely happy, yet, 'tis very
reafonable to fuppofe that his knowledge and joys will be in
creasing, even there.  The three firft chapters of Genefis in
form us, that God converfed with Adam in paradife, in order
to his inftruction ; and the fame that makes up the happinefs
of the future ftate, viz. An intimacy with, and enjoyment of
the bleffed God, would, as often as man had been favoured
with it here, have added the higheft relifh to his other enjoy
ments, and better prepared him for the world above. — We
quite miftake the defign of our creation, if we fuppofe that
after God had created man, he gave him a certain proportion
of knowledge, that his intercourfe with heaven was then to be
fhut up, and was to receive no farther communications or in-
ftructions from his Maker, and that the nobleft pleafures he
was to enjoy here, were merely contemplation and reflection on
the works of creation, and fo to deduce principles from them
for the rule of his actions. Tho' thefe, after we have been ac
quainted

[ 6.9 ]
quainted with their true defign, may afford us many ufeful lef-
fons, yet Adam flood in need of, and really had, a much bet
ter inftrutlor than the meer light of nature. Man was form'd
by God for the participation of much higher privileges and ho
nours, even the enjoyment of himfelf here, and hereafter -, and
was frequently favour'd in converfe with him : His delights
were with the fons of men : Prov. viii, 31. and by his endearing
communications of knowledge and grace, (had man continued
innocent) would have ripened him for a more near and inti
mate enjoyment of him ; and (tis moft likely) would have
tranflated him to that world, where he difplays his bright eft
glories.'  But he liftned to the deceiver, wanted to be Inde
pendent, and inftead of looking up for divine proteclion, threw
himfelf out of it, and turn'd rebel : Pride, enmity againft
God, &c. were the immediate confequences of it, and as a
proof that this was the cafe, not only the word 'of God, but our
own hearts anfvyer as face to face in a glafs.
2. That mankind ever fince the fall have trod in the fteps
of their father Adam, and like him mifcarry, becaufe they
look not unto the holy One of Israel, for divine aids ;
(without which, 'tis'impoffible, either to fet out right, or per-
fevere in religion) but voluntarily enter into the fervice of fin
and Satan. They, inftead of locking to God, turn their backs
upon him, inftead of going to God, run from him, and that
this is the practice of mankind before converfion, the word of
God and our own experiences teftify.
And fince this is the cafe, how fhould it be poffible for a
foul furrounded with ignorance, befet with dangers, and expos'd
to every temptation, to get fafely thro' the mazes, difficulties,
and fnares of life, without fome .unerring hand to guide it, and
fome kind and powerful hand to fupport it.
3. The contrary ofthe foregoing charge eminently appears
in the chriftian ; for as foon as God gives an effectual turn to
the heart, the intercourfe is again opened between God and the
believing foul ; and he as naturally looks up to his heavenly Fa
ther, for guidance, fupport, &c. as children do to their natu*
ral fathers ; and they are fo fenfible of their own ignorance and
weakriefs, that they defire not to go a ftep without his direc
tion. They know the neceffity of continual aids from above,
in order to maintain the divine life in their fouls, and make
them fruitful ; and fo far from wanting to be independent, they
- dread

[ 7° 3
dread the thoughts of it ; as they well know their fecurity a-
midft the many temptations and fnares they are expofed to,
depends on the Divine proteclion *. How would the believer's
happinefs be decreafed, if God was to give him fuch a fuffiV
cient ftock of grace, &c. at once, as fhould be able to conduct
him thro' life, and even affure him of his fafe arrival to hear
ven ; and then fay to him, " I will for the future difpenfe
" with thine attendance : the good man would not be able to
" bear fuch : a difmiffion." . But, God is as wife and good
in the management of this* as in all his other difpenfations :
And herein is fhewn amazing condefcenfion and kindnefs, that
we are permitted at all times to come to a Throne of grace.
Here the burthened foul finds relief, and the wounded foul
gets healing. " Lord,; does the believer often fay, 'tis indeed
*' good for -me to draw near unto thee. What is my great final
" hope,.but to dwell In a ftate of everlafting nearnefs ? In the
" mean time, the nearer I am to thee, the more of heaven is
" brought down to earth ; the more I enjoy of thee, the more
!*¦ do P enjoy myfelf, and relifh my being. I make my vifits
*' to ¦ thy thrpne, not merely to pay a homage which thou
" requireft, but to feek an entertainment which I prefer to any
" other." And as the chriftian is in part renewed in every
faculty of his foul, and-approaches in fome fmall degree to that
perfection in which man was at firft created, (tho' he'll never
fully attain it in the prefent life*) fo, what makes up the hap*
pinefs of the chriftian, gives Us an Idea of what muft have been
the happinefs of man in innocence, which;- (as I before ob
served) Was an in'tereouffe and communion with the bleffed
God, continual dependence ori him, conformity to him, and a
growing
* In dependency would be our inevitable ruin,, tho' 'tis what vain man k
fo fond of. 'Tis to God we are and muft be indebted, for every natural as
well as fpiritual endowment. 'Tis he that teacheth man knowledge, Pf. xciv.
IO. Even (the hufbandman his God doth inftruftbim todifcretion, and dotb'teach
him, Ifai. xxviii. 26. He giveth vjifdom unto the nvife, and knowledge- to them
that knonu underjlaniting. Dan. ii. 21. Both riches and honour come of him,
1 Chron. 29. iz. What have we that ye have not received ? and if we have
received it, let us not glory as if we had not received it, 1 .Cor. iv. 7. How
fhould the confideration of this curb our pride, and teach us to refolve all
that's valuable" in' us, or about us, into th'e good pleafure of God ; and as
conftant fupplies of every kind are neceffary for our well-being, fhould teach
us to look up to the author and difpenfer of them, for fuch proportions as he
knows are beft for us : and we mould not only remain, fatisfied with the al
lotments of providence, but rejoice inthem': And if 'we carl fee the divine
hand1 in the diftribution of our bleffings,. this will be ail ingredient which -will
add the higheit rdifh to them.

1 71 ]
growing acquaintance with divine and fpiritual things. When
thefe lofe the fenfible manifeftations of God's prefence, it robs
them of their joy, they lament it, and earneftly defire its re
turn, as 'tis impoffible for them to be happy without it. Tho*
the Sun is every day in the firmament, yet, when clouds inter
cept it, its enlivening beams are loft to us ; fo it fares with
the chriftian, when clouds and darknefs intervene between him
and his God, he's uncomfortable, and afraid of every fur*
rounding danger.
CONCLUSION.
As the Bible contains thofe things which are of the laft im
portance to us, how diligent and attentive fhould we be in the
perufal of it ! Let us imitate the conduct, and fo merit the
character of the Bereans, who fearched the. Scriptures daily,
A&.S xvii. 11.  'Tis a book the Divine Author has calcu
lated for the benefit of all, from the loweft to the higheft ge
nius 5 and one would imagine that a book which contains a
Divine Revelation, fhould excite our defire to be acquainted
with its contents : none can read it without being wifer, but
fome read it, and are little better, becaufe its contents do not
reach the heart : If you expect any real advantage from facred
truths, you muft beg of God to make them your own, by a
perfonal experience.  1 have collected a few paffages from
the Sacred Volume, that fuit the chriftian in various circumftan-
ces, and directed you where to find them ; turn to your Bibles,
and read them in their connection. Thofe of you who have
not the help of a concordance, will find great advantage by at
tending to the margin of your Bibles, comparing fpiritual things
with fpiritual : and if our delight is in the law of the Lord, we
fhall meditate therein, with growing improvement. May the
Divine Spirit, who teacheth to profit, open our underftandings tt
under/land the Scriptures !

FINIS.

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