The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

The Effect of the Gospel hath been answerable to the Design. One main difference between the old and new Law, is, that the old gave the knowledge of Rules without power to observe them; the new that is attended with the Grace of Christ enables us by a holy Love to perform that, which the other made men only to understand. Of this we have the most sensible Evidence in the Primitive Church, that was produced by the first beams of the Sun of Righteousness, & had received the first fruits of the Spirit. What is more wonderful and worthy of God, than that perfect Love, which made all the first Believers to have one Heart and one Soul? What greater contempt of the World can be imagined, than the voluntary parting with all their Goods in consecrating them to God for the relief of the Poor? And the Churches of the Gentiles, while the Blood of Christ was warm, and His Actions fresh in the memories of men, were exemplary in Holiness. They were as Stars shining in a perverse generation. There was such a brightness in their Conversations, that it pierced through the darkness of Paganism, and made a visible difference between them and all others. Their words and actions were so full of zeal for the Glory of God, of Chastity, Temperance, Justice, Charity, that the Heathens from the Holiness of their lives concluded the Holiness of their Law, and that the Doctrine that produced such fruits could not be evil. The ⟨p. 405⟩first light that discovered the Truth of the Christian Faith to many, was from the Graces and Virtues that appeared in the Faithful. The Purity of their Lives, their Courage in Death, were as powerful to convert the World, as their Sermons,¹ Disputations and Miracles. And those who were under such strong prejudices; that they would not examine the Doctrine of the Gospel, yet they could not but admire the Integrity and Innocency, that was visible in the conversation of Christians. They esteemed their persons from the good qualities that were visible in them, when they hated the Christian name for the concealed evil they unreasonably suspected to be under it. This Tertullian excellently represents in his Apology. The most part are so prejudiced against the Name, and are possest with such a blind hatred to it, that they make it a matter of reproach even to those whom they otherwise esteemed. Caius, ²they say, is a good man, he hath no fault, but that he is a Christian.