XIV. And the quality of Moses Law and its Works, as different from the Laws of Christ, and the Works thereof, must be considered, that we may discern the difference of the Cases. A man that did attempt to draw the people to Idolatry, was then to be put to death; yea, the City to be destroyed that concealed him, Deut. ch. •3 so were they that blasphemed, and such as committed other heinous crimes against Religion; yea those that would not enter into, or renew their Covenant with God, were by Asa's command to be put to death: But Christ will have mens Atheism, Irreligiousness, Idolatry and Infidelity, cured by the Preaching of the Truth, which therefore requireth that the Preachers for number and qualification be answerable to ⟨p. 23⟩their work: especially seeing they are things so mysterious and supernaturally revealed, which men are to believe: And the works of Moses's Law lay very much in ceremony and outward actions, which a man of mean qualifications might easily do: But the great work of the Gospel is to bring Life and Immortality to light, and to Preach Christ, by whom came Grace and Truth, and more notably than the Law of Moses did, to call men to Mortification, Self-denial, Cross-bearing, contempt of the World, by Faith and Hope and Love of a better World, and to bring them to a heavenly mind and life: And mens salvation is laid on this. If it were but to offer Sacrifices, and do over the task of outward Ceremonies, a Mass-Priests qualifications might serve the turn: And if it were but to put men to death that will not be Jews, and take their Covenant, and that draw any from their Religion, neither so many nor so excellent Ministers were necessary: But we are under a better Covenant, even a Law of Love which is more eminently become the first and last, the great and new Commandment, and the regent Principle in Souls and Churches; and the number and quality of the Preachers of it must be answerable.
XIV. And the quality of Moses Law and its Works, as different from the Laws of Christ, and the Works thereof, must be considered, that we may discern the difference of the Cases. A man that did attempt to draw the people to Idolatry, was then to be put to death; yea, the City to be destroyed that concealed him, Deut. ch. •3 so were they that blasphemed, and such as committed other heinous crimes against Religion; yea those that would not enter into, or renew their Covenant with God, were by Asa's command to be put to death: But Christ will have mens Atheism, Irreligiousness, Idolatry and I•fidelity, cured by the Preaching of the Truth, which therefore requireth that the Preachers for number and qualification be answerable to ⟨p. 23⟩their work: especially seeing they are things so mysterious and supernaturally revealed, which men are to believe: And the works of Moses's Law lay very much in ceremony and outward actions, which a man of mean qualifications might easily do: But the great work of the Gospel is to bring Life and Immortality to light, and to Preach Christ, by whom came Grace and Truth, and more notably than the Law of Moses did, to call men to Mortification, Self-denial, Cross-bearing, contempt of the World, by Faith and Hope and Love of a better World, and to bring them to a heavenly mind and life: And mens salvation is laid on this. If it were but to offer Sacrifices, and do over the task of outward Ceremonies, a Mass-Priests qualifications might serve the turn: And if it were but to put men to death that will not be Jews, and take their Covenant, and that draw any from their Religion, neither so many nor so excellent Ministers were necessary: But we are under a better Covenant, even a Law of Love which is more eminently become the first and last, the great and new Commandment, and the regent Principle in Souls and Churches; and the number and quality of the Preachers of it must be answerable.
