The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Secondly, Though we are only to build on this foundation, and no new thing be expected, yet matters of Religion may be said to be new in themselves, or unto us. In themselves, and so certainly there can be no new thing preached; for as there cannot be a new Christ, or a new Scripture, so neither any new Faith: Yea, the Apostles and Christ himself, did not bring any new necessary matter of salvation, to what the Patriarchs and Prophets had before. The Old Testament and the New are the same for the substance of Salvation, though there be new Rites, and new Sacraments, and a clear explication. But in the second place, things may be new to us: As in Popery, when the reformed Divines first preached Justification by Faith, denied the merit of works, as also the Pope to be head of the Church: These were said to bring a new Gospel: but it was a slander, it was new only to men corrupted with errors, and living in ignorance, as the sun is new to a man that was blind, but hath received his sight.

Secondly, Though we are only to build on this foundation, and no new thing be expected, yet matters of Religion may be said to be new in themselves, or unto us. In themselves, and so certainly there can be no new thing preached; for as there cannot be a new Christ, or a new Scripture, so neither any new Faith: Yea, the Apostles and Christ himself, did not bring any new necessary matter of salvation, to what the Patriarchs and Prophets had before. The Old Testament and the New are the same for the substance of Salvation, though there be new Rites, and new Sacraments, and a clear explication. But in the second place, things may be new to us: As in Popery, when the reformed Divines first preached Justification by Faith, denyed the merit of works, as also the Pope to be head of the Church: These were said to bring a new Gospel: but it was a slander, it was new only to men corrupted with errors, and living in ignorance, as the sun is new to a man that was blind, but hath received his sight.

Thirdly, This building upon the foundation lieth in the powerful application of necessary truths, to the hearts and consciences of men. For the Scripture that speaks generally, the Ministry that is to come particularly; that doth as Elisha, laid himself upon the Child mouth to mouth, and body to body, that so life might be procured. To do by particular application of what is spoken generally in the Word, this is the Ministry.