A discourse of the true nature of the Gospel demonstrating that it is no…

But what need was there that I should mention the Testimonies of Men, when Witness offers it self from Heaven? At the Birth of our Redeemer, God the Father sends down his Messengers, not only to tell us that his Son was born into the World, but to assure us that he brought nothing with him but Grace and Peace, and the Reconciliation of a God before angry, unto lost and desperate Rebels. It is thus the Angels, (who certainly with the greatest Exactness discharged their Commission) without one word of Christ's being a new Legislator, or coming as a second Moses to deliver a new Law from Mount Zion, as he did from Sinai, proclaim the Gospel to be a most solemn Declaration of God's gracious Designs and Purposes to Sinners unworthy of his Favour, Luke 2. 13, 14. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, good Will towards Men. Thus in the first delivery of this glad Message, there is no Voice but of Peace, no stounding Claps of Thunder, as from Sinai at the Promulgation of the Law, but the Songs of Angels rejoicing in the restored Happiness of Elect Men, their Fellow-Creatures; no affrighting Flashes of Lightning, but a soft and gentle Brightness shining from the Face of a reconciled God, and diffusing it self through the Air without any hurtful or consuming Flame; Luk. 2. 9. And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the Glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. Tho they were a little astonished at the first appearance of so strange and unusual a Sight, yet the Sense which they had, that it was only an innocent lambent Fire about their Heads; and the encouraging ⟨p. 35⟩words of the Angel reassured them, ver. 10, 11. It is not a Judg, but a Saviour who is come into the World; nor are there any Threatenings denounced as at the giving of a Law are necessary, but they hear Promises of Mercy. There is no Sentence of Death given, nor Warrants issued out for the Execution of guilty Criminals; but God the Father honours his Son's Birthday with a large and very comprehensive Act of Pardon.

But what need was there that I should mention the Testimonies of Men, when Witness offers it self from Heaven? At the Birth of our Redeemer, God the Father sends down his Messengers, not only to tell us that his Son was born into the World, but to assure us that he brought nothing with him but Grace and Peace, and the Reconciliation of a God before angry, unto lost and desperate Rebels. It is thus the Angels, (who certainly with the greatest Exactness discharg'd their Commission) without one word of Christ's being a new Legislator, or coming as a second Moses to deliver a new Law from Mount Zion, as he did from Sinai, proclaim the Gospel to be a most solemn Declaration of God's gracious Designs and Purposes to Sinners unworthy of his Favour,