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

When this his Son, his Solace and Delight in Eternal Ages, before any Creatures made, steps down from Heaven, he doth not merely declare the great Pleasure and Satisfaction he hath in this glorious God-Man, but he evidenceth how dear this infinitely excellent Person is to him, in the most surprising Effects of Goodness and Grace. He proclaims, that for his sake only he can regard his Elect of Men with Eyes of Favour and Kindness, who in their own Persons were only Objects of Detestation and Abhorrence. And therefore tho he freely loved them from Eternity, his Benevolence was never openly published till now. As it is only for the sake of Christ, whom God infinitely loves, that he can take any delight in his chosen Children of Men, so 'tis not till this his great and adorable Son comes upon Earth, that he proclaims Peace and Goodwill to Men.

When this his Son, his Solace and Delight in Eternal Ages, before any Creatures made, steps down from Heaven, he doth not meerly declare the great Pleasure and Satisfaction he hath in this glorious God-Man, but he evidenceth how dear this infinitely excellent Person is to him, in the most surprizing Effects of Goodness and Grace. He proclaims, that for his sake only he can regard his Elect of Men with Eyes of Favour and Kindness, who in their own Persons were only Objects of Detestation and Abhorrence. And therefore tho he freely lov'd them from Eternity, his Benevolence was never openly publish'd till now. As it is only for the sake of Christ, whom God infinitely loves, that he can take any delight in his chosen Children of Men, so 'tis not till this his great and adorable Son comes upon Earth, that he proclaims Peace and Goodwill to Men.

Thus God from Heaven, and some of the best Men who ever lived upon Earth, do plainly tell us that the Gospel is no Law, but a pure Act of Grace. And as God sent these Men into the World to restore his Truth, to recover it out of the Darkness of Popery, in which the Nations of the Earth had for so many Ages lost themselves, and been wretchedly deluded by the worst of Errors, dressed up in the faint Resemblance of Truth; they were answerably faithful to the performance of that Work which God had sent them to do. They were careful to distinguish the Gospel from a Law, and would by no means suffer Works, tho insinuating themselves under never so specious pretences, to invade the Prerogative of Grace. They very well knew (as both