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

When Christ also comes into the World, and was made under the Law, which never had before, nor will ever have again so glorious a Subject, it is this Law he not only explains in its spiritual and comprehensive Meaning, but obeys it, and therein fulfils all Righteousness, Mat. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Mat. 3. 15. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness. Then he suffered him. And what! is that Law imperfect, which was the Rule of the most perfect Obedience that ever was, and which excelled that of Angels? Are any Precepts wanting in it? how then did Christ complete all Righteousness in the most exact observance of it? Well then, if the Law be perfect, there is no Duty but what comes within the Verge of its Authority, and what it enjoins under the severest Penalties; and no Precepts were given even by Christ himself, but what particularly appertain to it, and not to the Gospel as a new Law: It is not only our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, but it commands to believe on him; for Faith in God (and Christ is so) is contained in its first Precept: it not only shows us our Sin, and convinceth us of our Misery and lost State; but when we have believed, tho it be no longer a condemning, vexing, tormenting Law, yet 'tis a commanding One still: It is a Rule of Gratitude, it prescribes, that we ought to be thankful to Christ in all Returns of Love and Duty, it is the Rule of all that Holy Life of a Christian, which is the Fruit of Faith, and which is called Evangelical Obedience, not because it is so to the Gospel, but in respect of those Principles of Faith and Love from which it flows, in respect of the Evangelical Motives which animate and encourage it. It is not hurried on by legal Terrors, nor pricked forward by sharp-pointed Threatenings, but is sweetly drawn and enlivened by the Promises. It is not the Fruits of Fear, but the genuine Effects of the heartiest Affection to Christ, and of the most earnest Desires and solicitous Cares to please him.

When Christ also comes into the World, and was made under the Law, which never had before, nor will ever have again so glorious a Subject, it is this Law he not only explains in its spiritual and comprehensive Meaning, but obeys it, and therein fulfils all Righteousness,