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

The Design and Office of the Law doth also manifest, that the Precept of Repentance doth properly belong to it: For it was not only appointed as a Rule of Obedience to Adam, but God certainly knowing that Man would fall into a State of Sin and Death, intended the Law for the Conviction of Sinners, to show them their Sinfulness and Danger, Rom. 3. 19, 20. Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them who are under the Law; that every Mouth may be stopped, and all the World may become guilty before God. Therefore by the Deeds of the Law, there shall no Flesh be justified in his sight: for by the Law is the Knowledge of Sin. Rom. 7. 7. He designed it to rouse and alarm the poor negligent Creatures. And now if it convinceth them of Sin, its malignant Nature and direful Effects, it consequently tells them, that it is their Duty to bewail their Miscarriages, which bring all Miseries upon them, and to reform their evil Courses, and to turn from Sin to God. This the Law preacheth to Men, and these are the natural Dictates of it in their Consciences; and it is impossible to persuade them (till God comes with the Power of his Grace, and works Faith) against putting their Confidence in their Sorrow and repenting, to obtain Pardon by it, and against trusting to their Resolutions of living better for the future; and against their fond Presumption of being justified for their endeavours of Amendment, These legal Principles are natural in Men, they arise not from the Gospel, for that instructs us to put our whole and entire Confidence in Christ, and his Righteousness alone; they must then spring from the Law, and consequently Repentance, which this Law not only urgeth Men unto, but moveth them to build their Hopes of Life upon it, must be one of its Precepts. The Law commands it, the Gospel as a Proclamation of Grace, and ⟨p. 52⟩an Offer of Pardon only, invites and encourageth it.

The Design and Office of the Law doth also manifest, that the Precept of Repentance doth properly belong to it: For it was not only appointed as a Rule of Obedience to Adam, but God certainly knowing that Man would fall into a State of Sin and Death, intended the Law for the Conviction of Sinners, to shew them their Sinfulness and Danger,