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

One plain Text of Scripture evinceth, that the Gospel judgeth and condemneth no Man, but leaves the unbelieving Sinner to a fair Trial at Law, and to make the best of it that he can. 'Tis what Christ, who came to save Sinners, and perfectly knew his own Design and Work, tells us, John 3. 17. For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World; but that the World through him might be saved. What could he have said more to assure us, that in the Declaration of the Gospel he did not threaten Death, but promise Salvation to Sinners, whom the Law menaced, and who were condemned by its Sentence; that he came not as a new Legislator, to give new Laws, and to pronounce a fatal Doom against those that disobeyed them, but to rescue poor sentenced Criminals from the rigorous Judgment of the Law, and to assure them of a Pardon? He came not to condemn the World, but to save all those whom God had appointed to Life, and consequently to believe on him. But if Christ had brought in a new Law, with Precepts and Threatenings, then one Design of his coming had been to condemn the Disobedient. Our Blessed Redeemer took an effectual Care that we should not have such a Thought of him; and therefore he repeats the same Assertion, John 12. 47. And if any Man hear my Words, and believe not, I judg him not; for I came not to judg the World, but to save the World. He doth not threaten, much less judg and condemn an Unbeliever: He knew that Salvation of Sinners was the Work which he came into the World to perform, and that the Office of a Judg did not belong to a Mediator. He accordingly disowns it, and leaves to the Law its proper Duty, which is to pass Sentence of Death on every Sinner, who cannot plead the Blood and Righteousness of Christ for his Discharge; and this all Unbelievers dying in that woeful Condition are uncapable to do. Thus the Gospel condemns no Man, but it is the Law; and those who believe not, shall be judged by it, for violating its just and righteous ⟨p. 55⟩Commands, and are exposed defenceless and liable to Justice. Those who believe not on Christ, are presently condemned by the old Law in force against them who have in the least Instance disobeyed it; and there is no need that any Sentence of a new Law should be passed against them to this Effect.

One plain Text of Scripture evinceth, that the Gospel judgeth and condemneth no Man, but leaves the unbelieving Sinner to a fair Trial at Law, and to make the best of it that he can. 'Tis what Christ, who came to save Sinners, and perfectly knew his own Design and Work, tells us,