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

Those Texts of Scripture (which are urged by the Apologist, as expressly giving the Name of a New Law to the Gospel) recovered to their right Sense. His Testimonies out of the Fathers, and Protestant Writers, evinced to be useless to serve his Design.

Those Texts of Scripture (which are urg'd by the Apologist, as expresly giving the Name of a New Law to the Gospel) recover'd to their right Sense. His Testimonies out of the Fathers, and Protestant Writers, evinc'd to be useless to serve his Design.

I Shall now examine those Texts alleged by my Dear Brother, wherein the Gospel is called a Law; and the Citations produced by him, wherein the Fathers and Protestant Authors give to it the same Name. I shall do it but briefly, for I need not be large, since any Reader who hath, with any intention of Mind, perused my poor Writing, may resolve them all at first sight.

I Shall now examine those Texts alledg'd by my Dear Brother, wherein the Gospel is call'd a Law; and the Citations produc'd by him, wherein the Fathers and Protestant Authors give to it the same Name. I shall do it but briefly, for I need not be large, since any Reader who hath, with any intention of Mind, perus'd my poor Writing, may resolve them all at first sight.

The first Text produced is, that known one in Rom. 3. 27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what Law? of Works? Nay, but by the Law of Faith. Without looking on the Context, we may be satisfied by what the Apostle saith in the same Verse, that by the Law of Faith, he means no more than that Doctrine of Grace which declares a believing Sinner to be justified by the Righteousness of Christ, which by Faith he receiveth; for it is such a Law of Faith that excludes all boasting. Now then, if it commanded Faith, and promised Justification, on condition that this its Precept was obeyed, Boasting would not be excluded, but rather a great Occasion would be given to promote it: For why should not a Man glory in his Faith, if it be an Act of Obedience to this new Law, which by the Statute of it makes his Justification to depend on this his Performance? He may then as well plead that he hath done what was required; and so he may as well claim Life and Happiness, on the Account of having done all that this new Law made necessary to Salvation; as Adam, if continuing in his Primitive State, might have formed a Plea of his Right to Life, for having discharged all that Duty which the Law of Works commanded and proposed, as the Condition of his being eternally Blessed. If he might have boasted for having faithfully observed the Covenant of Works, the Believer too may assume some Glory to himself for having acted his Duty punctually to the Law of Faith; if the Constitution of this Law be such, that it makes the promised Salvation dependant upon this his Obedience in believing. It will signify nothing to say, that the