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

CHAP. IV.

That the Fathers of the Primitive Church, when they called the Gospel a Law, meant only a Doctrine by it, proved by a few Instances out of Clemens Alexandrinus, Eusebius, Theodoret, Origen, and Chrysostom.

That the Fathers of the Primitive Church, when they call'd the Gospel a Law, meant only a Doctrine by it, proved by a few Instances out of Clemens Alexandrinus, Eusebius, Theodoret, Origen, and Chrysostom.

THIS might be enough, if my Learned Brother did not appeal to other Authorities than that of the Holy Scriptures, which is the greatest: But since he leads me into the numerous Volumes of the Fathers, I will follow him too there. And if I show that those Ancient Writers of the Church who wrote in the Greek Language, (as for the Latin Fathers, I shall afterward consider them) used the word [Greek or Hebrew] Nomos, Law, to signify a Doctrine by it; then the uncertainty of Citations from those Authors for his Purpose, will be abundantly demonstrated. Clemens Alexandrinus calls the Law,^a the Light of our Way; and the Gospel as a pure Doctrine of Grace is such beyond all dispute. He also defines a Law^b to be a true and good Opinion of a Thing, whereby any Doctrine of Truth and Goodness may be signified.

THIS might be enough, if my Learned Brother did not appeal to other Authorities than that of the Holy Scriptures, which is the greatest: But since he leads me into the numerous Volumes of the Fathers, I will follow him too there. And if I shew that those Antient Writers of the Church who wrote in the Greek Language, (as for the Latin Fathers, I shall afterward consider them) us'd the word Nomos, Law, to signify a Doctrine by it; then the uncertainty of Citations from those Authors for his Purpose, will be abundantly demonstrated. Clemens Alexandrinus calls the Law,