Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…

IN these Words two Things may be observed; First, Wherein the Work and Office of John the Baptist consisted, viz. preaching the Kingdom of God, to prepare the Way for it's Introduction to succeed the Law and the Prophets. By the Law & the Prophets, in the Text, seems to be intended the ancient Dispensation under the Old Testament, which was received from Moses and the Prophets. These ⟨p. 132⟩are said to be until John; not that the Revelations given by them are out of Use since that Time, but that the State of the Church founded and regulated, under God, by them, the Dispensation of which they were the Ministers […], and wherein the Church depended mainly on Light received from them, fully continued till John; who first began to introduce the New Testament Dispensation, or Gospel-State of the Church; which with its glorious spiritual and eternal Privileges and Blessings, is often called the Kingdom of Heaven, or Kingdom of God John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of God was at Hand. That is the Account that we have of his Preaching, by the Evangelists, Repent, says he, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand: Since that Time, says Christ, the Kingdom of God is preached. John the Baptist first began to preach it; and then after him, Christ, and his Disciples, preached the same. Thus Christ preached, Matth. 4. 17. From that Time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. So the Disciples were directed to preach, Matth. 10. 7. And as ye go preach, saying, the Kingdom of Heaven is an Hand. It was not John the Baptist, but Christ that fully brought in, and actually established this Kingdom of God; but he as Christ's Forerunner, to prepare his Way before him, did the first Thing that was done towards introducing it. The old Dispensation was abolished, and the new brought in by Degrees; as the Night gradually ceases, and gives Place to the increasing Day, which succeeds in it's Room: First the Day Star rises; next follows the Light of the Sun it self, but dimly reflected, in the dawning of the Day;

IN these Words two Things may be observed; First, Wherein the Work and Office of John the Baptist consisted, viz. preaching the Kingdom of God, to prepare the Way for it's Introduction to succeed the Law and the Prophets. By the Law & the Prophets, in the Text, seems to be intended the ancient Dispensation under the Old Testament, which was received from Moses and the Prophets. These