A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

2▪ Consider the success itself.

§ I I would consider those dispensations of providence, by which the mean• of this success were established after Christ's resurrection.

I. The abolishing of the Jewish dispensation. This indeed was gradually done, but it began from the time of Christ's resurrection, in which the abolition of it is founded. This was the first thing done towards bringing the former state of the world to an end. This is to be looked upon as the great means of the success of ⟨p. 185⟩Christ's redemption. For the Jewish dispensation was not fitted for more than one nation: it was not fitted for the practice of the world in general, or for a church of God dwelling in all parts of the world: nor would it have been in any wise practicable by them; it would have been impossible for men living in all parts of the world to go to Jerusalem three times a year, as was prescribed in that constitution: When therefore God had a design of enlarging his church, as he did after Christ's resurrection, it was necessary that this dispensation should be abolished▪ If it had been continued, it would have been a great block and hinderance to the enlargement of the church. Besides, their ceremonial law, by reason of its burdensomeness, and great peculiarity of some of its rites, was as it were a wall of partition: and was the ground of enmity between the Jews and Gentiles, and would have kept the gentiles from complying the true religion. This wall therefore was broken down to make way for the more extensive success of the gospel; as