nant of works and the covenant of grace is fo far from illuftrating, or helping us to form any clearer or more distinct conceptions of revealed truth concerning our ftate before God, or the method of acceptance with him, that it has a quite contrary effect, and ferves to set aside, obfcure, and confound the capital distinction fet before us in the apoftolic writings, betwixt the old and new covenant, or betwixt the covenant ratified by the blood of bulls and goats, and the new covenant in Chrift's blood. Matt. xix. 17. If thou will enter into life, keep the commandments. Rom. iii. 19. Now we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world * may become guilty before God. Rom. v. 12. As by one man fin entered inta the world, and death by fin; even fo death paffed upon all men, for that all have finned. Ver. 14. Adam the figure of him that was to come. Rom. iv. 15, 16. The law worketh wrath Therefore it (the promise, or the inheritance, everlafting happiness typified by the earthly Canaan) is of faith, that it might *This plainly fhews, that it cannot be the Mofaic law, the Sinaitic covenant, or the old covenant made with Ifrael, that is here meant ; for those having been peculiar to Ifrael, the whole world, or all mankind, were never under them; and therefore could not be convicted by them, or be rendered obnoxious to the judgment and wrath of God on account of the breach of them. By the law here spoken of, therefore, muft certainly be understood the law or covenant of works made with innocent Adam, as the head and representative of all mankind. ARTICLE IV. Natural reafon, aided by the external revelation of the gospel, or the dictates of a natural confcience, compared with the revealed reafon of hope, are sufficient to bring men to the true knowledge of God, and confequently to everlafting happiness, without any fpecial or internal operation of the divine Spirit upon their minds be by grace; to the end the promife might be fure to all the feed. SCRIPTURES. I Cor. ii. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are fpiritually difcerned. John xvi. 8. He (the Holy Ghoft) will convince the world of fin, &c. 2 Cor. iv. 6. God who commanded the light to fine out of darkness, bath fhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jefus Chrift Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will I give you, &c. John vi. 44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath fent me, draw him. SCRIPTURES. Gen. vi. 5. And God fw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that EVERY IMAGINATION OF THE THOUGHTS his pride, by inventing or adopting fuch notions concerning the method of acceptance with God, as tend to beget, and cherish in him a deceitful fenfe of his own dignity and importance; from which nevertheless, by duly attending to the evidence of divine truth revealed in the gospel, and comparing it with the natural and infallible dictates of confcience, he may difintangle himfelf, and acquire a fet of notions or principles, which will become as it were a new inftinct in him fuch as in the gospel is called regeneration or the new creature, and is the only fpring of all true holinets, love and obedience to God. ; ARTICLE VI. There is no need of any internal, fupernatural work of the Spirit of God upon the fouls and hearts of men for difcovering and fubduing that THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART was only evil continually. Compare chap. viii. 21. Ephef. iv. 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is 122 them, because of the blindnefs of their heart. Tit, i. 15. Unto them that are d.filed, and unbelieving, is nothing pure; but even their mind and CONSCIENCE is defied. John . 4. Except a man be born again, he cannot fee the kingdom of God. Ephef. ii. 10. We are his workmanship,created in Chrift Jefus unto good works. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. 27. A row Spiritwil I put within you-I will put my Spirit within you, and caufe you to walk in my fatutes. SCRIPTURES. 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. The weapans of our warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down of frong holds, cafting down imaginations, and every high B 3 thing that corruption which is naturally in every man, and reigns in every unregenerate finner; but if they only hearken to the voice of God in the confcience, and admit the fimple truth revealed in the gofpel, it is all that is neceffary for thofe purposes. ARTICLE VII. As conviction of fin by the law is no way neceffary in order to a believing on Chrift for righteoufness and falvation, it is idle to affirm, or fuppofe, that by the law is the knowledge of fin, or that ever the Spirit of God makes ufe of it as a mean for convincing finners of their guilt and mifery, or of their need of Chrift and falvation; for it cannot be of thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing inta captivity every thought to the obedience of Chrift. Luke v. 17. The power of the Lord was present to heal them. Pfal. cx. 3. Thy people fhall be willing in the day of thy power. John vi. 36. Ye alfo have feen me, and believe not. Ver. 45. Every man -that bath heard, and bath LEARNED OF THE FATHER, cometh unto me.. Compare John xiv. 26. xvi. 14. Acts xvi. 14. 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11. &c. &c. SCRIPTURES. Rom. iii. 20. By the law is the knowledge of fin. Chap. vii. 7, 8, 9. I had not known fin but by the LAW.-For without the law fin was dead -I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, fin revived, and I died. Acts ii. 37. When they heard this they were pricked in their heart, and faid unto Peter, and to the reft of the Apostles, Men and bre brethren, what shall we of the least advantage to an unbelieving finner in any of thefe refpects: and those who exhort men to fearch and try their ways, by viewing them in the glass of the divine law, that they may be made fenfible of their fin and guilt, of the mifery and danger of their condition, and confequently of their need of mercy and falvation, through Chrift revealed and exhibited in the gofpel, do only cut out work for the pride of the devotee, and teach men to establish a righteoufnefs of their own in a new shape, under the deceitful notion of working their way toward that of Chrift. ARTICLE VIII. Unbelieving finners ought never to attempt yielding obedience to the divine law; and to exhort them to the exercife of faith,repentance, prayer, and the diligent use of the outward means by which God ordinarily communicates his grace to the children do? Gal. iii. 19. Wherefore then ferveth the law? It was added becaufe of tranfgreffions, till the feed fhould come, to whom the promife was made-Ver. 24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster, to bring us unto Chrift, that we might be juftified by faith. The. Rom. i. 18. wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteoufness of men.-Chap. ii. 3. Thinkeft thou this, O man, that judgest them which do fuch things, and doft the fame, that thou fhalt efcape the judgment of God? |