of Christ; it proves the righteousness of the Law, as it was fulfilled in Christ; it adopts and enforces all the commandments of the Law; it gives us ability, through the Spirit, to perform our duties, as prescribed by the Law, in a certain measure, to which, through the dominion of sin, we could not otherwise attain.

§ 7. According to the covenant into which it pleased God to enter with his chosen people, the Gospel was first preached to the children of Israel: and of them were the first fruits of the Church. Many of the Jews were converted by the teaching of the Saviour, and the wondrous manifestation of his divine authority. At the time at which the Apostles entered on the work of their ministry, some thousands received the word; and there were added daily unto the Church, such as were willing to listen to the promises of the Gospel, and to be saved through the name of Christ. Many among the tribes which were dispersed throughout" every nation under heaven," and some individuals of high rank and influence, were numbered with the primitive Christians; but still the great mass of the people, the nation at large, continued to be unbelieving, and resisted, with the most rancorous hostility, the reception of the Gospel; persecuting the professors of it, and endeavouring to stifle the voice which warned them of the consequences of their impenitence and infidelity. In the course of a few years, their polity, their temple, their city, and their existence as a nation, were utterly destroyed; and they remain to this day, scattered and depressed, an awful monument of the penal wrath of God, still inflicting the threatened punish

§ 8. When, in consequence of the rejection of the Messiah, and opposition to his Gospel, the Jews were cast out, the general admission of the Heathens into the Covenant of Grace-the introduction of those who had hitherto wandered in darkness, to the light of the Gospel-the calling of the Gentiles, immediately took place. This great event, which had so often formed the subject of ancient prophecy, the deve. lopement of that "mystery of Christ, which in other ages, was not made known unto the sons of men," caused the separation, which had been established between Jew and Gentile, to cease for ever, making them, from thenceforth, partakers of the same promises in the Gospel. According to the decree of God, whole nations were brought in to the Christian Church, which was erected on the ruins of the Jewish. The preaching of the Gospel was accompanied by signs, and the co-operating power of the Holy Spirit; and the publication of it was accelerated by the adoption of the Heathen language most widely used, the Greek tongue, in which the books of the New Testament were written and disseminated.

By degrees, the idols of the Heathen were destroyed, the worship of their false deities renounced, the oracles reduced to silence, and the one true God, the Creator and Redeemer of mankind, publicly acknowledged, and spiritually served.

$9. No stronger evidence of the truth and divinity. of the Gospel, can be necessary, than the mighty progress which it has made, compared with the small seed from whence it sprung, and the obstacles it has encountered and overcome. A doctrine opposed to all the prejudices of mankind, containing mysterious,

tenets, and demanding a self-denying and difficult obedience, proposing future and not present rewards, is promulgated by an obscure native of Galilee, whose few disciples and companions, were all of humble origin, unlearned, unskilled in the ways of deception, and having no prospect of any fruit of their fidelity and zeal in this world, but tedious suffering and cruel death; a doctrine so originating and so supported, has nevertheless subjected to the dominion of the Cross, a great part of the habitable globe, and is still extending its sanctifying influence, and pursuing its rapid course, which it will continue to pursue till the period shall arrive, when the Jews will again be admitted to the privileges of the Gospel; and the prophecies will be accomplished, that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the

sea.

From Scripture.

SECTION 1.

Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Acts xiii. 32, 33. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the Fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again. Isai. lii. 7. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. 1 John i. 4, 5. And these things write we unto you, that your joy muy be full. This then is the Message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Acts i. 1, 2, 3. 7, 8. The former treatise have 1 made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do, and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And he said unto them, It is not for you, to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part of the Earth. Acts ii. 1. 4. 14. 32. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. Mark i. 15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. Mark i. 1. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

SECTION II.

Ephes. iii. 8, 9, 10, Unto me, who am less than the least of all Saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God. Ephes. vi. 19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel. 1 John ii. 25. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. Gal. iii. 22. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be