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And, upon this Foundation the Apostles began to build and raise up the glorious Fabric of an Univerfal Church. Immediately after the Descent of the Holy Ghost, to inspire and prepare them in a proper manner for the Discharge of their high Commiffion, we find St. Peter, the Acts ii, Chief of them, afferting the Divinity and 32. iii, Meffiahship of CHRIST from the great Miracle of his Resurrection: and appealing to the Prediction of Mofes, as a Proof that He was the Prophet whom God had promis'd to their Fathers. St. Stephen Acts vii, brings the fame Teftimony; and feals the 37Truth of it by his Death.

22,

xxvi, zz,

The Apology St. Paul makes for himfelf before King Agrippa, is built upon the [fame Foundation. Having obtained Acts help of God, I continue unto this day, witneffing both to Small and great, faying none other things than thofe,which the prophets and Mofes did fay fhould come. That CHRIST fhould fuffer; and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead; and Should fhew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. And again, when he is at Rome, and the Jews come to vifit him at his Lodg

0 4

Acts

xxviii.

23.

&c.

Heb. i. 8.

16,

Lodging, he expounds and teftifies the king-
dom of God to them; perfuading them con-
cerning JESUS both out of the law of Mo-
fes, and out of the prophets.

even

Heb. i. 5. And endeavouring to convince his Bre-
thren the Hebrews (for I am perfuaded that
he is the Author of that Epistle) that
JESUS was the Son of God; no Angel,
but fomething far fuperior, and
Heb. ii. very God; he proceeds to fay; Verily he
took not on him the nature of Angels; but
he took on him the feed of Abraham. Where-
fore, in all things, it behoved him to be
made like unto his brethren; that he might
be a merciful and faithful High-Prieft in
things pertaining to God, to make reconcilia-
Heb. iii. tion for the fins of the people. Who was
faithful to Him that appointed him, as Ma-
fes alfo was faithful.

2.

SECT. XVI.

The Ceremonial Law abolish'd.

Having brought thefe Proofs to fhew that JESUS was the Prophet, by whom God promis'd Mofes, that he would deliver his whole Will to Mankind; we may

H

be convinc'd likewife from fundry Places, in the new Teftament, that upon his coming forth from God, and taking upon him the Nature of Man, the Ceremonial Law was to be abolish'd, and a new Covenant to take place.

21.

He tells the Samaritan Woman, (who was defirous to argue with him about the peculiar Place of Worship, as whether it were in Samaria or at Jerufalem) The hour Joh. iv. cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerufalem; worship the father. This, in relation to Place; and then, in regard to Ceremonies, he adds, The hour cometh and now is, when the true ib. 23. worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth. He fays, The law and the Luke prophets were until John: fince that time xvi. 16. the kingdom of God is preached, (the new Covenant in the Gospel) and every man prefeth into it. The Evangelist tells us, The Joh. i.17. law was given by Mofes, but grace and truth came by JESUS CHRIST.

And when, after CHRIST's Afcenfion and the Coming of the Holy Ghost, certain of the Sect of the Pharifees, which were Converts to Christianity, in oppofition to

Paul

Paul and Barnabas infifted upon having the Gentile Profelytes circumcised, and very warm Debates enfued thereupon, Peter rose up; and, among other Things which he offers upon that Occafion, concludes his Speech with this pathetick ExActs xv. poftulation, Now therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the dif ciples, which neither our fathers, nor we, were able to bear?

10. 19.

St. James, who speaks next, is of Opinion, that they which, from among the Gentiles, were turned to God, fhould not be troubled with observing the ceremonial Law, And, at length, the whole Council make a Decree concerning the Question; which Acts xv. begins in thefe Words; Forafmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us, have troubled you with words, fubverting your fouls, faying, Ye must be circumcifed, and keep the law; to whom we gave no fuch commandment: It seemed good unto us, &c.

24.

Rom. vii.

4. 6.

St. Paul tells the Romans, They are become dead to the law through the body of CHRIST. Immediately after; Now, says he, we are delivered from the law; that

Gal. ii.

being dead wherein we were held; that we should ferve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. He fays again, Chrift is the End of the law. He Rom.x.4. tells the Galatians that by the works of the 16. law no flesh shall be justified. And asks, iii. 1. 19. 24, &c. who hath bewitched them that they should not obey the truth? (that is, adhere to the Gofpel, and abandon the Law.) And in cafe any Judaizing Chriftian, by way of Oppofition, fhould demand of him, wherefore then ferveth the law? To what end was it inftituted? He anfwers; It was added because of tranfgreffions, till the feed fhould come, to whom the promise was 'made. He fays,Before faith came we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which fhould afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster, to bring us unto Chrift; that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school-mafter.

Gal. iv.

Again, he chides them feverely, for their Inclination to Judaize, or obferve the Ceremonies of the Law: Now, after that bave known God, or rather are known of 9,10,11. God, how turn ye again to the weak and

ye

beggarly

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