45.

And his Difciples followed him with fuch a view, even before he had made this John i. Declaration. Philip tells Nathanael; We bave found Him, of whom, Mofes in the Law, and the Prophets did write, JESUS of Nazareth, the fon of Jofeph. The fame Notion the multitude entertain'd of him, when he fed and fill'd about five thousand, with five barley-loaves and two small fishes; even thofe men, (however ignorant and vulgar they might be in Comparison with the Chief-Priefts, the Scribes, and Pharifees, who were profefs'd Doctors of the Law) when they had feen the miracle that JESUS did, faid, This is, of a truth, that Prophet that should come into the world.

John vi.

14.

Mat.

xxviii. 19.

And when the Time was come, that he fhould return to the Father, He gave it in Commiffion to his Apoftles, that they fhould go and teach all nations the true way of worshiping God, and confequently of attaining everlasting Happiness. Joh. xx. As my father hath sent me, even fo fend I you to publish to the whole World the glad Tidings of Salvation, by exprefly declaring to them the perfect, eternal and unchangeable Will of God.

.21.

And, upon this Foundation the Apostles began to build and raise up the glorious Fabric of an Univerfal Church. Immediately after the Defcent 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 is, Chief of them, afferting the Divinity and 32. iii, Meffiahfhip 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 A&s vii, brings the fame Teftimony; and feals the 37, Truth of it by his Death.

22,

xxvi, 23,

The Apology St. Paul makes for himself before King Agrippa, is built upon the fame Foundation. Having obtained Acts help of God, I continue unto this day, witneffing both to fmall 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 firft that should rife from the dead; and fhould 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

0 4

Lodg

Acts xxviii.

23.

Heb. i. 5.

&c.

Heb. i. 8.

16.

Lodging, he expounds and teftifies the kingdom of God to them; perfuading them concerning JESUS both out of the law of Mofes, and out of the prophets.

And endeavouring to convince his Brethren the Hebrews (for I am perfuaded that he is the Author of that Epistle) that JESUS was the Son of God; no Angel, but something far fuperior, and even 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. Wherefore, 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 reconciliaHeb. ii. tion for the fins of the people. Who was faithful to Him that appointed him, as Mofes 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

be convinc'd likewife from fundry Places, in the new Teftament, that upon his coming forth from God, and taking upon bim 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 fhall 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 Gofpel) and every man prefeth into it. The Evangelift 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 Ghoft, certain of the Sect of the Pharifees, which were Converts to Chriftianity, in oppofition to

Paul

Paul and Barnabas infifted upon having the Gentile Profelytes circumcifed, 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 fpeaks next, is of Opinion, that they which, from among the Gentiles, were turned to God, fhould not be troubled with obferving the ceremonial Law, And, at length, the whole Council make a Decree concerning the Queftion; which Acts xv. begins in thefe Words; Forafmuch as we have beard, 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

24.

Rom. vii.

4. 6.

unto us, &c.

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