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To ftrict obedience though it call t
Does bind to none, but promife all u.
The law does ftrict commandment give
That I the gospel-news believe v;
But yet it teaches no fuch thing,..
Nor e'er could gofpel tidings bring w.
When I the gospel truth believe,
Obedience to the law I give x,
And when I don't the law * obferve,
1 from the gofpel method fwervey.

2 Theff. i. 7, 8. The Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking venge ́ance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gof pel of our Lord Jefus Christ.

u John iii. 17. God fent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be faved. And xii. 47. And if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to fave the world. Heb. viii. 10, 11, 12. For this is the covenant that I will make with the houfe of Ifrael after those days, faith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they fhall be to me a people. And they fhall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, faying, Know the Lord for all fhall know me from the leaft to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their fins and their iniquities will I remem. ber no more.

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v John iii. 18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

w Rom. x.

5. For Mofes defcribeth the righteoufnefs which is of the law, That the man which doth those things, shall live by them. And 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.

x John iii. 18. He that believeth on him, is not condemned. *Viz. As it it a rule.

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Yet if I do the law + obey,

I am not in the gofpel-way z,

Which does to new obedience draw a,
Yet is the gofpel no new law b.
As precepts to the law belong,
Yet in the gofpel field are throng c.
Curs'd ev'ry gofpel flighter is d,
Yet all its office is to bless e.

Titus ii. 11, 12. See letter o forecited.
tViz. As it is a covenant-

z Ġal. v. 3, 4. For I teftify again to every man that is circumcifed, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Chrift is become of no effect unto you, whefoever of you are juftified by the law; ye are fallen from

grace.

a Rom. xvi. 25, 26.-The mystery which was kept fecret fince the world began,-now is made manifeft, and by the fcriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedi. ence of faith.

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b Gal. iii. 21. Is the law then againft the promises of God? God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

c Matth. v. 17,-18. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I fay unto you, Till heaven and earth pafs, one jot or one title fhall in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled, &c. Pfal. cxix. 96. I have feeu an end of all per fection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

d Heb. x. 26,-29. For if we fin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more facrifice for fins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which fhall devour the adverfaries. He that defpifed Mofes' law, died without mercy, under two or three witneffes: of how much forer punishment, fuppofe ye, fhall he be thought worthy, who have troden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done Dd

It from the law has pow'r to kill f,
Yet faving does its pow'r fulfil g:
No favour but of life it hath b,
Yet moft the favour is of death i.
Weakness perfection doth exclude,
The law is perfect, juft, and good k :.
Yet can it nothing perfect make,
But all the comers to it break 1.

despite unto the fpirit of grace? Chap. xii. 25. See that ye re fufe not him that fpeaketh: for if they escaped not who refufed him that spake on earth, much more fhall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.

e Rom. xv. 29. And I am fure that when I come unto you, I fhall come in the fulness of the bleffing of the gospel of Chrift. Acts iii. 26. Unto you firft, God having raised, up his Son Jefus, fent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

f John iii. 18.-He that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only be gotten Son of God. Mark xvi. 16.-He that believeth not, fhall be damned. Heb. ii. 3. How fhall we escape, if we neglect fo great falvation.

g Eph. i. 13. In Chrift ye alfo trufted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gofpel of your falvation. 1 Tim. i. 15. This is afaithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finners; of whom I am chief.

b Phil. ii. 16. Holding forth the word of life, &c. 2 Tim. i. 1. Paul an apostle of Jefus Chrift, by the will of God according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus. v. 10. -Our Saviour Jefus Christ-bath abolished death, and hath 'brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

i 2 Cor. ii. 16. To the one we are the favour of death unto death, &c.

k Pfal. cxix. 96. I have feen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and juft, and good. Heb. vii. 19. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God,

Strength to the gofpel does belong,
Mighty through God it is, and strong m:
It to the law does ftrength emit,
Yet 'tis the law gives ftrength to it.
The gofpel gives the law, I fee,
Sufficient ftrength to justify n;
Yet may I fay, in truth it is

The law that gives the gospel this o:
For as the law no finner clears,
But who the gofpel-garment wears;
So none are juftify'd by grace,
Unless the law-demands have place p.

/Heb viii. 19. See letter k. Chap x. 1. For the law have ing a fhadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those facrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect.

m Rom. i. 16. For I am not afhamed of the gospel of Chrift for it is the power of God unto falvation, to every one that believeth, to the Jew firit, and alfo to the Greek. 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds : cafting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

n Rom. viii There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2.3, 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, fend. ing his own Son, in the likeness of finful flesh, and for fi condemned fin in the flesh: that the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• Rom. iii 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Chap. x. 4. For Chrift is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

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p Rom. iii. 49,-22. Now we know that what things fo ever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be

Again the law, which yet feems worse,
Gives gofpel-news condemning force 95
Yet they are news that never can,
Nor never will condemn a man r.
Dread threat'nings to the law pertain s,
Not to the gospel's golden chain t:
Yet all law-threats and Sinai's ire
To gospel grace are walls of fire u.

come guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there thall no flesh be juftified in his fight: for by the law is the knowledge of fin. But now the righteoufaefs of God without the law is manifefted, being witneffed by the law and the prophets; even the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefus Chrift unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. Chap. v, 19.-Bythe obedience of one, fhall many be made righteous. . 2'-Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jefus Christ our Lord.

4. John iii. 18. He that believeth on him, is not condemn. ed: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, becaufe he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

t

r Luke ii. O, IT. And the angel faid unto them [the hepherds], Fear not: for behold, I'bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. John iii. 17. For God fent not his Son into the world to condenin the world; but that the world through him might be faved. Chap. xii. 47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to fave the world.

s Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curfe: for it is written, Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Acts xiii. 26. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whofoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this falvation fent.

u Mark xvi. 16.-He that believeth not fhall be damned, Heb. ii. 3. How fhall we efcape if we neglect fo great falvation? Chap. x. 26,-29. See letter d forecited.

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