build upon no Authority but Scripture) and they ferve to prove, that the Jews were never fo deferted by Heaven, as to have no Spiritual Teachers, though their Number was fmall in Comparison of the Scribes, Pharifees and Lawyers, who ruled the People, and dictated their Creed and Senfe of the Scriptures, as the only Mafters and Popes in Ifrael. And what their teaching was, is fully fhewn in the Gospel. The Cabala was for the most Part, found and good, adopted by the early Chriftians, by Clemens of Alexandria, by Origen fo much admired by Erafmus and the celebrated Daniel Huet, by Macarius, and in various Parts by Jerome: The Homilies of Macarius contain the best Treasure of the ancient Way of fpiritualizing the Figures of the Law for their evangelical Completion in Chriftians, which is left to the Church.

Another Objection may be formed on this Part, that, if the Blood of Christ be confidered as the Medium, the Principle and Caufe of new and immortal Bodies, it is not fo honoured and glorified as in the View of an Atonement or Expiation. This Objection is the Pillar of falfe Religion, and therefore

it

it has innumerable Mouths to speak for it, and as many Hands to fight again, and to deftroy others for its Sake. However dangerous it be, and invidious alfo to oppose. this corrupt Notion of Atonement, I bear Testimony against it. The Truth is equally glorious, becaufe Chrift alone is the Root and Fountain of a new Spirit and Temple of Glory in that Blood: And, except in this View, the Blood of our Saviour could be only confidered as a Proof of his perfect Integrity, and of the greatest Submiffion to God, as the Socinians have maintained, and Dr. Sykes too in nearly the fame Light in his Book on the fcripture Doctrine of the Redemption. Whereas, if it be the heavenly Matter, the one Principle of Immortality and Incorruption as to Body, equal Glory, Gratitude and Thanksgiving are due to his fuffering Love for our Sake and Advantage. It may proper to read in this Place what has been faid in Page 57, of cur Lord's Death and Paffion, where the Grounds and Reafons for it are proved from the Scripture only.-Now, the abfolute Neceffity of his Blood for our Redemption is fupported, and the Unbeleiver cannot prove the contrary; nay, it

be

fhews

Shews the utter Impoffibility of Salvation, but through his Blood, as the fpiritual Body cannot be formed without it; and it is the moft peculiar Doctrine of the Gospel, to reveal the Neceffity of Spiritual Bodies, and him, who creates them, for the Life and enjoyment of the Heavens.---The falfe and deceitful Notion of Atonement and Expiation in the common Way of conceiving it, is removed; to which more carelessness, falfe Confidence of divine Favour and Acceptance, more Sins and Antinomian Licentiousness must be afcribed, than to all the other Parts of the corrupted Gofpel. Thefe Conceptions Sprung· from heathen Superftitions on their piacular Sacrifices, which Popery adopted and grafted on the blessed Truths of Christianity.

For a full Confutation of all Objections from the Danger of limited Punishments, I refer to that masterly Writer, the celebrated Jeremiah White, once a rigid calvinistical Predeftinarian, when Chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, but afterwards enlightened with true Knowledge of the Gospel, both in the inner Ground, and in the Extent of Redemption, which he has fo elegantly and clearly opened in his Book on the Reftitution of all Things.

Things. And let me add the laft ingenious Pen on this Glory of divine Love, the Rev. Mr. Stonehoufe of Bristol, in his Letters on univerfal Reftitution, not long fince publifhed by Mr. Dodfley.

1

As (o) to the Peace of the Church being disturbed by new Opinions, though fcriptural and true; to this Cry of Bigots I fay, if Truths difturb it, it ought to hear them, "The Senfe of the Church is not a Rule, but "a Thing ruled. The Church is bound "unto Reafon and Scripture, and governed « by them, as much as any particular PerJon." Moft certainly it is; and this Plea and Pretence of not disturbing the Peace of it, will support all Errors and Superftitions alike: And, though every particular Church has the Pride of claiming the Chair of Infallibility, and of pure and uncorrupt Doctrine, yet the Contrariety and Oppofition of their Tenets and Creeds, proclaim the Shameful Vanity of this Popish pretence. (p) Let God be true, and every Man a Liar; let the Voice of Chrift be infallible, and every. other Voice whatever fubmit to fuller Know

ledge

(0) Whicheste's Aphor. 902. (P) Rom. iii. 4.

ledge of the Mystery' of our Saviour, when the holy Spirit poureth it forth on any Men, on Shepherds or Fishermen, who have no Name or Dignity in Church or State.---I Shall now beg leave to offer a few Directions to my Readers. The first is, to read flowly and leifurely, and not to pass over any Paffages, because they may be at firft difficult to understand; for what follows will often throw Light on what went before. And indeed, the whole Service of the Temple was connected together, as one continual Figure, where one Part explained and confirmed the other. And let not fuch a deliberate Perufal be thought too much, fince many Volumes are read, and much Time beflowed to arrive at the Knowledge of one Book, either of the Law or Gofpel. Ought any one to expect, that the deep and dark Things of the Law, or the Myfteries of the Kingdom of Chrift, be underflood without previous Confideration, or fuch frong Defire and earnest Love for it, as (q) David fhewed, who made the Law his Study, Day and Night; and which the Apoftle enjoins,

when

́ (9) Pf. i. 2.