ed in this World, and the reft in the World that is to come. The Revelation of these Benefits, and of the Foundation on which they stand, and of the Way whereby we come to be Partakers of them, is the Matter, Sum and Substance of the Gospel, in its moft general Notion among Chriftians.

This Gofpel was not revealed all at once in its full Glory to Mankind. There have been several Editions of it, or gradual Difcoveries of this Grace in all the former Ages of the World.

As foon as ever Adam had finned, and ruined himself and his Pofterity too, by laying the Foundation of their Sin and Mifery, it pleafed God to publish this Gospel by the Promife of a Saviour, when he told our Mother Eve, that her Seed should bruife the Head of the Serpent that had deceived her, Gen. iii. 15. This, by our Divines, is usually called the first Gofpel; for, in the modern Language of the New Testament it fignifies, that Jefus Chrift fhould come into this World to deftroy the Works of the Devil, 1 John iii. 8.

Doubtless Noah, the fecond Father of Mankind, had fome farther Discoveries made to him, when the Rainbow was appointed as the Seal of a gracious Covenant betwixt God and Man: For the very Promise of the Continuance of the comfortable Seafons of the Year, being given to Man in a Way

of

of Mercy, do imply that God would not be irreconcileable to his fallen Creatures. Nor can we reasonably fuppofe but that Adam and Noah, and all those most ancient Patriarchs, had larger Explications and Comments of the first Promise given them than Mofes has recorded.

This Gospel was renewed by Revelations made to Abraham, when the Meffiah, the Saviour, was promised to spring out of his Family; in thy Seed fhall all Nations of the Earth be bleffed. Which Promife is exprefly called the Gospel, Gal. iii. 8. There was alfo a Type or Pattern of our Juftification by Faith in the Way of the Gofpel, when Abraham believed God in his Promifes, and it was imputed to him for Righteousness, Rom.

v. 3.

Mofes had a much larger Discovery of the Grace and Mercy of God toward finful Man made to him, and to the Jews by him, than all the Patriarchs put together: And this was not only done in the Types, and Figures, and Ceremonies, not only in Altars, Sacrifices, Washings, Sprinklings, Purifications, and in their Redemption from Egypt, their miraculous Salvations in the Wilderness, and their fafe Conduct to Canaan, the Land of promifed Reft; but he had many literal and exprefs Revelations of pardoning and fanctifying Grace, which are fcattered and down in the five Books which he

up

a

wrote, and which he gave to the Children of Ifrael to direct their Religion. This is alfo called the Gospel, Heb. iv. 2. To them was the Gospel preached as well as unto us, as thofe Words ought to be tranflated. This fame Gospel was afterward confirmed, illuftrated and enlarged by fucceeding Prophets in the feveral Ages of the Jewish Church,

But God, who at fundry Times and in divers Manners Spoke this Gospel to our Fathers by the Prophets, has in these later Days published the fame to us in a brighter Manner, by his Son Jefus, the promised Saviour, Heb. i. I. And fince the Death and Refurrection of Christ, the Apoftles being sent by their exalted Lord, have given yet plainer and fuller Declarations of this Gofpel to the Children of Men.

And upon this Account it is feveral Times called the Gospel of Chrift, not only because the Offices and Grace of Chrift run through the whole of it, but also because the cleareft Discoveries of it are made to the World by Chrift, and by his Meffengers the Apostles.

Now, from this laft and fulleft Revelation of it in the New Teftament, we may derive a fuller and more perfect Knowledge of the Gospel than all the former Ages could attain. Hereby we learn, that the Gospel is a Promife of Salvation from Sin and Hell,

2

Hell, by the Death, Righteoufnefs and Grace of our Lord Jesus Chrift, to every one that is fincerely willing to accept of it by coming to Chrift, or trusting in him; and it includes alfo the promised Aid of the Holy Spirit to thofe who feek it, to enable them to receive this Salvation, and to fit them for the final Poffeffion of the promised Glory. It includes alfo the Revelation of the future Refurrection, the last Judgment and eternal Life. To this End did the Son of God come into the World, that whofoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting Life, John iii. 16. This may be made out and explained more at large in the following Manner.

The Salvation which the Gospel proposes, is exactly anfwerable to our present State of Sin and Wretchednefs, and fully fupplies all the Neceffities of fallen Man, his Guilt and deserved Misery, his finful and corrupted Nature, and his utter Inability to help himself; and therefore it must contain in it Holiness and Happiness, with divine Directions and divine Aids in order to attain them. The Happiness of it is a Freedom from that Death and Punishment which we had incurred by Sin, and a Recovery to the Favour of God which we had loft, and everlasting Joy therein. The Holiness of it is the Image of God in which we were at firft created, which Image was defaced and ruined by Man's first Tranfgreffion.

B 3

The

The Foundation of this Salvation is the eternal Mercy and Goodwill of God the Father, to his poor, perifhing, finful Creatures, by the glorious Undertaking and various Tranfactions and Offices of our Lord Jefus Christ as Mediator, and the several Operations of the Bleffed Spirit.

This Salvation, in the whole of it, is contrived and appointed by the various Attributes of God, efpecially his Wisdom, Power and Goodness, exerting themselves for this Purpose: 'Tis purchased or procured for us by the Death and Sufferings of Jefus Chrift: 'Tis applied to us by the Work of the Holy Spirit.

We are chofen to partake of all this Salvation, both the Holiness and Happiness of it, by the eternal Goodwill of the Father. We are recovered to the Favour of God, and Happiness, by the Obedience or Righteoufnefs, the Death and Interceffion of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who is the Son of God in our Nature. We are restored to the Image of God and Holiness by the Spirit of Chrift, that is promised and fent down into this World, to change our Hearts and reform our Lives, and thereby fit us for the heavenly Happiness.

But what are we to do that we may become Partakers of this Salvation? For it is not every Son and Daughter of Adam who are Poffeffors of it. Now it is the Gospel

that