as far from his intention, as it was a thing in itself utterly impossible.

Nor would sullying the lustre, or lessening the purity and perfection of the divine law, at all have comported with the benevolent office he came to perform in favour of mankind. He came to convert souls. He came to save his people from their sins. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity. He loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be holy and without blemish.But in order to all this, it was surely necessary that the law of perfect holiness, should remain stedfast and unaltered. How could sinners be converted by a flexible law? a law which was itself converted to their depraved hearts and crooked ways! How could men be saved from their sins, or even have the knowledge of sin, by such a law? What end could be answered by giving to imperfect creatures an imperfect law, unless to keep them imperfect and to justify their imperfections? The notion of a fallen law for fallen men, must certainly be, not from the Saviour, but from the adversary of souls. It is one of the most capital devices of the god of this world, who was a murderer from the beginning. As long as he can blind the minds of them that believe not, with the imagination. of such a divine law, he is sure of their souls. They will never be converted. The light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, cannot shine unto them.

Secondly. We hence infer, that legal preaching, truly so called, ought not to be censured, and must by

rely loud and noisy preachers. Paul reahteousness, temperance and judgment to is, he preached law rationally when Felix This was the common apostolic method. 11. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we n. And certainly, never was there a more cher of law, than the author and finisher

there is a kind of legal preaching, so called, stly censurable; and which tends not to the or edification, but to the destruction of souls. represent that all the duty which God ree unregenerate, is only abstaining from exoralities, and attending upon the outward y means of grace, from such principles, and hearts, as they at present have; and that if hings, they need not fear failing of dihould heal the heart of awakened sin

e should only assist them in going their own righteousness. Or should d men are under an abated law, which ich imperfect goodness as God hath ir doctrine would tend to make them they believed it, altogether self-justified; ding them to see their constant entire den free grace, through the redemption that Christ.

h preaching to sinners or to saints, is not al preaching. It is not properly preaching of the Lord, but a law of our own. It is makmmandment of God of none effect by our tradi

ng the divine law, as it really is, and as our nd the apostles preached it, has no tendency the consciences of unbelievers, nor to make

no means be omitted. Some would have the constant strain of the preacher what they call purely evangelical. All faith, and no works. To hear moral duties explained and inculcated, they do not like. It is not experimental They are not fed. But such are as ill affected to the real gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, as to the holy law of God. Ministers may keep back nothing that is profitable; they must not shun to declare all the divine counsel, and surely they must not shun to declare the divine law, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. This is a faithful saying, says the Apostle to Titus, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works: these things are good and profitable unto men. They are profitable to the doers of them, as well as to their neighbours. They are profitable not only in regard to the life that now is, but likewise in relation to that which is to c.ne. The more good works men do on earth, the greater will be their reward in heaven: nor can they get to heaven at all without good works. Know ye not, says St. Paul, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. Preaching the law is certainly necessary, for the perfecting of the Saints, and for the detection of false professors. But it is also necessary for the conviction and conversion of sinners. Accordingly we find, that the inspired preachers and writers of the New Testament, insisted much on the law, in order to awaken attention to the gospel, John the Baptist did so, we may be sure; and he had wonderful success. Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, went out to him to be baptized, confessing their sins. James and John, who were sir-named Boanerges, that is, the sons of thunder, were doubtless, great preachers of the law;

and not merely loud and noisy preachers. Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come; that is, he preached law rationally when Felix trembled. This was the common apostolic method. See 2 Cor. v. 11. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men. And certainly, never was there a more perfect preacher of law, than the author and finisher of our faith.

It is true, there is a kind of legal preaching, so called, which is justly censurable; and which tends not to the conversion or edification, but to the destruction of souls. Should we represent that all the duty which God requires of the unregenerate, is only abstaining from external immoralities, and attending upon the outward and ordinary means of grace, from such principles, and with such hearts, as they at present have; and that if they do these things, they need not fear failing of divine mercy; we should heal the heart of awakened sinners slightly We should only assist them in going about to establish their own righteousness. Or should we teach that good men are under an abated law, which requires only such imperfect goodness as God hath given them, our doctrine would tend to make them 'feel, as far as they believed it, altogether self-justified; instead of leading them to see their constant entire dependence on free grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.

But such preaching to sinners or to saints, is not proper legal preaching. It is not properly preaching the law of the Lord, but a law of our own. It is making the commandment of God of none effect by our tradition.

Preaching the divine law, as it really is, and as our Saviour and the apostles preached it, has no tendency to quiet the consciences of unbelievers, nor to make