x THE PREFACE. I T must be granted, that it is of the very bigheft as on a right Knowledge thereof depend a right Belief and Practice, and on thefe depends our Eternal Salvation. As fuch a right Knowledge is neceffary to every Chriftian, fo it is in the most special manner to a Divine; forafmuch as a wrong Notion in one whofe Bufinefs it is to inftruct others, thereby. becomes more liable to fpread its Contagion, and fo to prove pernicious to the greater Number of People. It can never be enough lamented, that the great Cunning of that grand Enemy, who is always making it his Business to fow Tares among the good Seed, has fo far prevail d, that there is fcarce any one material Point of the Gospel-Covenant relating to Salvation, but what is misunderstood by fome Party or other of Chriftians, or of fuch at least as call themselves fo. Hence it comes to pass, that the Ge-. nerality of Books concerning Divinity is more or less tainted with wrong Notions of the Gospel-Covenant; and particularly fuch Books as ufually fall or are put first into the bands of young Students in Divinity, on account of their Compendioufness, and Jo Smalness and Cheapness; as the Common Systems, Enchiridions, or the like. By these unhappy means 4145. young Students too often have at the very first their Minds infected with wrong Notions; which either they continue in as long as they live, for want of Ability to procure, or Leifure to peruse the Writings of the Primitive Fathers and more learned and judicious Modern Divines; or if they do procure and perufe thefe laft mention'd Writings, and be not too much byafs'd by the first Impreffion made on their Minds by the other Books first read, they then have the Vexation to reflect, How much and how long they have been unhappily milled by ill Guides, and by that means have themfelves become ill Guides to Others, The most proper Way to prevent this great Mifchief for the future I judg'd to be this, viz. In as brief and clear a manner as might be, to fet before young Students in Divinity the Terms of the Gofpel-Covenant in a true Light, i. e. according to Scripture, and the beft Interpreters of Scripture, the Primitive Writers of the Church for the firft three hundred Years; who are therefore follow'd, not only by our more learned and judicious Divines in their private Writings, but also in the publick Writings of our Church fet forth or approv'd of by the Body of our Clergy in Convocation; fuch as are our Liturgy, Articles of Religion, and Book of Homilies. Now in order to fet the Terms of the GospelCovenant in a true Light, it was necessary to fet in a true Light alfo the Terms of the several other Divine Laws and Covenants, fuch as the Law of Nature, the Covenant before the Fall, and the Mofaical Law or Covenant. For many, if not most moft or all of the wrong Notions relating to the Gofpel-Covenant, are founded on or deriv'd from wrong Notions relating to fome one or more of the feveral other Divine Laws or Covenants. This Work I was the more willing to undertake, because of the great Help, I knew, I should receive berein from the Writings of the late moft learned and judicious Bifhop D' Bull; who, especially in his Latin Treatife entitled Harmonia Apoftolica, and in his feveral Defences thereof, has happily had Occafion given to treat of the most important Points relating to the feveral Divine Laws and Covenants. So that I take to my felf not much more than Reducing into a proper Method or Order the feveral Particulars relating to the faid Divine Laws and Covenants, which ly scatter'd in his Writings. And this Labour of mine will, I truft, be the more Beneficial, and fo the more Acceptable to the young Student in Divinity, because I have reduc'd the faid Particulars into no large Compass, and fo into a Book that will be afforded at a small Price, at least in comparison of the Bulk and Price of the forefaid BiShop's Works printed together in Folio. I fhall here give the Reader an Account of fome of the most weighty Points, wherein (if Occafion) he will be fet Right, in oppofition to the contrary and wrong Opinions maintain d or believ'd by too many even to this day. Such as are these that follow, viz. That all Mankind formally or actually finn'd in Adam, and therefore for eating the forbidden Fruit all Mankind were or might have been justly condemn'd to the eternal Torments of Hell: That God did either before or after the Fall predefti nate nate or decree, that only fome Part of Mankind Should be fav'd, and all the Reft should be damn'd: That God ever gave or oblig'd Man to the Obedience of any Law, which it was impoffible for Man to obey: That All or Any of Thofe, that in the feveral Ages of the World were or are or shall be without the Light of Revelation, are thereby put also without the Poffibility of obtaining Salvation: That by the Gospel Man is justify'd by Faith only, or not jointly and equally by good Works: That a Man is fanctify'd and justify d once for all; fo that a Man once juftify'd can't fall from Juftification again, or at least finally or fo as to perifh for ever. The forefaid Opinions, as they are highly derogatory to the Goodness, Justice, or Holiness of God, so they will be fhewn in the following Treatife to be contrary to Reafon, Scripture, and the Doctrin of our Church fet forth in her Publick Writings. THE Chap. 2. Of the Covenant of Eternal Life, which God made with Man before the Fall, and which may well be call'd the Firft Cove- Chap. 3. Of the Second Covenant of Grace or Eternal Life, which God made with Man prefently after the Fall, and is wont to be pe- Chap. 4. Of the true Difference between the two Covenants of Eternal Life, or between the First Covenant of Grace, and the Second Chap. 5. Of the State of the Gospel from the |