1. 'The immorality of the soul' (p. 138).
2. 'The doctrine of rewards and punishments in the life to come' (p. 140).
3. 'Of the forgiveness of sin upon true repentance,' &c. (p. 142).
[4. The doctrine of God's readiness to assist men by his special grace in their endeavours after virtue (p. 143).]
Ans. All these things may be assented to, where yet the grace of the gospel is not, but yet the apprehension must be such, as is the light by which they are discovered; but the light of nature cannot discover them, according to the light and nature of the gospel; because the gospel knowledge of them, ariseth also from another principle: So then, These doctrines are not confirmed by the gospel, as the light of nature teacheth them: Wherefore, Paul, speaking of the things of the gospel, and so consequently of these, he saith, 'Which things also we speak, NOT in the WORDS which MAN'S wisdom teacheth, but which the HOLY GHOST teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual' (1 Cor 2:13). As if he should say, We speak of God, of the soul, of the life to come, of repentance, of forgiveness of sins, &c. Not as philosophers do, nor yet in their light; but as saints, Christians, and sons of God, as such who have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God.
But you add (for the glory of the gospel) That we have other things, which no man could, without divine revelation, once have dreamed of. As,
That God hath made miserable sinners the objects of such transcendent love, as to give them his only begotten Son.
Ans. I must confess, If this one head had by you been handled well, you would have written like a worthy gospel minister. But you add (p. 146).
1. That when Christ was sent, it was to shew us upon what terms God was reconcilable to us, viz. By laying 'before us all the parts of that holiness, which is necessary to restore our natures to his own likeness;—and most pathetically, moreover to intreat us to do what lieth in us to put them in practice, that so it may be to eternity well with us.' What these things are, you mention not here; therefore I shall leave them to be spoken to under the third head.
2. A second thing you mention is, 'That this Son of God conversed upon equal terms with men, becoming the Son of Man, born of a woman