THE WORKS OF THE REV. JOSEPH BELLAMY, D. D. LATE OF BETHLEM, CONNECTICUT. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY STEPHEN DODGE. PRINTED BY J. SEYMOUR, NO. 49, JOHN-STREET. 1812. CONTENTS OF VOLUME III. A Blow at the Root of the refined Antinomianism of the present age, &c. That there is but one Covenant, whereof Baptism and the Lord's Supper are Seals, viz. the Covenant of Grace, proved from the word of God; and the doctrine of an external graceless covenant, advanced by the Section I. The nature of Mr. M.'s external graceless covenant, its differ- II. The covenant with Abraham was a holy covenant, and could not be really complied with but in the exercise of real holiness, UL. The covenant with the Israelites in the wilderness was a holy covenant, and could not be really complied with, but in the ex- VI. It cannot be determined what Mr. M.'s external covenant requires, and wherein a real compliance with it doth consist, so that any man can ever know that he has complied with it, VII. Various distinctions stated, to render the subject more easy to be understood by Christians of the weakest capacities, and to enable them to answer the usual objections, at least to their VIII. Mr. Mather's scheme inconsistent with itself, A careful and strict Examination of the external Covenant, and of the principles by which it is supported: a Reply to the Rev. Mr. Mather's piece, entitled, "The Visible Church in Covenant with God, further illustrated," &c. A Vindication of the plan on which the Churches In troduction, Section I. The nature of Mr. M.'s external covenant, as stated by him- II. Mr. M.'s external covenant represented by him as uncondi- Section III. The perfection of the divine law, and total depravity, incon- sistent with the notion of an external covenant appointed by God for the unregenerate, as such, to enter into, requiring graceless qualifications, and nothing else, as the conditions of its IV. A view of the exhortations and promises of the Gospel: and the true reason pointed out why the doings of the unregenerate V. Impenitent, self-righteous, Christless sinners, are under the curse of the law of God. But this is inconsistent with their be- ing in covenant with God, in good standing in his sight, by any works which they do, while such, VI. The nature of the enmity of the carnal mind against God, and whether it remains, notwithstanding the revelation of God's VII. Whether the Gospel calls fallen men to be reconciled to VIII. How it was possible for Adam before the fall, to love that character of God which was exhibited to him in the law, con- - 290 · 814 327 X. Mr. M.'s scheme inconsistent with itself, XL. The extraordinary methods Vir. M. takes to support his Early Piety recommended; a Discourse on Eccles. xii. 1. 447 531 Wherefore the law was our School-Master to bring us unto CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith. THE chief design of the present discourse is to give the true sense of this text; which will go far towards leading us into the nature of the Jewish religion, and of the Christian; and help to remove several dangerous mistakes, which mankind have been apt to run into. Now, in order to understand any text of Scripture, we are to consider the various circumstances of the discourse; such as the character of the persons spoken to, the manner how the text is introduced, and for what purpose; that we, seeing the occasion of what is written, and the scope and design of the inspired writer, may the more readily and certainly discern the true sense of the passage. Here, therefore, let us inquire into the character of the persons St. Paul had to deal with; the occasion and design of these words, and how they were introduced in the thread of his argument; and the grounds he saw in the nature of the Mosaic dispensation for this observation, that the law was a school-master to bring us to Christ. I. As to the character of the persons St. Paul had to deal with. They, at least the ring-leaders of them, were by birth Jews, by education Pharisees, and now lately converted to Christianity; but yet zealous for some of their old pharisaical notions, fond of making proselytes to their own scheme, a scheme, in the apostle's opinion, subversive of Christianity. While of the sect of the Pharisees, before their conversion to Christianity, they expected justification wholly by the deeds of the law. (Rom. x. 3.) But now, since their conversion to Christianity, they expected justification by the deeds of the law; and yet it seems not wholly; for they |