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181 nations. And how much soever could have been done towards the revival of it by the light of reason, yet this light could not have discovered what so nearly concerned us, that important part in the scheme of this world which regards a Mediator; nor how far the settled constitution of its government admitted repentance to be accepted for remission of sins, after the obscure intimations of these things, from tradition, were corrupted or forgotten. One people, indeed, had clearer notices of them, together with the genuine scheme of natural religion preserved in the primitive and subsequent revelations committed to their trust; and were designed to be a witness of God, and a providence to the nations around them: but this people also had corrupted themselves and their religion to the highest degree that was consistent with keeping up the form of it.

In this state of things, when Infinite Wisdom saw proper, the general doctrine of religion was authoritatively republished in its purity; and the particular dispensation of Providence, which this world is under, manifested to all men, even "the dispensation of the grace of God towards us," Eph. iii. 2, as sinful, lost creatures, to be recovered by repentance through a Mediator, who was "to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness," Dan. ix. 24, and at length established that new state of things foretold by the prophet Daniel, under the character of "a kingdom, which the God of heaven would set up, and which should never be destroyed," Dan. ii. 44. This, including a more distinct account of the instituted means whereby Christ the Mediator would "gather together in one, the children of God that were scattered abroad," John xi. 52, and conduct them to "the place he is gone to prepare for them," John xiv. 2, 3; is the gospel of the kingdom, which he here foretells, and elsewhere commands, should "be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; and it first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God