History of Presbyfaianism
ous, so that the children of Israel could not stead- fastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away; how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious.” II. Cor. iii: 8. Now the character of his kingdom that is established by the ministration of the spirit and of righteousness is invisible and spir- itual. Know ye not that the kingdom of heaven is within you? It is therefore an invisible, spiritual kingdom. The Mosaic dispensation kingdom stood only in meats, and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation; but the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” The difference between the Mo- saic kingdom and the gospel kingdom is very great: the one consisting in meats and drinks, and divers washings and carnal ordinances. The first taber~ nacle also was but a figure for the time then present, in which were offered gifts and sacrifices, which could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience, but merely a figure for the time then present; but all these things decayed and waxed old, and vanished away; old things are passed away and all things are become new. “For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory, for even that which was made glorious [the Mosaic kingdom with its institutions, law and carnal ordinances] had no glory in this respect, by reason of that which excelleth, for if that which is done
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