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AN APPARATUS, OR DISCOURSE INTRODUCTORY TO THE Whole WORK, concerning the Three Great Dispensations OF THE CHURCH, PATRIARCHAL, MOSAICAL, and EVANGELICAL.
SECT I. Of the PATRIARCHAL Dispensation.
The Tradition of Elias. The three great Periods of the Church. The Patriarchal Age. The Laws then in force natural or positive. Natural Laws what; evinced from the testimony of natural conscience. The Seven Precepts of the Sons of Noah. Their respect to the Law of Nature. Positive Laws under that dispensation. Eating Bloud why prohibited. The mystery and significati∣on of it. Circumcision when commanded and why. The Laws concerning Re∣ligion. Their publick Worship what. Sacrifices in what sence natural, and how far instituted. The manner of God's testifying his acceptance. What the place of their publick Worship. Altars, and Groves whence. Abraham's Oak, its long continuance, and destruction by Constantine. The Original of the Druids. The times of their religious Assemblies. In process of time, Genes. 4. what meant by it. The Seventh Day whether kept from the be∣ginning. The Ministers of Religion, who. The Priesthood of the first-born. In what cases exercised by younger Sons. The state of Religion successively un∣der the several Patriarchs. The condition of it in Adam's Family. The Sacrifices of Cain and Abel, and their different success, whence. Seth, his great Learning and Piety. The face of the Church in the time of Enosh. What meant by, Then began Men to call upon the Name of the Lord. No Idola∣try before the Floud. The Sons of God, who. The great corruption of Religi∣on in the time of Jared. Enoch's Piety, and walking with God. His transla∣tion, what. The incomparable sanctity of Noah, and his strictness in an evil Age. The character of the men of that time. His preservation from the De∣luge. God's Covenant with him. Sem or Japhet whether the Elder Brother. The confusion of Languages when, and why. Abraham's Idolatry and con∣version. His eminency for Religion noted in the several instances of it. God's Covenant with him concerning the Messiah. The Piety of Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob's blessing the twelve Tribes, and foretelling the Messiah. Patriarchs extraordinary under this dispensation. Melchisedeck who: wherein a type of