13. Those who have duly considered these things must allow, that the privileges of Christians, are in no wise to be measured by what the Old Testament records concerning those who were under the _Jewish_ dispensation: seeing the fulness of times is now come; the Holy Ghost is now given: the great salvation of God is brought unto men, by the revelation of Jesus Christ. The kingdom of heaven is now set up on earth: concerning which the Spirit of God declared of old (so far is _David_ from being the pattern or standard of Christian perfection) _He that is feeble among them at that day, shall be as_ David: _and the house of_ David _shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them_ (Zech. xii. 8.) 14. If therefore you would prove that the apostle’s words, _he that is born of God sinneth not_, are not to be understood, according to their plain, natural, obvious meaning, it is from the New Testament you are to bring your proofs: else you will fight as one that beateth the air. And the first of these which is usually brought is taken from the examples recorded in the New Testament. “The apostles themselves (it is said) committed sin: nay the greatest of them. _Peter_ and _Paul_: St. _Paul_, by his sharp contention with _Barnabas_, and St. _Peter_, by his dissimulation at _Antioch_.” Well; suppose both _Peter_ and _Paul_ did then commit sin: what is it you would infer from hence? That _all the other apostles_ committed sin sometimes? There is no shadow of proof in this. Or, would you thence infer, that _all the other Christians_ of the apostolic age committed sin? Worse and worse; this is such an inference as one would imagine a man in his senses could never have thought of. Or, will you argue thus? “If two of the apostles did once commit sin, then _all other Christians, in all ages_, do, and will commit sin as long as they live.” Alas, my brother! a child of common understanding, would be ashamed of such reasoning as this. Least of all can you with any colour of argument infer, “That any man _must_ commit sin at all.” No; God forbid we should thus speak. No necessity of sinning was laid upon _them_. The grace of God was surely sufficient for them. And it _is_ sufficient for _us_ at this day. With the temptation which fell on _them_, there _was_ a way to escape: as there _is_ to every soul of man in every temptation. So that whosoever is tempted to any sin, _need_ not yield; for no man is tempted above that he is able to bear.