As old as the creation
And this our Lord has abundantly performed in the preceding and following parts of the discourse before us, in which he has not introduced a new religion into the world, but the same which was from the beginning. A religion whose substance is, without question, as old as the creation, being of the same age as man, and having come from God at the very time when man became a living soul. The substance, I say, for some circumstances of it now relate to man as a fallen creature. A religion witnessed both by the law and by the prophets in all succeeding generations. Yet it was never so fully explained, nor so thoroughly understood, until the great Author of it himself stooped to give mankind this authentic comment on all the essential branches of it, at the same time declaring it should never be changed, but remain in force to the end of the world.
1771 text
4. And this our Lord has abundantly performed in the preceding and subsequent parts of the discourse before us: in which he has not introduced a new religion into the world, but the same which was from the beginning: a religion, the substance of which is without question, “as old as the creation:” being coeval with man, and having proceeded from God, at the very time when man became a living soul: (the substance, I say, for some circumstances of it, now relate to man as a fallen creature.) A religion witnessed to both by the law, and by the prophets in all succeeding generations. Yet was it never so fully explained, nor so thoroughly understood, ’till the great Author of it himself, condescended to give mankind this authentic comment on all the essential branches of it: at the same time declaring it should never be changed, but remain in force to the end of the world.