mans law but by Christ-alone so I say too but will it follow hence that because the law doth not justifie a sinner therefore it is void it is like as if a man should say that because he cannot heare with his eyes nor see with his eares therefore they are all void and of no use to him this is Antinomean divinity And so because the terrours and torments of the law are taken off to beleevers therefore the law is void to Antinomeans if this be so then if the sting of death be taken off to beleevers by their divinity they must not dye nor be â—courged for their sinne but as the sting of death and afflictions is taken away to beleevers and so they are sweetned unto them but not taken away so the â—urse or sting of the law is taken away yet the law is not made void and so â—ne of Luthers Schollers saith the Regenerate are not under the law in respect â—f justification accusation condemnation or coaction but he affirmeth a â—â—reefold use of the law to the Regenerate First as a doctrine to direct in duâ—es Secondly as a glasse to see the defects of them Thirdly to restrain corâ—â—ption that is in them And Master Calvin in his second book of Institutions â—â—ap 7. sect 12. speakes of the morall law as it concernes the faithfull how â—â—ey should use it namely to know the will of God and by the fervent meditation of it they should be excited to the obedience of it and strengthened in their obedience of it and restrained from the offences of it in the 13. sect Libertines deny the law because it is the ministration of death but farre be it from us saith hee to hold such a prophane opinion he saith it hath an excellent use namely to be a perperuall rule of life and so in the 14. and 15. sect and in the third booke 19. chap. sect 2. he saith although Christians must lift themselves above the law and forget the righteousnesse of the law yet saith he we must not conclude the law as needlesse for it doth not cease to teach to exhort and to incite to good though before Gods Tribunall it hath no place in our consciences the law therefore by Master Calvins doctrine and determination abideth by Christ an unviolable doctrine I might mention many famous Divines that have confuted this cursed heresie in their several ages but I will only here mention one more to these two of famous memory in the Church of God because their bookes are all extant and easie to be had without much trouble to the Reader it is that judicious Mr. Perkins in his fruitfull writings appeareth every where as in his Golden-cheyn chap. 31. having set downe the use of the morall law in the unregenerate he concludeth that the use of the law in the Regenerate is farre otherwise for it guideth them to new obedience which may be acceptable to God through Christ and in his Commentary on the Gall. page 172. line 6. he sheweth that still the Lord repeateth his law in his old tenure First to teach us that the law is of a constant and unchangeable nature Secondly to advertise us of our weaknesse and to shew us what we cannot doe Thirdly to put us in mind still to humble us after we have begun by grace to obey the law because even then we came farre short in doing the things which the law requireth aâ— our hands and on page 119. line 35. he enquireth now faith is come what iâ— the guard whereby we are now kept from sinne he answereth the morall law which is as stakes and nailes fastened to range men in the compasse of theiâ— owne duties Eccles 12.11 and upon page 201. line â—4 he puts forth this question how farre the morall law is abrogated his answer is three wayes First in respect of justification Secondly of maladiction Thirdly in respect â—â— rigour for them that are in Christ God accepteth their endeavours to obeâ— for obedience it selfe neverthelesse saith he the law as it is a rule of good liâ—â— is unchangeable and admitteth no abrogation and Christ in this regard did 〈◊〉 his death establish it Rom. 3.31 and page 253. li. 35. he saith the law must 〈◊〉 considered two wayes First as a rule of life thus Angels are under the laâ— and Adam before his fall and the Saints in Heaven and none yeeld more â—â—â—jection to the law then they and this subjection is their liberty but whâ—â— did the Antinomeans learne this divinity that Christ came to abrogate â—â—â— law of Innoceâ—cy which Adam had before his fall or the eternall law of Saiâ—â—â— and Angels glorified also in his Treatise of conscience chap. 2. he saith 〈◊〉 morall law bindeth the consciences of all men and at all times to obedience Now good Reader get these bookes Calvins Institutions and Luther and Perkins on the Galla. and see these things that thou maiest be satisfied and shake off these seducers as Paul shook off the Viper Acts 28.5 lest thou perish eternally by them Well thus we have driven them from their strong holds the Scripture is against them and good men forsake them for they have made lyes their refuge and under falshood have they hid themselves but the haile shall sweep away their refuge of lyes and the waters shall overflow their hiding place Isa 28.15.17 But when thou art spoyled what wilt thou doe though thou cloathest thy selfe with Crimson though thou deckest thy selfe with Ornaments of gold though thou paintest thy face with painting in vaine shalt thou make thy selfe faire thy lovers will despise thee Jer. 4.30 Thou art called to give an account of thy Stewardship art thou resolved what to doe that when thou art put out thy Antinomean proselites may receive thee into their houses Luke 16.2.4 thou hast but one shift more that when thy Masters debters are called to deny half their debt to take their bill and presently discharge them of all their debt written in the old Testament and if this will not please them to receive thee when God and good men have cast thee off then take thy bill and write presently scriptum est any thing is scripture and of an equall vallue with it if it be but written in a play booke or ballad if this will not doe to be maintained privately amongst them tell them that thou knowest no word of God but Christ and this word is in thee and therefore thou needest no other helpe without thou art so full of light within these things comes next to be answered They deny utterly the authority of the old Testament yet this need not to trouble us when as it is so abundantly confirmed both by Christ and his Apostles in the new not onely by coating of it but giving it the name and title of Scripture Paul speaking of Genesis saith What saith the scripture Abraham beleeved God Rom. 4.3 and of Exodus The Scripture saith unto Pharaoh Rom. 9.17 and of Numbers
A short View of the ANTINOMIAN ERROVRS With a Briefe and plaine Answer to them As the Heads of them lye in order in the next Page of this Booke Being a nest of cursed Errors hatched by Hereticks fed and nourished by their Proselites being taken as they were flying abroad were brought as the Eagle doth her young ones to see if they could endure to looke upon the Sun-beams of truth with fixed eyes the which they could not were presently adjudged to be a Bastard-brood and theâ—â— necks chopt off and their carkasses throwne to the Dunghill Imprimatur Ja. Cranford Beware of false Prophets which come to you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly are ravening Wolves Mat. 7.15 There are certaine men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousnesse Jude 4. For when they speake great swelling words of vanity they allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonnesse those that were cleane escaped from them who live in errour for while they promise them liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption 2 Pet. 2 18.19 London Printed by T. B. for Ed. Blakmore and Tho. Bankes and are to be sold at the Angell in Pauls Church-yard and upon the top of Bridewell-staires 1643. 1 THey hold that a man is justified as soon as he hath a being in the sight of God before they have any faith or calling 2 Then they say God cannot see their sinne for they are as perfectly righteous even as Christ himselfe as soone as they have any being and faith doth but declare to them what was done in them before they had it even as soone as they were borne 3 This they know by revelation or a bare Testimony or suggestion they say from the Spirit of God when as they deny the operation or the sanctifying worke of the Spirit of God to be any meanes whereby they may come to know their justification for so to doe they say is the doctrine of our legall Teachers which goe by markes and signes 4 Then they being as righteous as Christ they say God doth not correct them for sinne neither can he doe it but onely to exercise their faith 5 They are freed they say by the free grace of Christ from the commanding power of the law of God and they are discharged from all duty or obedience to it and now the law is no rule to them but what they doe is onely out of love unrequired not as any duty for they are freed from all by their free grace These things I have gathered both from their Sermons and by conference with them as also out of their books which have passed privately amongst themselves TO THE READER CHristian Reader now in these last perilous dayes the divel is very busie to sowe the Tares of Heresies even in the Corn-field of Christ especially when men sleep and heed him not and therefore Christians had need to be circumspect watchfull because their adversary the divel as a roaring lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pe. 5.8 Then be no more tossed too fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in waite to deceive Ephe. 4.14 I say be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is good that the heart be established with grace Heb. 13.9 Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit ye like men and be strong take unto you the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to stand stand therefore having your loynes girt about with truth Ephe. 6. and having laid the true foundation which is Christ Jesus be ye rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as ye have been taught Col. 2.7 if so be ye have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus Ephe. 4. I write unto you and exhort you that you would earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the Saints Jude 3. onely let your conversation be as becometh the Gospell of Christ and that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospell Phil. 2.27 and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against you They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which cannot be moved but abideth for ever Psal 125. it is true that offences must needs come but woe be to that man by whom they come Mat. 18.7 for there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.9 then seeke no novelties or new doctrines but rather stand in the wayes and see and aske for the old pathes where is the good way and walk ye in it and ye shall find rest for your soules Jer. 6.16 thinke of no other way to heaven but that which our fathers have gone in before you for the time is come that men will not endure sound doctrine but after their owne lusts they will heape up to themselves teachers having itching eares they will turne away their eares from the truth and shall be turned unto fables but watch you in all things 2 Tim. 4.3 4 5. Beloved beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 John 4.1 follow Paul but as he followes Christ and be ye like the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so Acts 17.11 affect neither Paul nor Apollos nor Cephas nor any other but as they ground their doctrine on the cleere word of God for seducers will labour to steale away your affections and your mony also as Absalom by flattery stole away the hearts of the men of Israel 2. Sam. 15.6 they will teach for hire and divine for money Micah 3.11 but saith Paul I seeke not yours but you 2 Cor. 12.14 but seducers will creep into houses about Moor-fields and other places and lead captive silly women laden with their lusts they will set upon those that are led away with their lusts who are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. let no man deceive you for with faire speeches they will deceive the hearts of the simple who beleeve every thing but the wise lookes well to his going Prov. 14.15 thus through covetousnesse they will with faigned words make merchandise of you 2 Pet. 2.3 then heare those that have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty and doe not walke in craftinesse nor handle the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth doe commend themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 who are not as many who corrupt the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God so speak they in Christ 2 Cor. 2.17 saith Paul though we or an Angell of Heaven
inherent but by imputation Then are we freed from the law no then are we tyed faster in obedience to it forasmuch as we had no power before to do it but now through Christ we can doe all things Againe they say they have the spirit of God for their rule and they doe all by a free spirit and need not the law to rule them for they are like unto trees that bring forth fruit of themselves without any teaching But let them know that trees although they were never so rooted in the earth yet they would never bring forth fruit of themselves but by the meanes of outward helps as the Sunne and the raine and other helpes and besides the spirit of God brings them to the rule of the law to square and try all their actions by it and shewes us wherein we faile and when we doe that which is required of us But sure these men thinke that our Fathers went to Heaven by one meanes and we must goe thither by another meanes but saith the Apostle we write unto you no new commandement but the old which ye have had from the beginning then there is but one way Ier. 32.39 for them and us had they the law so have we and if we have the Gospell so had they and the law and the gospell command the same vertues and both forbid the same vices then what a cursed errour is this to thinke that God the sonne should free beleevers from all obedience to God the Father but we know that he who honours the son must needs honour the Father Iohn 5.23 the sonne speakes not of himselfe but from the Father ver 16. then he that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walke even as he walked 1 John 2.6 but how was that saith he Loe I come in the volume of thy booke it is written of me to doe thy will O God then said I loe I come to doe thy will O God Heb. 10.7.9 and saith he I seeke not mine owne will but the will of the Father that sent me John 5.30 Mat. 26.39 my doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Iohn 7.16 he was subject to his Parents Luke 2.51 and saith Paul let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2.5 and Christ saith learne of me Mat. 11.29 I have given you an example that ye should doe as I have done to you if ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Ioh. 13.15.17 and for suffering he left us an example that we should follow his steps 1. Pet. 2.21 then did Christ free us from the law or did he not rather by his own example shew us how to obey the law more exactly and saith David thy law endures for ever in heaven Psa 119.89 and the Angels do the commandments of God and hearken to the voice of his word Psal 10.3 and do not the Saints liev there by the same rule have they not all one charter why doth Christ teach us to pray that we may doe the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven Mat. 6. are we on earth more perfect then they or more sanctified then they or hath Christ done more for us then for them if not why then should we forsake that rule that must be for Saints and Angels for ever they boast of their justification but saith Ambrose how can they be justified that are not friends with the law of God and Luther whom they challâ—nge for their own friend he rangeth them among the unjustified and by his câ—nsure rejects them among the unregenerate for saith he Paul said I delight in the law of God in the inward man and I serve the law of God in my mind Rom. 7.22.25 and saith David O how I love thy law Psal 119.97 and the blessed man delights in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night Psal 1.2 then were Christ and his Apostles and the faithfull Ministers that succeed them all legall Preachers for urging the law and pressing on beleevers the obedience of the law yea to the law more strictly expounded by Christ as you shall see anon then it was by the Scribes and Pharisees Then he that neglects the Commandements and shall teach men so shall be least in the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doeth them and teacheth men so shall be called great in the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5.19 againe how can a man teach obedience of faith but he must needs teach obedience to the law for if faith beare no fruits it is a dead faith James 2.17 18. and if those workes or fruits be not regulated by the law they are but grapes of gall which growes on the vine of Sodom and their clusters are bitter Deut. 32.32 the workes of the law and the workes of faith are the same thing they may be distinguished but not devided and saith Christ to the Lawyer what is written in the law how readest thou and he answered thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy strength and thy neighbour as thy selfe and Christ said unto him thou hast answered right this doe and thou shalt live Luke 10.26 27 28. and doth not faith worke by love Gal. 5.6 againe how can a man beleeve that God will shew mercy to thousands of them that love him and keepe his commandements Exod. 20.6 when they shew no endeavour at all to keepe or obey them but scornfully terme them legall teachers that call for any obedience from them but what makes them to love God if the commanding power of his law doth not or if they yeeld to this command of the law why not as well to another bâ—t if they love God and not as a duty to his law that commands it it is bottomlesse groundlesse and in the end will be comfortlesse and why doe they beleeve in Christ but to fulfill the Fathers commandement for this is his commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his sonne Jesus Christ and love one another as he the father gave us commandement 1 Iohn 3.23 this is the vvorke of God to beleeve on him vvhom he hath sent Iohn 6.29 Then doe we make void the law through faith God forbid yâ—a we establish the law Rom. 3.31 being not without thâ— law to God but under the law to Christ 1 Cor. 9. â—1 He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Rom. 14.18 He thâ—â— speaketh evill of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evill of the law and judgeth the law but if thou judge the law thou art not a doer of the law but a judge Jam. 4.11 If ye have respect to persons ye commit sinne and are convinced of the law as transgressors whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all for he that said thou shalt not commit adultery
said also thou shalt not kill now if thou doe not commit adultery yet if thou kill thou art a transgressour of the law Jam. 2.9.10.11 Then bear one anothers burden and so fulfill the law of Christ Gal. 6.2 here Christ claimes the law to be his There is one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy Iam. 4.12 the Prophets came all saying Thus saith the Lord but when Christ came and cleered the law from those false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees which say thou shalt not kill but I say whosoever is angry vvith his brother without a cause is in danger of judgement Mat. 5. and ye have heard say thou shalt not commit adultery but I say whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart and so of the rest therefore obey it and so fulfill the law of Christ for he saith I am not come to destroy the law till Heaven and earth passe away not one tittle or jot shall in no wise passe from the law Mat. 5.17.18 now when Christ hath claimed the law to be his and cleered it from their false glosses then there comes a young man to him saying Master what good thing shall I doe to inherite eternall life then Christ answers him directly saying â—f thou wilt enter into life keepe the Commandements he saith unto him which Christ answered him thou shalt not commit adultery nor murther nor steale nor beare false witnesse honour thy father and mother and love thy neighbour as thy selfe Mat. 19.16 17. and although outwardly he had beene doing something for which Christ loved him yet there was that inward lust of covetousnesse stucke fast in his heart therefore Christ sends him backe to the law to be humbled for it this one thing thou lackest Marke 10.21 before thou art fit for faith or to have treasure in heaven goe to the law and see thy sinne for by the law is the knowledge of sinne Rom. 3.20 then is the law sinne nay I had not known sinne but by the law I had not knowne lust except the law had said thou shalt not lust Rom. 7.7 and the law shewes us our failings when we are in the state of grace for it we should cast off the law from being a rule to us we should neither know when we sin nor how to recover our selves for where no law is there is no transgression Rom. 4.15 for whosoever sinneth transgresseth the law for sinne is the transgression of the law 1 Ioh. 3.4 then it is time Lord to worke when they have made voyd thy law Psal 119.126 rivers of teares runne downe mine eyes because they keepe not thy law ver 136. so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God for the carnall mind is enmity against God it is not subject the law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 8.7 Then what shall we say to those sonnes of Beliall that are so weary of the law that as much as in them lyes they seeke to make it void both in the commanding duties and forbidding of vices but cursed be such tenets hath the divell so prevailed with them as to make them take counsell against the Lord and against his Anointed saying let us breake their cords and cast away their bonds from us Psal 2.2 3. How dare they say that Christ hath freed them from all duty and that they owe the Lord no obedience at all so that what they doe is out of their free love and curtesie and not from any duty or obedience to his law which is no rule for beleevers But doe they make void the law God forbid Rom. 3.31 faith should be imployed to fetch power from Christ to enable us to obey the law vve are not sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 but vve can doe all things through Christ strengthening us Phil. 4.13 then faith doth not free us of our duty but makes us more able to performe our duty to the law of God and therefore it is called the obedience of faith Rom. 1.5 it stands not with true faith to call them legall divines by way of scorne and dirision that call upon us and put us in mind of our duty to the Lord because say they we owe him none but let them know and be sure that their sinnes will find them out Numb 32.23 let them take heed how they say that God is like to themselves lest he reprove them and set their sinnes in order before them now consider this ye that forget God lest he teare you in peeces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50.21.22 certainly that man was never justified from his sinne that thinkes it not his duty to mortifie it and doth not grieve and mourne for want of strength to subdue it and his duty to pray against it which our Antinomeans renounce saying this is legall teaching and they will try their condition onely from a bare testimony as I said before although it be a suggestion of the divell it may serve their turne well enough while they despise the operation of the spirit of God sanctifying and changing them and setting up his owne Image in them giving them grace for grace with Christ they say if we looke upon these markes and signes to know our condition this is legall this vvill not stand with their free grace vvhich frees them of that labour vvhich should search and try them they take all from a testimony vvithout examination but this building vvill not endure the storme of persecution Then they say that they love God terribly and this frees them from their duty they say the love of Christ constraines them but they vvill not tell us to what for they flatly deny all duty to the Law of God but saith Christ when ye have done all that ye can you have but done your duty Luke 17.10 and saith Christ ye call me Lord and Master and ye say well for so I am but then ye ought to wash one anothers feet for the servant is not above the Master if ye knovv these things happy are ye if ye doe them John 13.15.16 if the yong man call him Master presently he sends him to his worke and duty of obedience Mat. 19.17 if I be your Master vvhere is my feare Mat. 1.6 It is not enough to call him Lord and Master and then to deny all duty of obedience to him this was the love of Judas who cryed Hale Master when he betrayed him so these men say that they love him dearely but they defie all duty to him for they owe him none but time will come when they that say Lord Lord shall not come to heaven but he that doth the vvill of my Father which is in heaven Mat. 7.21 But their true love frees them from all duty but what love they have I know not for this is the law of God that we keepe his Commandements
spirit that are wrought in his people I meane such as these 2 Cor. 7.11 tell them what carefulnesse godly sorrow hath wrought in you and they will answer that their care is taken and what a cleering of your selves and they will say that they are as cleere from sinne as Christ and of anger for sinne and they will say that they have none to be angry at and of feare to offend God and they will say that they cannot sinne to offend him tell them of a desire to please God and they will say that Christ hath done that already and what need they to trouble themselves tell them of a zeale for Gods glory and revenge on sinne and they will say these are legall things which they are freed from and so of all other graces they know not what we meane But they have faith to see that all is done by Christ without faith or application onely when faith is come by it they can see what was done in them before and without it they say Christ lives in them and acts and moves them as we move a stone and they are still as an empty trunke for his spirit to move in so that nothing is required of them but onely to let the spirit of God-doe his owne vvorke in them and by them they remaine still but dead stones they are not acquainted with that principle of life that is put into Gods people they are not as yet made living stones but they like Balaams Asse remaine as they were a though shee speake with mans voyce yet an Asse still and so are they but the child of God is quickned that vvas dead in trespasses and sinnes Ephe. 2.1 saith Christ â—he that heareth my word and beleeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Joh. 5.24 from all this vve may cleerly see that duties of obedience are required of beleevers and they will be easily convinced of it that are living members of the misticall body of Christ and living stones in his spirituall building but for dead stones and empty trunkes we wonder not much at their folly which breaks out into all licentiousnesse and abominable practises as for example a woman prostrating her selfe to uncleannesse said you thinke that you should sinne if you should lye with me but what law doth forbid it unto us O horrible practise of lawlesse people but when they see any to live as neer the rule of Gods law as they can those they reproach with such names as these duty-mongers duty-doers followers of legall preachers scorning that word of God which condemnes their sinfull courses and to expresse their dislike of the duties of holinesse they say What have we to doe with the dungie durty duties of sanctification we thanke God through Jesus Christ we have nothing to doe with them these they say are workes for home-booke Christians they tell us that beleevers doe duties onely in respect of men for God requires none at their hands they are so deluded that a woman said Jesus Christ came and tooke her by the hand and asked her why shee was so sad and bad her leave off her mourning for sinne and be cheerfull for shee greatly dishonoured the Gospell in being troubled for her sinnes another as shee was sitting by the fire Christ came to her and bad her pray for such a one of her acquaintance that she may have assurance which she did and presently the party received by a light from Heaven full assurance and another said nothing troubled her so much as the time shee had spent in prayer and other duties which held her so long from her comfort these are they that will not be guided by the law of God who are given up to strong delusions to beleeve lyes that they may be damned who beleeve not the truth 2 Thess 2.11 12. But when these men with their owle eyes cannot abide the Sun-beames of cleare Scripture against them they would hide themselves with some humane testimonies wrested and distorted from the true meaning and intention of their alleadged Authors First they boast highly that Master Luther is theirs wholly and they hold nothing in this point but what they sucked from his breasts but by this instance you may see how they serve the rest for Master Luther was so farre from being an Antinomean that no man doth more expresly and soundly overthrow and contradict this wicked opinion then he neither can any man desire a stronger humane witnesse against them then Master Luther read his words with a pause and judge satan saith he stirreth up daily new Sects and now he hath raised up a sect of such as teach that the ten Commandements are to be taken out of the Church and that men should not be terrified with the law see this in Luthers Preface to his Commentary on the Gal. and in pag. 171. he speaketh of three sorts of men that abuse the law first those that seeke justification by the law secondly those that will utterly exempt a Christian man from the law and on page 153. he admonisheth all those that feare God that they would learne out of Paul to understand the true and proper use of the law which I feare saith he after our time will be troden under foot and abolished by the enemies of the truth but if Master Luther thought that Christ had abolished the law he would never desire men fearing God to learne the true use of it and if he feared that men would abolish it then sure he thought in his judgement that it ought not to be abolished and if he esteeme them that would abolish it to be enemies to the truth then sure he is not their Patron and in page 154. he saith we doe plainly testifie that we reject not the law nor workes as our adversaries doe falsly accuse us but we doe altogether establish the law and require the workes thereof and we say the law is good and profitable and chap. 5.14 page 154. saith he it is necessary that godly Preachers should as diligently teach the doctrine of good workes as the doctrine of faith for satan is a deadly enemy of both but then is Luther an Antinomean doth he not directly contradict your foolish tenents and disclaime you as adversaries and false accusers you reject the law and workes but he rejecteth neither you abolish the whole law but he establisheth it you reject them for legall preachers that teach not Christ aright who urge men to the duties of the law but he imposeth it as a necessary part of their office to urge the law as to teach the doctrine of faith for shame never claime Luther more But they object to small purpose that Luther should say Christ hath abolished all the law of Moses so I say too that he hath abolished all the ceremoniall law of Moses but they say he saith pag 177. man is not justified by Gods law nor
keepe all Gods Commandements and yeelding universall obedience thereto and to hate all sinne THe Antinomeans say that they are bewitched that hold a man cannot be saved without faith and wisheth them cut off that so trouble them they say it is the envious man that hath sowed those Tares but here he cals the Spirit of God that envious man because he hath told us that without faith it is unpossible to please God Heb. 11.16 and whatsoever is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 and he that beleeveth not is damned already and the wrath of God abideth on him John 3.18.36 Then what a bold blasphemer is this to call the holy Spirit of God the envious man because he contradicts their cursed Errours They say why should Christ put them upon the performance of conditions they having no life but are stone-dead in sinne so I say too but when Christ gives us a hand and life and motion in it too it is no hard condition to put it out to receive so great a Benefit He saith for God to put us upon such a worke supernaturall as faith is and to have no part in Christ without it seems very difficult and unlike his Fatherly affections toward us I answ but Gods people doe not thinke so whatever he thinkes when God hath given them faith they must use it and cannot doe otherwise they find so much profit and comfort by implying that Tallent of faith He saith to say faith is a condition without which we cannot be saved doth perplex the conscience and denies our mercies and resists the spirit of God and doth not consist with the right end for which faith was wrought in us he saith Christ died for the ungodly to purchase remission of sinnes and to reconcile them to God and so I say too so it be understood out of the number of the Elect but when he saith this was done without any condition or application on our parts we remaining ungodly still and going on in a course of sinnes is a foule errour but I have answered it already and he saith faith was given that we might see what was wrought in and upon us before we had either faith or calling that is saith he to see our remission of sinnes and reconciliation with God and how we are made righteous in the sight of God justified and saved all this as soone as we have our being in this life and faith is but a declarative grace to shew us these things that were all done before but onely we did not see them and so faith comforts us saith he and when the law clamours for obedience faith answers we are not under the law but under grace and therefore they owe no obedience to it it is true they will doe some things unrequired as to breake out into exaltations and thankfulnesse but not as any duty they owe to the Lord but upon free will and as a curtisie what they please unrequired this is their free grace but it is of the divels making to damne their soules but Paul saith Christ was revealed for the obedience of faith Rom. 16.26 and he received grace and Apostleship for the obedience of faith Rom. 1.5 they say that their love makes them doe great matters unrequired but let them take heed how they bring strange fire or any thing before they have tryed it in the ballance of the Sanctuary for God will not be served by their devisings but by his owne directions made knowne to us in his law He that looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein not being a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the worke this man is blessed in the deed James 1.25 we must bring that worship and service that God requires in his law for substance and in the same manner it must be done in faith and time place considered and to the same end that God hath apointed which is his glory but their faith sheweth them a Christ that requires no duty of them but what they please out of free love and curtisie for all was done before they had faith or calling and he saith children when they dye are saved without faith but I suppose that to be more then he can prove because without faith it is unpossible to please God and he that beleeveth not is damned already and â—he wrath of God abideth on him but that wrath must be removed and they must please God before they can be saved although we cannot conceive the manner how it is wrought in them therefore when Christ came to heale any â—iseases if he perceived they had faith to be healed then he cured them and commonly he said according to thy faith be it unto thee all things are possible to him that beleeveth he saith they that mix the Law and the Gospell together are false teachers and so I say too and to make redemption conditionall â—o depend on duties as causes I say the same but to say these duties are not â—equired as the way to salvation is a grosse errour that beats off all obedience â—o the law of God but they say the state of a Christian is most free in this respect because nothing at all is required of him and he saith they are deceivers that teach otherwise so that their free grace they boast so much of is nothing but a freedome from all obedience to the lavv of God I find in that book of theirs that they say legall Teachers say that repentance â—umiliation self-deniall weeping mourning fasting and praying and the use of â—he Sacraments the observing of the Sabbath and doing as one would be done â—nto and the rest must be done as duties but are palpable mistakings for they â—re made as duties by almost all Teachers But here they shew their sinne as Sodome and bewray what they meane by â—â—eir free grace yet I say againe that we deny that duties are any causes of â—ur salvation but they are the way appointed by the Lord to attaine that end â—nd must be done in obedience to Gods command and not left for us to doe 〈◊〉 not to doe at our pleasure these ought to be pressed as duties so long as we â—â—rry about with us daily a body of sinne which is as a heavy weight upon us â—â—d being alwayes with us and makes us faile in all our duties we then had â—â—ed to be stirred up daily to weeping and mourning and to repent of our failâ—â—gs nay although we know nothing by our selves yet are we not hereby justified 1 Cor. 4.4 because there be many secret sinnes in us that we cannot find out O Lord forgive our secret sins Psal 19. he saith feare hath torment so I say that slavish feare hath torment and is not made perfect in love 1 Joh. 4.18 but filiall feare is a companion of all joy and comfort Psal 2.11.56.6 he saith it is in vaine to bid a beleever humble himselfe for there is none so humble as he But is this
for the pardon of his sinne is like a man afrighted with sinne and at the same time giving thankes for the râ—mision of sinne and of a man that is afraid of the sinnes of his present prayers and of one that hath victory over sinne death and hell I answer although our sinnes be pardoned and the guilt taken away yet the being of sinne is not taken away and although we are justified from all sinne yet we are not sanctified from all sinne so that we ought to be humbled for our filthinesse for want of sanctification when we come into the presence of God and because that sinne is in us we may well feare that we shall not carry our selves so holy as becometh such a presence as the men of Beth-shemish said Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God 1 Sam. 6.20 and yet not so despaire as to leave off the duty but to pray still and as sanctification increaseth we come into the presence of God with more cheerfulnesse and as our assurance increaseth we shall be lesse in our petitions and more in thanksgiving and praising God for his mercies to us He saith we present a man that is delivered from the law into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God and yet puts himselfe under the law I answer we are delivered from the curses of the law and the threatnings of the lavv and from the condemning povver of it and from the constraining povver of it but vve are not delivered from the commanding povver of it the free grace of Christ did not deliver us from our obedience to the lavv of God but in giving us the eye of faith vve see our duty more cleerly that is vvritten in the lavv of God and by our hand of faith vve fetch more strength from Christ to enable us to performe our duty to the lavv of God I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 but if our eye of faith vvere never so cleere to see our duty yet if vve vvill not looke upon the lavv of God but count it as a strange thing Hosea 8.12 it is all one to them as if the book of the law were sealed up and he that hath no faith is like a man to whom the booke of the law is open but the man cannot read for he is not learned Isa 29.11 12. so then the eye of faith is the Organ and our duty is the object and the written law of God is the Medium by which we see our duty but when the law is taken from us or if we cast away the commanding power of it which is all one we can see our duty no more then a man can see in a dungeon then well may the Antinomians be so blind concerning their duty when as they cast away that light that should shew it unto them thy law is a lanterne to my feet and a light unto my pathes Psal 119.105 But then faith hath another property when it sees the greatnesse of the work to be done and the weaknesse of the doer of it that it seeth helpe in another which is Christ and presently fetcheth it to helpe him this honour have all the Saints Psal 149.9 He saith we need not to tell a healthfull man that it is his duty to feed himself even so is it needfull to tell a beleever that it is his duty to heare Sermons read the Scripture and frequent the Lords Table these are his proper and his naturall food by which his faith is strengthened and increased yet saith he in what a sad and fearfull manner are these pressed upon mens consciences upon paine of having no part in Christ and of everlasting damnation in hell for ever I answer first if one should tell a healthfull man that it is his duty to feed himselfe I hope it would not make him leave feeding and goe about to starve himselfe because he is told that he must doe it as a duty and so for spirituall duties to be told of them is rather an encouragement to goe on still because it is their duty and what if he know it before he need not be offended at the love of his friend for telling him that which he knew before but I smell wherein lieth the venome of this man he hath free grace bestowed on him which hath freed him from all duties of obedience to the Lord so that what he doth is onely out of free love for he thinkes to be tyed by way of duty will not stand with his free grace but I say againe we trust in no duty as causes of our salvation but we obey and doe these duties as the way to salvation neither did they ever heare those worthy Divines whom they villefie with the termes of legall Teachers presse any duties to merit salvation for the doing of them but let the sonnes of Belial know that if they slight their duties to the law of God they may purchase damnation by it neither can there be any salvation for that man till he humble himselfe and freely yeeld to the commanding power of the law of God and count it his duty to give all the power of body and soule in obedience to it but this yoke is too heavy for the sonnes of Belial they will be tyed to nothing but upon free love and currisie that they may leave it when they list they have gotten free grace He saith they put us upon these duties to try and to prove our selves by the performance of them as by markes and signes of grace within I answer if Christ be in the soule there must needs be fignes of his presence we need not goe by heare-say or from a bare Testimony or suggestion they told Jacob that Joseph was alive but that did not satisfie him till he saw the Wagons Gen. 45.27.28 so now if the eyes of the soule be opened to see our duty written in the law it is Christ that hath done it Acts 16.14 whose heart the Lord opened Doe ye aske whence he is and yet he hath opened mine eyes John 9.30 Acts 26.17 18. Secondly the worke must arise from a true justifying faith that knits them to Christ and makes their person accepted Rom. 5.1 Gen. 4.4 this faith must take hold of that promise that is made to them that doe this duty Exod. 20.6 Thirdly in our duties we must aime at Gods glory 1 Cor. 10.31 thus by any duty we may try our selves whether we doe it by vertue of Gods command without us and whether it be acted by an inward principle of faith within us and whether it tend to Gods glory as the utmost end of it he that hath thesemarkes and signes the Spirit of God is in him this faith worketh by love and obedience Rom. 1.5.1 John 5.3 neither can he say what a fearfull thing it is to presse these things as duties upon our consciences that belongs to the sons of Belial that cannot abide the yoke of Gods saw
righteous then God chap. 35.2 But did not God see all this The Lord answered Iob and said shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him he that reproveth God let him answer it wilt thou disâ—null my judgement wilt thou condemne me that thou maiest be righteous chap. 40.2.8 then how dare these men say that they are as righteous as Christ and that God can see no sinne in them but the truth is they are sicke of Iobs disease and it were good for them if with him they would repent of their pride and abhorre themselves in dust and ashes Job 42.6 then should they see the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pittifull and of tender mercy James 5.11 but it may be they will catch at those words when the Lord said to satan thou mouest me against him to destroy him without cause Job 2.3 I answ That the divell that accuser of the brethren could not tax him of any foule or scandelous sinne yet Iob had his failings as well as other men as he saith when his passion is over that if he should contend with God he cannot answer one of a thousand then how shall man be just with God Job 9.23 and saith David O God thou knowest my foolishnesse and my sinne is not hid from thee Psal 69.5 Then whether shall I goe from thy presence thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising and understandest my thoughts a farre off thou knowest my pathes and art acquainted with all my wayes Psal 139.2 3. we heare of none that have learned the language of Cannaâ— that pure language that call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.9 in all the booke of God saving I am perfect I am pure I cannot sinne if I would or if I did God cannot see my sinne I am as righteous as Christ I need not grieve for my sinne nor pray for pardon but contrary saith Peter I am a sinfull man O Lord and saith Paul I am the least of all Saints Ephe. 3.8 and the chiefest of all sinners 1 Tim. â— 15 and saith David pardon my sin for it is great Psal 25.11 and in humility saith Abraham I am but dust and ashes and saith Iacob I am the least of all thy mercies and saith Iohn Baptist I am not worthy to loose the latchet of his shooe and saith the Centurian I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my Roofe then where did these men learne this their proud boasting of their holinesse which the Lord saith is a stink in my wrath and a fire that burneth all the day Isa 65.5 In the next place they tell us that they are assured of this their happy condition onely from a verball testimony they say from the spirit of God yet they deny the operation or sanctifying worke of the same spirit of God to be any meanes whereby they may come to know their justification for this they say is the doctrine of our legall teachers that goe by markes and signes But here they deny one of the witnesses whereby we should come to know our condition as we stand in the fight of God for saith Paul the spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the sonnes of God Rom. 8.16 when Christ comes into the soule he brings both water to sanctifie and blood to justifie us This is he that came by water and blood not by water onely but by water and blood then the spirit beareth witnesse because the spirit is truth then the Father the Word and the Holy-ghost will beare Record with our spirit here on earth when our spirit with the witnesse of water doth sanctifie us and that other witnesse from the blood of Chist doth justifie us then are we really the sons of God 1 John 5.6 7 8. the spirit of God first convinceth the heart of sinne and then subjecteth the heart to his will and then gives testimony by a divine reasoning on this manner saying He that beleeveth shall be saved then cut spirit or conscience makes answer saying I beleeve then the conclusion ariseth from both these witnesses that I am the child of God For it is not enough to have a perswasion that we are the children of God except with that perswasion the gift of faith be wrought in us with all the qualifications of a child of God as the grace of feare not a slavish but a filiall feare wrought in our hearts that we may not depart from him Jer. 32.40 by neglecting of any duty commanded or committing any sinne forbidden my sonne feare thou the Lord Prov. 24.21 that is feare to offend him and be carefull to please him in all things John 8.29 and to love and delight in his presence Psal 73.28 to honour and reverence his name Mal. 1.6 Psal 111.9 and to serve and obey him in all things John 5.30 Mat. 26.39 he that findeth an inward desire and an outward endeavour to doe these things is certainly the child of God but a bare perswasion without any opperation or sanctifying worke of the spirit of God in the soule is the suggestion of the divell who would perswade them that kill you that they doe God service John 16.2 whose possessors slay them and hold themselves not guilty Zac. 11.5 The divell can easily turne himselfe into an Angell of light to deceive those that deny all markes and signes of grace in them but can the spirit of God come into the soule where the divell dwels in full possession and bind him and cast him out and change the will and affections from the service of the divell to serve himselfe can the strong holds of the divell be cast downe and the Throne of Christ set up without any noise or stirre in that soule it is rather an evidence that soule was never changed then not to be senceable of it any otherwayes but onely by a bare testimony not looking what work the Lord hath wrought in it nor knowing any thing by experience but by heare say or a testimony of the divell or some lying spirit which hath told him so But what saith the Apostle John Ye have an unction from the holy one and ye know all things the anointing which ye have received abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him if ye know that he is righteous ye know that every one that doeth righteousnesse is borne of him 1 John 2.20.27.29 sometimes the spirit of God ceaseth to give testimony a long time together then our spirit or conscience witnesseth from the worke wrought by the spirit of God this anointing abideth in us and teacheth when the verball voyce or testimony is gone or ceaseth for saith Paul our rejoycing is the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome but by the