mean there should be a destruction and an abolishment of the Morall Law in its use or the writings of the Prophets in their Doctrines but he did teach and instruct men in the use of the Ceremoniall Law and all that Propheticall Doctrine which did referre it self unto his Person who was to come a Saviour for sinners which received a full accomplishment in himself who was the Trâ—eth and by how much the more the Gospel did set him out to be come in the Flesh by so much the more would all forerunning Prophecies Types and Figures of Jesus Christ vanish and die Hence saith learned Rivet Hoc intelligendum esse de lege Prophetante per Figuras In Exod. 20. non de lege instituente mores hominum And long before him Tertullian Cessavit per ad impletionem non per destructionem â—ib 4. coâ—t Marc. Vide Ambrosium Hom. 38. in Luc. Chrysost Hieronimum c. Tell me now Is this place rightly alleadged for your purpose If it be not then see how you are misled As for your other Scriptures I shall desire you to know the main scope of the Apostle in that place is to shew that God Gal. 3. 39. expounded neither endued the Law of Moses with a justifying or an abrogating power as it could not give life by it self to man so it could not hinder life by the Covenant or Promise of Grace Upon the hearing of this some were ready to say What then Is the Law a vain thing Wherefore then serveth the Law To this the Apostle makes answer That the Law was added because of transgressions untill the seed should come c. i. e. The whole Mosaicall Law was very serviceable to open and discover sin in such a way that it made them flee to Christ for Sanctuarie and to learn to cast all their Faith and expectation for righteousnesse on him This is all that the Apostle aimes at I say he treats onely of the use of the Law in bringing men to Christ that they may be justified by him he speaks De justificandis non de justificatis And of the molesting not of the ruling office of the Law of Moses as Luther Vide Luth. in Comâ—nt well observes he doth not destroy the use of it as a rule after a man beleeves in Christ but notes the convincing and terrifying power of it before a man comes to Christ Here is no ground for cashiering of the Law as if it were to be excluded the Churches in succeeding times but rather an establishing of it to be an excellent and usefull Doctrine to be taught to the sons of men in bringing them to Christ As for that in the five and twentieth Verse After that Faith is come we are no longer under a School-master The meaning is the same with the former That we are no longer under the Verse 25. 〈◊〉 Ceremoniall Law as it did point and figure out Christ unto man he himself being come who was the substance Neither are we under the rigour and sharpnesse of the Morall â—aw it can and doth no longer rigorously exact at our hands perfect obedience upon pain of damnation The Apostle doth no way speak of the Morall Law as it is a rule of life for obedience to Gods will so that the Scripture is no way properly alleadged to your purpose If that we should teach man dependance on tâ—e Law for Justification you had said somewhat What else have you to say Antinomist Object 2 Against your propounding or obtruding the Morall Law for a rule of life I shall urge you with these Scriptures Rom. 6. 14. You are not under the Law but under Gracâ— Gal. 3. 10. As many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse And 1 Tim. 1. 9. The Law is not made for a righteous man Out of these Scriptures I thus argue If the Law belong not to the righteous who are under Grace and if it be a bringing men under the curse to urge them to obey the Law then it 's plain that beleevers have nothing to do with the Law as its an obliging rule But so is this Ergo. Evangelist Sol. 2 You with the Donatists alleadge Scripture more for Habâ—nt Scripturâ—â— ad speciem non ad salatem Aug. Rom. 6 14. opened shew then Trueth as will easily appear when I have opened these places for that place in the Romanes it is clear That the Apostle doth intend nothing lesse then the absolute discharging of Christians from observance of or obedience to the Morall Law For 1. He speaketh of mans being under the Law in the Minatory and Damnatory sentence thereof The meaning of the place is this God having set them into favour and they having obtained their pardon in justification were acquitted from the curse and damnation of the Law that could not now any longer hold them under to death as a malefactour having obtained his Princes pardon is freed from the sentence of condemnation under which he did lay with much fear and grief that death which must have befallen him by the Law was prevented by the coming in of his pardon thus God had set them under his grace and bestowed his favour on them and by this means they were not under the death of the Law Now unlesse you will confesse that the giving and granting of a Pardon doth naturally and directly take off all dutie to a mans Soveraign and give him a dispensation to practise Rebellion more freely it cannot be granted that discharges from the damnation of sin by grace can take off all loyaltie and dutie unto God in his requirements 2. It is most evident by the following words that the Apostle intends no dismission from obedience to the Law for he saith What shall we sin because we are Vers 15. not under the Law but under Grace God forbid Certainly if by an estate of Grace men were totally discharged from walking according to the Doctrine and command of the Law the Apostle needed not to have spoken of sinning it being impossible that such should sin who are not tied to keep in compasse of any Law Sin being as we all know the transgression of the Law 1 John 3. 4. To that place in the Galatians the scope will be a sufficient answer Pauls drift is to take off men from depending on the works of the Law for their justification this was the infection Gal 3 10. opened by the false teachers which were crept into the Church at Galatia they had leavened the people with an opinion of merit who began to be full of pride and would be little beholding to God for heaven they would not beg but buy a place in heaven and did seek by their own works to become their own Saviours This practice and doctrine the Apostle sheweth was the ready way to bring down a curse upon them and this curse he brings in as an argument to take them off from cleaving to the Law
Covenant of Works unto the sons of men nay we finde that there were mercifull and Evangelicall intentions in God in giving the same as may appear in the Preface to the Commandments in his Preaching Christ to Adam in Paradice immediatly upon the fall and in his ordering that it should be a means to beat man out of himself and to bring him unto Christ Yet when I look upon Adams Law as it was a rule of life and obedience unto him in this respect they do agree virtually the Law given to Adam and received by Moses was one and the same the minde of God for dutie being constant and perpetuall one at all times and in all places according as we pray Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Reas 2 Secondly Mans naturâ— hath this Law written and engraven indelebly in it I will not dispute whether the Law of Nature be a relique of the old image left in Adam of this I am sure That the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things Rom 2. 14 contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto 15 themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts Out of which Scripture it is clear that God presently upon the Fall planted in the heart of all mankinde not onely The Law of Nature what an opinion of Divine Soveraignty and authority but a knowledge of certain practicall Principles in an obliging and prosecuting way Thus in a word the understanding and judgement which is called the Speculative facultie was and is enabled with an apprehension and conception of things to be done and to be forborn as their honestie and dishonestie did appear the conscience and will which is called the Practicall facultie had imprinted on it a desire or endeavour to prosecute all those things which should be revealed to the understanding they reasoned from their light to their life inferring the practice of all revealed principles Mat. 7. 12. Now this Law had such a firm and fast engraving in manâ— understanding and conscience by God himself that iniquity it self cannot eradicate or obliterate the same it is written in mans nature as with a pen of iron for ever to remain with the nature of mankinde and this is no other then a Summary or Abridgement of the Morall Law for the Law of Moses written in Tables of stone materially is no other then what was written or imprinted in the heart according to the rule Praecepta Decalogi sunt explicationes juris naturae The Law Morall The difference that is between the Law of Nature and the Law of Adam and Moses is the explication of the Law Naturall I grant that this Law of Nature by reason of mans corruption and preposterousnesse of affection is not so clear perfect and easie as was the Law in Creation to Adam for he had in his created estate a more shining light quick apprehension steadie will and able resolution then his posterity naturally now have nay this Law of Nature doth in many circumstances differ from the Law Morall v. g. This we have by infusion that by publike voice This is written in tables of flesh that in tables of stone This containeth dutie impliedly without method and order that expresly and orderly c. The Argument lies thus If God hath indelebly written the Morall Law in mans nature then the Doctrine of the Gospel doth not make it void but God c. Reas 3 Thirdly The Morall Law is a Doctrine spirituall holy good just and perfectly containing the good and acceptable will of God and therefore not to be made void that it is a Doctrine the Hebrew word Torah will make evident it being derived of Horah which signifies to teach and to instruct how to live and how to walk even as a School-master doth teach his Scholers what is evil and how to avoid it what is good and how to do it that it is spirituall holy good and just The Rom. 7. 12 14. Apostle saith We know that the Law is spirituall And Wherefore the commandment is holy and just and good And thus it is not onely originally as the holy good and just God who is a spirit is the Authour of it but also materially and effectively it is pure and undefiled free from all stain of errour and falshood having not the least iniquity cleaving to it it carrieth in it the good and acceptable will of God it is indeed the wisdom and the will of God the Law is not good and then willed of God but it is good because it is willed of God whose will alone is the rule of all goodnesse yea and men by it become Spirituall holy good and just Now if it be every way absolute and perfect as it is stiled The perfect Law of Liberty there can be no reason rendred why it should be abolished I conceive that the law-Maker was in wisdom infinite and so he did foresee before-hand how to prevent any inconvenience which might fall upon it and become a reason to abrogate it shew me the least flaw in the Morall Law as it stands a rule for duty and then you may talk rationally of disannulling it Will you take upon you to make void and of none effect that which is holy and good Reas 4 Fourthly the Morall Law of God is perpetuall and unchangeable even that which must endure for ever Psal 119. 89. Christ saith Till heaven and earth passe one jot or one tittle shall in no wise passe from the Law Mat. 5. 18. It is of an unperishing nature you may as soon destroy God himself as destroy that though mans Laws may be repealed Gods Laws admit of no repeal had it been a temporary Ordinance then it might have been made void Reas 5 Fifthly The Law is universally extensive The commands thereof are commands to all Christians in all ages now look how farre any Commandment extends so farre doth obedience thereunto extend it self If the Morall Law reach to us Christians as well as to the Jews then we stand obliged by it now to make it evident that this Law concerned all men even us The extensivenesse of the Law to Jews and Gentiles Christians under the Gospel consider 1. The Morall Law was no Type of Christ neither did it concern the Jew onely as he was a Jew if so then the Jew onely did sin in Idolatry and Adultery and the Gentiles did not I demand What Law of God did forbid these sins Did not the Morall Law It did And will you say that the Jew onely was tied to it If he was not then the Gentiles came in also and so the Commandment concerned them which must be yeelded unlesse you will say that the Gentiles did not sin by Idolatry Adultery c. 2. The Gentiles heretofore did and Christians now do sin in breaking the Morall Law for all sin is the transgression of the 1 Jo. 3. 4. Law
Now if they were not bound to keep the Morall Precepts they did not and could not offend such must hold that beleevers cannot and do not sin who make void the Law unto beleevers the Apostle sheweth that the Morall Law concludes all under sin now that Law which concludes all men to have sinned concludes that all men have broken that Law if it conclude that Jews and Gentiles have sinned and broken it then it extends it self to them 3. If the Commandments of the Morall Law do not equally and universally binde men to their observance then the curse threatned upon the breach of that Law doth not appertain equally and universally to them for we read Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. Here I would ask a proud Antinomist Doth the curse of the Law belong to all men yea or no If it doth then the Law concerns us Christians if he shall say It doth not then I affirm That he denieth his part in Christ it being written Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Gal. 3. 13. curse for us Reas 6 Sixthly The spirit of God doth write this Law in the hearts of all God children according to the promise I will put my Law Jer. 31. 33. into their inward parts and write it in their hearts If any shall scruple at the expression and think that by this Law is not meant the Morall Law I would desire them to consider what the Prophet Ezâ—kiel saith I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them Ezek. 36. 27. I pray note 1. That the Spirit The Spirit writing the Law what makes it his work to convey the minde of God in the Law into the minde of every Christian he doth by an enlightning act sufficiently instruct them in Gods authority over them and his will concerning them 2. That the Spirit doth by an act of efficacy engrave and write the Law in their hearts which is no other thing then the fastening of the power and authority of the Law together with a disposition to obedience upon the heart so that the heart shall be no more contrary to it but sweetly concurring with it I mean there shall be found these four things in a Christian 1. Obedientiall apprehension which is the basis and ground of all duty to God for without a clear and distinct knowledge and a spirituall discerning of the inward meaning and binding power of Gods Commandments a man shall never submit to the Law of God as the onely rule of life and obedience 2. Obedientiall disposition the frame of the heart shall be fitted unto acts of obedience and the disposition sweetly inclined to take up the yoke of all Divine injunctions so that with David they shall say I am ready to do thy will O my God Iâ—â—l â— 40. 8. yea thy Law is within my heart 3. Obedientiall desire such have wrought in them solid desires that the goings and steps of their hearts and lives may be answerably suited and matched with the righteous and pure Laws of God and all swerving from the same are grievous to them as being contrary to their minde and will they wish with David O that my wayes were directed to keep thy Statutâ—s Isâ—â— 19 5 and it is with them as it was with Paul Who did consent to the Rom 7 19. Law in his soul though he did swerve from the same in many particular actions the Spirit works this temper in the godly that there shall be an equall latitude between Gods Precepts and his desires i though there be much dutie which a Christian cannot do yet there is no dutie but he would do he saith I would keep good Laws but alwayes I do not keep them or alwayes I do not yet alwayes I would obey 4. Obedientiall expression the life of obedience is the obedience of the life and therefore the Spirit draws them out not onely into an outward profession but a sincere and reall practise of obedience that as the will so the deed as the heart so the hand shall be theirs they shall be made to put out their strength imploy their endeavours and to overcome themselves that they may obey the commands of heaven Now is this the work of the Spirit on the godly and shall we imagine that the Law is made void Reas 7 Seventhly Christ himself hath established and ratified the Morall Law for a Doctrine of obedience he doth professe that he Mat. 5. 17. came not to destroy or to put a period to it but to fulfill it now the fulfilling of it is not the destroying of it and if it be not destroyed by Christ then it remains the Law still and if a Law it bindes us to obedience Nay Christ made it his 4 Actions of Christ about the Law work in his Preaching to vindicate and assert the genuine and proper sence of the Law from the Pharisees corrupt and imposed glosses and interpretations further he became himself a patern and an example of obedience to the rule of the Morall Law in no one point swerving from the direction thereof and in a word he did frequently enjoyn men the right observation of the Law according as Moses had done before him Reas 8 Eighthly The Apostles of Jesus Christ have maintained the Doctrine of the Law in the oâ—ligation thereof unto dutie besides the Text now opening to you Consider how often doth he say Love is the fulfilling of the Law What frequent Rom. 13. recitals are there of the Commandments of God in the Epistles The Apostle presseth on children the dutie of reverence unto their Parents from the fifth Commandment saying Honour Eph. 6. 2. thy father and thy mother which is the first Commandment with promise S. James doth second S. Paul saying If ye fulfill Iam. 2. 8. the royall Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self ye do well and the Apostle John in his Epistle doeth set on this Doctrine as you may easily observe Reas 9 Ninthly Beleevers before and after Christs time have reckoned themselves to be under the dutie and obligation of this Law David Hezekiah Josiah with many others stand upon record for their respect to Gods commandments and walking in the way of his will Zachary and Elizabeth kept them close to the Morall Law Luke 1. 6. And Paul did not onely consent Rom 7 16 22 to the Law that it was good And delight in it after the inner man but he professeth that with his minde he himself did serve the 25 Law of God Mark the phrase he did serve the Law which expresly notes his obligation by it and obedience to it nay the whole seed of the woman with whom the Dragon makes war are said to keep the Commandments
or making void the Law as can be imagined there are who do reject the whole Old Testament shewing themselves therein adversaries to the Law and the Prophets I mean among our new lights which I thus evidence by their own sayings one of them teacheth That no other Word must be pressed upon men or preached unto men but the Gospel and the promises thereof Another saith That to preach onely the Gospel and to cast away Moses is the true way of preaching with which few of our Preachers have acquaintance Another teacheth He that makâ—th the Law a Rule of his life whatever he be in heart he is a Papist in practice And the same man was bold to vent That the Law was not of force to a believer no not as a Rule And as if he had not spoken enough his learned brother comes up the next day saying I deny that the Law is a Rule for believers nay let me tell you That it is no Rule for the unbelievers to walk by it shall be a Rule for God to condemne him by but it is no Rule for him to walk by Another of them saith That after a man is justified by Christ he is no more subject to the Commandments of the Morall Law he must do nothing in conscience of that Law he must not take himself to be bound to or by it Nay let me tell you beside this and the like stuff vented by them this they hold a Rule That you may not regard any thing that can be said against these or any other of their Tenets which shal be brought out of the Old Testament if you urge them with the Doctrine or examples thereof as against their way they presently give you this answer What do you tell us of these things they concerned Christians before Christs time and were done and spoken by men under another Covenâ—nt and adminstration of grace and life then we are shew me these and these things out of the New Testament and then I will hearken to you I pray tell me Is not this to make void the Law and to be a direct Antinomian 2. Another practicall This you shall observe That a Lawlesse 2. Practicall head a lawlesse heart and a lawlesse life seldome are divided Ministers that preach against the Law do practise against the Law though they carry the matter smoothly and covertly and people who are the followers and admiâ—eâ—s of such lawlesse Preachers do shew themselves to be sons of Belial whose wills are their Laws for they do professe That no Law of Moses shall binde them they trample Gods Commands under their feet saying Lâ—t us break their bands asunder and Psal 2. 3. cast away their cords from us It may be justly said of them as it was of Ephraim I have written to them the great things of Hos 1. 12. my Law but they were counted as a strange thing Mark well the place in the Law there was Honorabilia eximia but the people accounted them aliâ—na vilia I finde a fivefold evill among these men 1. That they break from the Morall Five evills in Antinomians Law by falling into forbidden courses and yet they can cry They sin not To be drunk to whore to lye to steal c. with such persons is no sin in them What saith an impudent creature of their way prostituting her self to unclennesse you do think you should sin if you should lie with me What Law doth forbid it unto us O horrible practise blush you Antinomians who are taught and do believe That being in Christ you cannot sin or if you do God cannot see it and Whether yon râ—pent or not repent it is all one for they are remitted unto you in an indifferent way 2. That they despise in their hearts and scorn in their speeches all such Christians who will not run wilde with them in their loose Opinions and wayes these they reproach under the names of Duty-mongers Duty-doers and followers of Legal Preachers they sit in the seat of the scornful deriding in a publike way that word of the Law and Gospel which doth detect and reprove the Doctrines and courses of licentiousnesse their Principles lead them into most shamefull and rude behaviour whilst they are in hearing of Grave Learned and godly Ministers who are not of their loose cut 3. That they â—all into a dislike of the duties of holinesse and the wayes of godlinesse the madnesse of their mindes is such that they cry out What have we to do with the dungie dirtie duties of sanctification We thank God through Jesus Christ that we have nothing to do with them We have a new Gospel that takes us off from Confession of Sins asking Pardon at Gods hands for Sins Mourning and repenting for Sin Fastings and Humblings these are works for Horn-book Christians Nay they do not stick to tell us That beleevers are to do duties onely in respect of men for God looks for none at their hands 4. That they leave off the Scripture in Sanctification as litigious to evidence their estate in grace they are drawn up to the old way of the Enthusiasts telling us That they are assured by Lights and Revelations one of them reports Delusions That since she came under these Preachers of Free-grace Jâ—sus Christ came and took her by the hand asked her Why she was so sad bid her to leave off her mourning for her sin and to be cheerfull for she did greatly dishonour the Gospel in being troubled for her sins And another of them reports That as she was sitting by the fire Christ came to her and bade her to pray that such a one who was of her acquaintance might have full assurance which she did and presently the partie received by a light from heaven full assurance 5. That they make such head against the Morall Law that they do exceed Papists and Prelates and do equall the fiercest Persecuters that ever the Church of God had the Papists blot out the second Commandment onely and the Prelates the fourth Commandment onely but these uno ictu destroy the whole Law imitating Manasses and Ammon who having drawn the people into Idolatry to hold them the better under it sought to suppresse the book of the Law you hold it to be a bold part in Jâ—hoiakim to cut the Roul in Pieces and to throw it into the fire You will say that the practice of Antio hus and Dioclâ—sian was abominable for they did cut in pieces all the books of the Law which they could come by making a wicked Edict forbidding the same threatning death to all those with whom this Book was found I pray tell me in what is the Practice of the Antinomians inferiour to theirs save in this That they have not the power of Tyrannie in their hands Nomist If this be their Doctrine and their doings that they cast off the binding power of Moses Law as it is a Rule for Service and Obedience I shall
desire to blesse my self from them and to keep me close to those faithfull Ministers of the Gospel who do make the Morall Law a Rule for life and I hope neighbour you will do so too Antinomian No verily not I for I am not of Master Evangelists minde nor do I intend ever to be once I confesse I was of his minde and did walk by the Law as a Rule but I must tell you that I was then kept in such bondage and fear and held so close to Dutie and Obedience that all my Christian Libertie purchased for me was denied unto me I could not do many things which now I do Evangelist I pray you Sir be intreated to open you self that we may understand one another aright ere we part it may please God that satisfaction may be given Antinomian My meaning is this That you and such as you are by Preaching and pressing the use of the Morall Law laid a heavie yoke upon my self and others kept us in a state of fear and bondage all our dayes drew us into a way of Popery and led us about the wood making the way and work long and tedious unto us But now blessed be God for Jesus Christ and for the New Light that is revealed to us We hear the Gospel understand the Free Grace of God and have a more easie and short cut to heaven then you allow of Evangelist Surely my friend I conceive that the yoke of Christ is easie and his Commandments are not grievous Nay the Law as it is an ordained Rule for life is the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ unto which every good Christian doth yeeld a willing and cheerfull obedience I mean the obedience of children not of slaves this I finde that it is a trouble to Christians that they are not more obedient to the Law but it never troubled them that they have been obedient to it they in their inner man do delight in the Law of God and it is meat and drink unto them to do the will of their Father yea it is their daily prayer that they may do it Besides the Law preached and pressed as a rule for life leads no man directly into Popery to set it up as a covenant of Works so it may lead men into Popery 't is not the right doing of dutie out of obedience in Faith and humility but the trusting in dutie done which doth make men Justiciaries and Papists And further I must tell you That the Royall Law is a straight Law and we hold in the Mathematicks that the straitest Line is the shortest Line and therefore you do not go about the wood when you walk by this Line It is an observation of one That the Morall Law is like to the Ecliptick Line wherein the Sun keeps his course and men and women are like to the Planets which are on this or that side of the Line if any of them chance to fall into the Ecliptick Line they are neerer the Sun then any other the Planets I may apply it thus When Christians walk in Holinesse and Righteousnesse they are neerest to God and Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse On the contrary to cast off the Law and care of holy walking and to fall into courses of sin and wickednesse is the going from God and Christ and I shall ask you this one question and let your conscience answer me Have not you heard the openings of the Gospel and the Free grace of God in Jesus Christ by those who are both known and setled Ministers in this City Antinomist But you do not Preach it purely you seem to lift up Jesus Christ but on a sudden you cast him down we have such a deal of Law Preached to us as if we were unbeleevers and there is such pressing of men to duty as if that Christ had not satisfied Gods justice for them Evangelist Sir I am glad to hear this come our of your mouth it seems that the Law may be Preached to unbeleevers I see you are not run up so high as to deny legall humiliation to be a way to bring men to Christ you onely conceive that the Gospel would be more purely Preached by us if that we did not presse the Law for dutie Is the teaching of dutie among you held to be no Gospel way of teaching Are you not in the relation of sons and seruants to God Is not Christ as well a King and Lord as a Priest Surely Sir nor you nor your Teachers can by the Scriptures prove what you say against the Law it is a Doctrine to be taught and a rule for Christians to walk by Antinomist Yea Sir we have such Scripture grounds for our truth that you and all the world can never disproove Evangelist Will you be pleased to propound them to us in a methodicall way and if you can convince us by the Scriptures we shall yeeld to you Antinomist Object 1 Yea that I will and first against your Preaching of the Law or making it a Doctrine to be taught I shall bring you these Scriptures That of Christ in Luke 16. 16. The Law and the Prophets were till John That of Paul Wherefore then Gal 3. 19. serveth the Law it was added because of transgressions till the seed should come to whom the promise was made And he saith in the same Chapter But after that Faith is come we are Vers 23. no longer undr a School-master Out of these Scriptures I thus argue If the Law was till John till the seed should come and it is no longer a School-master unto us then it s uselesse under the Gospel and no Doctrine to be taught unto Christians But thus these Scriptures say Ergo. What answer can be made to this argument Evangelist Sol. 1 Sir I shall desire you to give me leave to open these Scriptures unto you by which you will be able to answer your self for that place of Luke it makes nothing to the matter in hand Luk. 16. 16. expounded For 1. Christ doth not positively deny the use of the Law and the Prophets after the time of John he saith they were till John he doth not say that they shall be no longer after John 12. We know that after Johns Nativity Preaching or Martyrdom the Law and the Prophets were in use there were many Prophets after Johns dayes and the Law continued and was Preached by Christ and his Apostles after his dayes Wherefore 3 We must learn to distinguish of the Law and the Prophets There were typicall Lawes and there were prefiguring Prophets such as did foreshew the coming of Christ in the flesh Now this kinde of Law and these kinde of Prophets were till John who lived to see and point at the substance of them all as appeareth in that saying of his Behold that Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the Ioh. 1. 20. world And this way our ancient and modern Interpreters do understand this Text not that Christ did
not blush to shew her face how to English your meaning about the Evangelizing of the Law in the hearts of believers I as yet cannot happily I may mistake your meaning when your Preachers have told you their senâ—e I shall be able to give my answer As for that expression That they will not admit the Law to be a rule of life as Moses brought it down from Mount 〈◊〉 I think 〈◊〉 weare bound to the Law not for Moses sake but for the Law-givers sake surely the Law which Moses did deliver doth binde us to obedience let the Ministery of it be considered in its place and the matter of it regarded in its place still in whose hands soever we consider it it is a binding rule for duty yea and it bindes in this sense as much as it was in Moses hand as it is in the hand of any Mediatour this is but a shift let them discover the ground for this distinction out of Gods Word and I have done I mean That the Morall Law considered in the hand of Christ doth oblige to duty but not as it was in the hand of Moses we speak not of the terrour which did accompany the delivery of it on Mount Sinai but of the matter of it as given unto Moses consult Rivet and the Authors which are cited by him and let me if you be not satisfied with this Answer hear further from you Nomist I hope Sir ere you break off you will give us some councell and exhortation touching our respect to the Morall Law Evangelist Vse 4 Surely it is but need and indeed it was the closing use which I made of my discourse namely To teach men that it is a duty laying upon them to uphold and maintain the power and use of the Law for obedience and to this end I laid down these six rules 6 Wayes of maintaining the Law 1. That each Christian should spend some time in the right studying and thoughtfull meditation of the holy Law of God take the Book of the Law into your hand reade it peruse it till you come to understand each Commandment in its author matter meaning and use be not strangers unto the minde of God which is laid down in this Law hereby you shall gain acquaintance at home be made more vile in your eyes and become the better prepared to enjoy Christ with sweetnesse 2. That each Christian should look upon the Morall Law with a prizing eye making each Commandment precious and dead unto it self Honey was not so sweet nor Gold so pleasurable to David as was Gods Commandments he did esteem them above all things and so must we account highly and worthily of them this will shew that we reverence God himself may prove an excellent means of endearing our affections to them and keep off all scorn and contempton our parts from them 3. That each Christian should let out his affections to approve of and take delight in this Morall Law of God Paul Rom 7. 16. 22 did consent to the Law that it was good and did delight in it in his inner man And David prayeth Make me to go in the paths Ps 119. 35. of thy Commandments for thy Law is my delight It is the nature of faith to make every Commandment of God easie and welcome to the soul the Law considered as the Covenant of works was such a yoke as no man was able to bear but take it in the dutifull part of it and each Christian should with joy and delight bear it I delight to do thy will O my God q. d. Psal 40. O Lord this is that I would do and desire to do and am glad when I can do it 4. That each Christian should fear and tremble to sin against this holy Law of God I know that in many things we do and shall sin but yet we must fear to sin and take heed of willing or wilfull breaches of Gods Law sure I am That acts of disobedience to Gods Law may bring upon 1 Thes 4. 6 7. men many temporall afflictions Let no man defraud or go beyond his brother for God is an avenger of all such things 5. That each Christian should apply himself to be uprightly obedient to the Law of God we are to expresse an inward and an outward conformity to the holy Law of God knowing 4 Motives to obedience to the Law 1. That the Law was given to man that it might be kept and observed by man surely obedience was the main thing which God intended in giving the Law 2. That the consequent of keeping Gods Commandments is much gain and great reward obedience doth not merit yet the Scripture saith In keeping them there is great reward Psal 19. 11. Prov 7. 2. Isa 1. 19. Rom 2. 6 7 and we finde that many temporall and heavenly blessings are assured to such who are obedient to Gods will his mercy being From everlasting to everlasting on those who remember â—â— Commandments to do them Psal 103 17 18. 3. That it is the glory of knowledge and the power of affections to obey the Commandments of God I conceive that knowledge is given us that we may be fit to obey and affections to stir us up to obedience and indeed we are very dishonourable to our selves and lose the glory and power of our understanding and affections if we fail willingly in our obedience to Gods Law hence saith God Keep them therefore and to them for this is Dâ—ut 4. 6. your wisdom and understanding c. 4. That conscionable obedience is a spring of soul-consolation understand me rightly I do not say That a Christians comfort doth originally arise from his obedience to and observance of the Law neither doth it constantly spring hence for experience telleth us that many times much is done and yet little warmth or heat doth flow from it to the soul yet this is true That a Christians comforts are multiplied maintained and cherished is and from acts of sincere obedience to Gods Laws the heart is not so full of horrour and unquietnesse when it keeps close to duty as it would be when it hangs loose to or omits the same Nomist. What is the right way of obedience to Gods Laws Evang list Right obedience to Gods Law stands in 6 things It stands in these six things First To be humbly obedient humility of spirit is all in all in acts of duty and obedience we must cast off all thoughts of merit by duty done he that observes Gods Commands to deserve recompence and reward or doth pride himself in what he doth is far from the right observing Gods Laws Luke 17. 10. Secondly To be universally obedient Certainly there is such a thing as universall obedience Then shall I not be confounded Psal 119. 6 when I have respect to all thy Commandments â—aith David And it was the commendation of â—â—chary and Elizabeth That they walked in all the 〈◊〉 and Ordinances
of abusing holy Doctrines ariseth First from Satan who bearing extream malice unto all holy Truthes doth not onely sowe tares but blemisheth as much as he can the good grain from the beginning he hath been a disturber corrupter and perverter of all holy and wholsome Doctrines Secondly from mans ignorance of the nature end and use of all holy Doctrines Learning hath no greater enemy then Ignorance Light hath not any contrary but darknesse and wholsome Doctrines no greater depraver or mistaker then ignorance They speak evil of those things they know not Jude v. 10. Thirdly from that horrible pride which is crept into mens mindes and hearts Pride hath been and is the seed of all the Heresies in the world none ever perverted Doctrine more then Hereticks and none have been more proud then those this I have observed That its the nature of Pride to be singular in opinion as well as in action it will be hatching of new opinions and upstart principles then it bends the entire force of all its parts to under-prop and swathe all the wilde and loose births of its own fancie next with a stately insolencie it brings abroad the Brat vents it in publique to the view applause and acceptation of the foolish and ignorant then it begins to wry and wrâ—st all truths to it self which if it cannot do it doth declaim against and trample under-foot the same scorning Articles of Churches Determinations of Councels Suffrages of Fathers and which is more the Testimony of the Scripture it self Fourthly from mans love of licentiousnesse lawlesse libertie cannot stand within the compasse of sound Doctrine now that men may have a liberty to themselves in sinning they raise Objections against and study the diversions of holy Truths the Whore blows out the candle that she may not be espied the fish Polypus muds the water that she may not be taken and men of loose spirits do cry down and pervert holy Truths that they may the more freely sin and be wicked But I pray you what is the other thing you took notice of Nomist. Doct. 2 2. The second is this The right temper of a gracious and well informed spirit which is to make all unsound and licentious Inferences from holy Doctrines hatefull and displeasing to it self I see the tendernesse of Pauls spirit rejecting with Apostolicall indignation the lawlesse Inference of vain men Evangelist You have spoken the truth and each Christian should learn from the Apostle 1. In his judgement to disallow 2. With his heart to abominate 3. By his speech to declaim against 4. By all endeavours to suppresse and silence all false deductions from holy Doctrines Truth should be precious and lovely to us but errour vile and abominable we are enemies to Truth so far as we are friends with errour Oh that men would know That it is a great sin to be taken with odde and new Opinions and to forsake old Truths for new errours I wish that you and all my friends would try before you trust winter and summer new men and their new doctrines Bring them to the Law and the Testimony Nomist I thank you for this help and now I shall desire you to open to me the tearms of the Text which being truely done will give much satisfaction to such who seek the truth in love I pray tell me what doth the Apostle mean by faith which is the thing that doth not make void the Law Evangelist There can be but one of these two meanings in the word either we take it for habituall and actuall faith which is called A double Faith 1. Habituall fides qua namely That grace wrought by the Spirit in the soul inclining it to the application of Jesus Christ and his righteousnesse which grace is the condition of the Covenant of grace and the appointed Instrument to apprehend justifying righteousnesse as along in this Scripture the Apostle sheweth Or we must take it for Doctrinall Faith which is called 2 Doctrinall fides quae namely That Gospel or Covenant Doctrine which propounded free grace sets up Jesus Christ in all his Offices Merits and Vertues to poor believing sinners Now take the Apostle either way and he holds That neither the grace of Faith nor the doctrine of Faith doth make void the Law of God Nomist. Tell me what is that Law which this Faith doth not make void Evangelist You must know that there were three sorts of Laws delivered A threefold Law by God to Moses 1. Ceremoniall which were temporary Ordinances and Rites really pointing to Christ of whom they were figures and shadows and by whose presence and death they were all fulfilled terminated and abrogated Christ was finis inter ficiens legis Ceremonialis so that the law of Ceremonies was made void by the Doctrine of faith and therefore this law cannot be here meant 2. Judiciall which were peculiar Ordinances given by God to Moses for the well ordering of the Common-wealth of Israel This Law concerned the Jews not simply as men but as Jews the Nationall personall or particular binding right of this Law rested so in them that it died with the decay of their Common-wealth onely the common equity or right hereof remaineth i as far as it was grounded on the Law of Nature served directly to confirm any of the Ten Commandments or to uphold the good of Family Church or Common-wealth it is still in force and of good use but of this Law the Apostle in this Scripture makes no mention Now if he speak not of the Law Ceremoniall nor of the Law Judiciall it followeth that we must understand him speaking of the Law 3. Morrall and that not as it is a rule of Justification but a rule of Service and Obedience the whole compasse of mans duty respectively to be manifested is principally contained in the Law Morrall which is no other then the revealed Copy of The Morall Law what Gods will touching mans dutie laid down in the ten Commandments if we do cast our eyes upon the scope of the Apostle it will be very evident that he speaketh of this Law for he deals against such who sought to be justified and saved by the works of the Law and not by faith in Jesus Christ they went about to set up the Law of Works and to destroy the Law of Faith Now Paul sheweth that no mans conformity to the Morall Law could be matter of life and justification unto him in Gods sight The Law by sin is become weak and unprofitable to the purpose of righteousnesse it could not be a covenant of life unto man now having excluded it from being a covenant of life to sinners there were those who would have it to be disannulled from being a rule of life unto men which the Apostle will not admit of so that its plain that the vindication is of the Morall Law that as a rule of life is not made void unto Christians Nomist How shall I understand
the Apostle when he denieth the making void of the Law by Faith Evangelist I shall open it thus unto you 1. By shewing to you what it is to make void the Law which doth note The taking away from the Law all regulating or directive power over mans life and actions when it is held to be uselesse or of no more effect unto Christians then an Almanack The making void the Law what that is out of date or to be a Doctrine inconsistent with or repugnant unto the Doctrine of Free Grace this is the making of it void Now then take it up thus That the Doctrine of the Gospel and the Doctrine of the Law though for matter they are distinct and divers yâ—t they are not so divided and opposite but that they both may be well admitted into the Ministery and taught unto Christians they are so farre from reall contradiction that they hoâ—d a friendly concurrence in point of dutie they are not destructive nor devouring one unto another but sweetly co-ordinate standing more firmly one by the other 2. By declaring whether the Morall Law in no respect is not made void by the Doctrine and grace of Faith And here consider if we look upon the Morall Law in that notion as it was given to Adam in Paradice I mean as it was a Covenant of Works or as the Covenant thereof was Works so that whosoever would receive life and salvation must perform perfect obedience to the same according as it is written He that doth Gal 3. 12. these things shall live in them And again Moses describes the Rom. 10 5 righteousnesse which is of the Law That the man which doth these things shall live by them in this sence as it was given to Adam in Paradice to justifie or save men the Doctrine of Faith doth make void the Morall Law I will not stand disputing whether the Law as given by Moses could have given life and righteousnesse or whether God did primarily intend in publshing this Law by Moses on mount Sinai to send man to fetch his life out of the Law this we know that what ever strength there is in the Law ex se Yet by reason of sin it is weakned and it is impossible that life and salvation should come to man by it as the case now stands it was long since concluded That by the Works of the Law there shall no Rom 3 20. flesh be justified in his sight And Paul confesseth We are become Rom. 7. 4. Gal 2. 19. dead to the Law by the body of Christ And again I through the Law am dead to the Law We constantly teach That every Christian by the Gospel is freed from expecting life by any obedience to the Law Again if we look upon the Morall Law in its execration and as it is enabled with a power to curse men to hell for their sins I say as it is a sentencing killing and death-ministring Letter the Gospel hath made it void unto beleevers it hath no power to fasten the curse of heaven upon the person of any beleever though all their sins are cursed sins even such as deserve the grand curses of the Law yet no curse for sin can come from the Law upon them the curse of the Law seized on Christ to the utmost that the blessing might befall them Further if we shall look upon the Law in its strictnesse and rigour as it hath a power to challenge and exact a punctuall and personall obedience to it self without which it allows no man favour with God or life from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom 8. 4. God then it is also made void by the Doctrine of Faith the right and strictnesse of the Law is fulfilled in us by our surety it s not expected that it should be fulfilled by us in our own persons Besides if we shall consider the Morall Law in its coactive or coercive power as it doth by fears and terrours wrought in the conscience urge and constrain an obedience to it self making men and women servile and slavish in all acts of dutie thus is it made void to beleevers under the Gospel I do not conceive that the Spirit of bondage or the Spirit of fear or the Spirit of unwillingnesse laies so upon a beleever that he must be forced to do required service nay rather he is a Law unto himself willingly performing what is right and required Luke 1. 74. Rom. 8. 15. 1 Tim. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 7. 1 Joh. 5. 3. For this is the Love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous To conclude if we shall consider the Law Morall in its irritation as it hath in it an accidentall or occasionall secret sin-provoking enraging or exasperating power whereby it stirs up in men an earnestnesse to the commission of sin thus is it made void to the beleever Consider that the Morall Law is not sin nor was it ordained to beget sin it is holy and just and good Rom. 7. 12. Yet such is the venemous and malicious quality which is in sin remaining in mans nature that if you for bid man any thing or limit him to do this or that dutie now his lust riseth up the more to desire that which is forbidden and swells over all the banks and baies which should confine it according to the old sayings Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimusque negata Gens humana ruit in vetitum nefas Men do many things which they would never have done had not God forbidden the same Our base natures take occasions from an holy Law to do wickedly this stirs them up to be more wicked but now lust hath no more such working in beleevers from the Law the Law cannot provoke a godly man to be more wicked nay rather if he see any commandment of God against him it is a sufficient discouragement to him to for bear that sin with Joseph he saith How can I do this great wickednesse Gen. 39 9. and sin against God 3. By shewing to you in what respects and unto whom the Morall Law is not made void by the Gospel And here we shall consider the Morall Law four wayes First in its Minatory part as it doth menace and threaten The Morall Law not made void four wayes men offending or transgressing the Doctrine of the Gospel doth not disaâ—le the Law from threatning sinners and telling them of the evil of punishment which is due to them for the evil of sinning We read how Paul once and again doth turn the flaming sword of the â—aw against his hearers in one place telling them That if they live after the flesh they should die Rom. 8. 13. And in another place he faith Knowing the terrour of the Lord we perswade mer 2 Cor. 5. 11. I conceive that the threats of the Law are of much good use to the sons and daughters of men They do awaken and rouze them out of their securitie and
sinfulnesse I am of his opinion who would Chrysostoâ—â— have hell preached daily unto men being perswaded it would prove an excellent means to keep many out of hell When I look upon that body of sin which remaineth in the best I cannot see but the threats of the Law may be of good use unto them not that I fancie Christians should be carried into and along duty by a spirit of fear as slaves that they must have the rod shaking over them or else they cannot or will not do dutie I know that they are led by a more free and ingenuous Spirit into acts of dutie namely by the Law of Love yet let me tell you That the carnall and unregenerate part of the godly needs this whip and harsh voice of the Law and I see no reason but a Christian may make that motive to himself which God makes motive unto him Secondly in its Promissory part as it doth propound many and great rewards unto the sons of men I finde that the Law doth not onely threaten thereby to terrifie men from sinning but it doth also propound and promise unto the sons of men certain rewards thereby to allure and draw them in to dutie we reade of shewing mercy to thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments And again the fifth Commandment is called The first Commandment with promise Ephes 6. 2. Surely the Doctrine of Faith doth not make void these promises in the Law nay it gives the Law a power to promise and alloweth that men may set the joy before them and have an eye to the recompence of reward though not chiâ—fly and principally or in a way of merit Thirdly in its Mandatory part and so it hath a power 1. Of Declaration to reveal and make known the will of God touching duties to teach tell and acquaint men with the same hence it is called a Lamp and a Light the Gospel doth continue it to be an eternall Doctrine teaching men what to do and how to live 2. Of Obligation it doth not onely command things honest and to be done but it doth tie men to yeeld obedience to it self for the Law-givers sake hence it is called Lex a Ligando for if you destroy the Obligation of the Law you make void the Law Now the Gospel will have it to be a ruling commanding and binding Law unto Christians it doth set up the authority of the Law Morall making it to be a Law indeed Fourthly in its Preparatory part and Office you must know that the Morall Law is a John the Baptist to make way for Christ a manuduction to Christ and Faith Paul saith Wherefore the Law was our School-master to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by Faith Gal. 3. 24. I do not say that the Law formally doth beget Faith in Christ it doth it onely by way of Preparation and manuduction and that partly as it doth convince men of sin laying open to them that exceeding wickednesse which lieth upon the soul By the Law cometh the knowledge of sin Rom. 3. 20. And I had not known that lust had been sin unlesse the Law had said Thou shalt not covet Rom. 7. 7. Hence is it compared to a glasse whose propertie is to represent those objects that present themselves before it in all their colours thus the holy Law doth yeeld up unto men by way of reflection the true and certain face and nature of their sinfulnesse it layes sin out and open in its true proportion and countenance the light doth not more demonstrate visible objects then the Law which is the candle of the Lord doth make known sins and that by the help of spirit and the use of conscience partly as it doth deject and humble men for sin the Law doth so open the debt and death of sin to the soul that it sees it self inclosed with the curse that belongs to sin and that Divine wrath is ready to pour it self oâ— him and how to avoid the same he knows not he is as a man shut up in a close room having his mortall enemy standing at the door with a drawn sword in his hand entring upon him thus the Law falls upon the conscience of a sinner whipping and tormenting him loading and burdening him laying him as it were upon the mouth of hell passing the doom of damnation upon him from which it can of it self no way deliver it self it leaves him a sinner without a Saviour without all hope of salvation Onely it is brought to this wishing O that there were any possiibility of mercy that I might be saved from this condition of insufferable misery Again we may consider the The Law is not made void 1. To unbelievers subjects in respect of whom the Law is not made void and they are of two sorts 1. Unbeleevers who are yet in the state of nature and to such the Law is enlightning a wakening judging and terrifying through the application of the curse and wrath The 1 Tim 1. 9 Law is made for the lawlesse and disobedient for the ungodly and for sinners c. It is their whip and rod to scourge them 2. Beleevers who are under Grace and Love and to such 2. To believers it is a glasse discovering their many hidden corruptions by which they may daily try and examine themselves it is their bridle to cohibite and restrain them from sinning it is their hedge and mound to keep them in order and due compasse in a word it is their rule by which they are to guide and moderate the inward and the outward conversation of soul and life And thus far it is not made void by the Doctrine of the Gospel Nomist Will you be pleased to demonstrate this a little farther unto me and my friend Evangelist I shall proove unto you that the Doctrine of Faith doth not make void the doctrine and duty of the Morall Law by these ten instances Reas 1 1. The Law Morall was given to Adam in the state of innocencie I say that Adam in the state of integrity was not without a Law nay nor without this Law for the substance of it though he was a righâ—eous man and in his height of dignity yet he was commanded by the will of God and his work was to be ruled by the precept of God in all things as you may read Gen. 3 16. The Law Morall and the Law given to Adam was the same Law for the matter of duty as I look upon the Law given to Adam for a covenant of life and salvation God intending to give and tying him to expect life upon and for his obedience and withall do consider that God in justice might have hâ—ld his posterity to the same condition and covenant of works here I conceive that the Law given to Adam and the Law received by Moses are not one and the same for I think that God never intended that the Law given by Moses should become a
of God as well Rev. 12. 17 as to have the testimony of Jesus Christ Reas 10 Tenthly The Morall Law shall be a rule for Gods judging of men at the last day hence saith the Apostle So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the Law of liberty Jam. 2. 12. In which Scripture we maâ— observe that in the day of judgement God will call men to account for words and actions and that the rule upon or by which he will proceed with men is his Law its clear by the Scripture that the Law shall at the last day be condemning and judging unto impenitent and unbeleeving sinners Hence saith Christ Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust John 5. 45. And again the Apostle saith As many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law Rom. 2. 12. Where it is plain that the wilfull breach of the Morall Law shall be imputed to every childe of Adam unto just condemnation such as have the Law written in their hearts shall be condemned because they did not obey the Law as it was revealed to them such as have the Law more clearly written in the Scriptures and do violate it that shall condemn them not but that men shall be judged in that day according to the Gospel Rom. 2. 16. Now then if God shall make the Law Morall his rule by which he will proceed to judgement at the last day I conclude it is not made void by the Doctrine of Faith it was to me strange Divinity which one of the new lights vented in publike saying That the Morall Law shall be a rule for God to condemn an unbeleever by but it is no rule for him to walk by I wonld ask of this man how men do draw their inditements against tiplers and quarrellers in the countrey Is there not a Law broken which should have been observed and because it s not observed doth not the penaltie come upon a man doth not that strengthen the Law to judge and condemn man Doth not all judging and condemning by the Law both strengthen and inforce the obedience which is principally intended by the Law I think that the Law neither could have cursed or judged man at all if his disobedience had not â—ade way thereunto Nomist I shall desire you to shew me how the Doctrine of the Gospel which is called The Law of Faith doth establish and confirm the authority and obligation of the Morall Law Evangelist Sir I hope that you can tell how to distinguish between the making of the Morall Law to be a Law and the maintaining or strengthning of it being so made we teach that there is no efficiency or causalitie in the Grace or Doctrine of Faith to make the Morall Law it had no other Authour then God the great Law-giver and Law-maker Nomist I yeeld to this and do look upon the Doctrine of Faith as maintaining or making strong the Law to be a rule for life and would fain be satisfied in the wayes how this is done Evangelist I do conceive that the Morall Law receiveth strength and confirmation by the Doctrine of Faith these 12. wayes The Gospel doth stablish the Law 12 wayes First as it holds no contrarietie or disagreement but rather an harmony or consent with it in the main matters of dutie and obedience in this sence I may say as doth the Apostle Is the Law against the promises of God God forbid What Gal 3 21. doth the Law say one thing and the Gospel say another I speak to the matter in hand and do averre that the Gospel and the word of Free Grace directs men to no other obedience then that of which the Law is formally or virtually the rule Vice in the Law is Vice in the Gospel and Vertue in the Law is Vertue in the Gospel as it is the same water which runs thorow severall Pipes so it is the same obedience which is conteined in the Law and in the Gospel they have but one minde of God in them and do speak the same things the work of duty in both is co-ordinate and sub-ordinate not contrary or repugnant Nomist Do they agree in all things for dutie Evangelist You may note these two things 1. That though they do both declare and require duties shewing what is to be done and forborn yet the Doctrine of Faith hath more helps or more obliging vertue and abilitie then the Law hath or can afford the Doctrine of the Law is onâ—ly deâ—larative that of the Gospel is also effective and operative 2. That the Doctrine of Faith doth require the exercise of some duties and graces in a more speciall and determining way then the Doctrine of the Law doth I shall instance in this one point That man should beleeve what ever God would have him to beleeve is a duty of the Morall Law but that mans Faith should determine itself in the Son of God apprehending and applying his righteousnesse for justification in Gods sight This is a dutie of the Gospel I conceive that justifying Faith is formally reqâ—ired in the Gospel at the most but virtually commanded in the Law of Moses Nomist Proceed I pray you Evangelist Secondly As it sets up God in supreame authority and soveraigntie setling upon him power to make and give Lawes in an obliging way unto the sons of men the Gospel teacheth that There is one Law-giver who is able to save Jam. 4 12. and destroy Thirdly As it doth maintain the Law to be a Copie of Gods will every way holy and usefull unto the sons of men I am 2. 8. the Morall Law is called The Royall Law because it is the minde of the great King of heaven It is the great Kings Law according to which every of his Subjects ought to walk and Miâ— 6 8. to order their lives and conversations he hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord thy God requireth of thee c. Fourthly As it doth set men necessarily into a way and course of obedience the Gospel makes not obedience to Gods will an indifferent or arbitrary but a necessary thing it is not all one in the Gospel sense whether God be obeyed or not obeyed whether man repent or not repent believe or not believe but man is tied and bound by the Doctrine thereof simply and univâ—rsally to obedience it doth teach that it is better to obey then to stand disputing against duty and that though the command be repugnant to some self respects yet there neither is or can be given any sufficient reason why a man should deny obedience to the Will of God and not do duty Fifthly As it doth cry down sin and licentiousnesse The Gospel doth not onely shew That sin is the transgression of Gods Law and that which God is so displeased with that he will most severely punish but it
auget excitat And that the liberty from justification by the Law doth not destroy but increase and stir up the obligation of and obedience to the Law I could if need were bring in the Testimonie of Luther Calvin Bâ—z â—hemnitius Zanchius with many other learned and godly Divines in all the ages of the Church since the Apostles dayes maintaining that the Morall Law is not abolished by the Gospel in iâ—s power to be a rule of life to Christians see Reverend Doctor Tailor in his Regula vitae pag. 190. Nay I dare affirm that never did any one both godly and learned man teach the contrary Nomist I thank you for this for I have heard some of those who say they Preach Free grace and are not Legall Preachers say that Luther is of their judgement and that their Honey comb Eatons book Ttaske Eaton Richardson Gospel grounds The discovery of the dangerous dead faith News from Heaven or A Treatise of Peace together with other Books which past secretly among them were the milk sucked out of his â—râ—st nay they give out that learned Rivet whose words you have quoted was wholly of their judgement Evangelist Sir beleeve me that neither Luther or Rivet did ever conceive or teach that the Morall Law was thrust out of its ruling use by the Gospâ—l nay I will loose all my credit I have with the Churches of God if I do not prove to them and all the world that there is not a stronger enemie against that Sect of Libertines who would aâ—rogate the Morall Law in its use as I have opened then Luther was If they dare make him judge in this Controversie I shall stand or fall by his own Sentence O that the name of this holy man should suffer as it doth among Papists and Libertines But leaving this I proceed Vse 2 Secondly I did by vertue of this Doctrine justifie the practice of all such Ministers who do Preach the Law unto their hearers Certainly the Ministers of the Gospel may and must Preach the Law It is made the note of false prophets to see Lam. 2. 14. vain and foolish things and not to discover iniquity O how many are there yet unacquainâ—ed with their heart and their life vilenesse because this glasse is not set open to them and pressed upon them O how many unbroken and unhumbled hearts are there among us and all because the Law is not Preached men are yet strongly wedded to their sins scorn all tenders of mercy cannot be drawn to think of much lesse to welcome Jesus Christ and all for want of the Preaching of the Law Was it ever known that untill the soul was broken and brought low and John Baptist had done his part which is the work of the Law that any man was prepared for Jesus Christ Go out therefore O you Ministers of God gird your sword upon your thighes and make your arrows keen in the hearts of all obstinate and rebellious sinners Preach down all those who cry down the Preaching of the Law and Preach you the Law to discover men unto themselves to drive them to Christ and to keep them on dutie Know thus much when you Preach the Law rightly you Preach salvation to them that fear it as when you Preach the Gospel you Preach damnation to them that neglect or contemn it I would have every Minister wary in Preaching the Law It s possible that there may be an ill dispensation of the Law The Chyrurgeon that launceth may do as much hurt as he that doth not use the Instrument at all Such as Preach The Law is to be Preached not the Law at all may make dead and loose â—earers and such as Preach the Law too far may make desperate hearers The golden mean is to be observed The thing I would is this 1. I 1 With the Gospel would not have the Law to be Preached alone by it self without a mixture of some of the Promises of the Gospel The fire hath its heat and light and a Minister should have both Law and Gospel in his mouth 2. I would have the Law to be 2 For the Gospel Preached as it was published for Evangelicall and mercifull intentions and purposes not for destruction and desparation but for edification I finde that it was published in the hand of a Mediatour I would have it to be Preached in the same hand he preacheth the Law best who preacheth it with reference to Jesus Christ as I would in Preaching the Law shew men hâ—ll so I would seek thereby to save them from hell the wound should neither be made wider or deeper then the Plaister c. Nomist Your councell is good and I would that all Gods Ministers would apply themselves to this course I verily think that the condition of their hearers do require it for whereas we have one tender broken-hearted hearer there are a thousand stubborn-hearted men and women who need the hammering of the Law onely give me leave to tell you that I have heard men thus objecting That the Preaching of the Law doth affright men and bring them to despair Evangelist This is the objection of carnall men who make it their hell upon earth to be disquieted in their course of sin the Law nakedly encountring wiâ—h such shews them such wrath from God and torment in hell belonging to them they in mean time having no eyes to look upon the remedy that it drives them into totall despair the fault is not in the Law but in themselves Nomist I am satisfied in this matter I pray go on Evangelist Vse 3 Thirdly This doth confute the whole rabble of Antinomians such as were the Manichees the Marcionites the Montanists the Muscovites the Anabaptists the Socinians together with their off-spring and followers the Antinomians a generation of Libertines who under a colour of Preaâ—hing and practising Free grace fill the land with drunkennesse uncleannesse disobedience to authority neglect and scorn of dutie yea and all manner of licentiousnesse as wofull exprience witnesseth and if need were just testimony and proof can make good Antinomianisme hath been a corrupt and evil tree and oh that it were cut down root and branch that our City and Kingdom might be no more pestered therewith Nomist I beseech you good Sir discover these Antinomians unto me that I may know them Evangelist You shall finde them to be full of subtilty and cunning well knowing that the open profession of themselves is full of hatred and scorn and yet though they shun the name they are the Two sorts of Antinomians men their speech and practise will bewray them wherefore learn that there are two sorts of Antinomians 1. One Doctrinall Such who in opinion and judgement 1 Doctrinall do presume to out-law the Law of God making the Morall Law it self and the preaching thereof uselesse both to unbelievers and believers even a thing abrogated by the Gospel which is as clear a dismission
〈◊〉 ◠◠of the Lord blamelesse We are to look to one and all the Commandments of God we must set the whole Law of God before us taking heed of making any difference by obeying in greater and refusing in lesser Commands or yeelding to those Commands which have a comparative easinesse and refusing in those which have a Spirituall strictnesse or harshnesse surely we must equally hate all sin and love all vertue remembring that of the Apostle For whosoever shall keep the I am 2. 1◠whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all Thirdly To be sincerely obedient We must let our hearts bear their part in duty take care that the heart be single and one no way suffering it to mix with sin and be sure that it be rightly byassed in its aims and ends and this will declare the uprightnesse of our spirits in our obedience to Gods will Fourthly To be cheerfully obedient We must be willing and glad to obey serving God with a royal and from a free spirit being ready to put our selves upon his work assoon as his minde is revealed to us Psal 27. 8. and 110. 2. Fifthly To be tenderly obedient Which tendernesse doth appear in these things 1. A holy fear to do any thing against the Law because it will offend and displease God hence saith David My heart standeth in awe of thy word And Joseph Tendernesse of obedience in 4 things durst not do wickedly because of Gods displeasure Gen. 39. 9. 2. A manifest grief and heart trouble upon apprehended breaches of Gods Law a gracious disposition is a mourning disposition it dares not say as doth our Libertines It doth greatly trouble me that ever I was troubled for my sins 3. A speedy care to take off the offence and to make up the breaches between God and a mans self which can no way be done but by running to Jesus Christ who is our Peace-maker 4. A precise watchfulnesse against future offendings and displeasings Ezra 9. 13 14. Sixthly To be constantly obedient We are not to change our master or our work whilst we are here below but in all times in all places in all companies and in all conditions strive to manifest our obedience to Gods Law keeping it to the Ps 119. 33. end knowing that the Commands of God are perpetuall to us even such as no time or age can wear out and our whole life is a time of dutie and ought to be spent in acts of obedience Say therefore with David I will alwayes keep thy Law for ever and ever Psal 119. 44. 6. That each Christian should resolvedly and resolutely according to his place maintain and preserve the authoritie and puritie of Gods Laws I know that Gods Law is able to defend it self against the oppositions or risings up of all the sons of Belial yet Christians must in this shew themselves to be friends unto Gods Laws when men rise up against it and endeavour to detract from its use Now to quit and clear it a man must know no friend if he be not a friend to the Preaching and practise of Gods Law We give out that we fight for the Laws of the Land Ought we not much more to contend for the Laws of our God Shall we see men mangle and spoil them and be no way moved therewith Rather learn to stand on Gods side which is the best side Nomist Sir the day is far spent and all our occasions do call us away I and my friend owe you thanks and for my part I am resolved to establish the Law in its authority by making it the rule of my life Antinomist For my part I intend to acquaint my teachers with what you have said and if they do not give you a confounding answer then I resolve to be of your minde In the mean time I will not allow the Law to be a rule of my life Evangelist A good evening I wish unto you both with an happy successe of this conference not fearing any true report that can be made of my Doctrine and if any of your Teachers shall be pleased to answer me with Arguments from the Truth I shall be ready to make a Reply FINIS