been written with their owne pen yea to doe to all men as they would be done vnto and to forbeare to doe ought to any which they would be loath should bee done to themselues And thus much for some preparation to that which followeth concerning the truth of that Libertie which true Christians doe all enioy CHAP. II. A small taste of true Christian Libertie GReat was the Liberty those Senators in conceit vaunted of at the wound of that beast which yet liued though mortally wounded by Chereas Sword so that Liberty and onely Liberty is the Souldiers watch word But how great glorious costly and certaine this Libertie is no heart can conceiue nor tongue expresse much lesse any Pen describe the glory and admirable excellency it doth containe This true Christian Liberty this sonne-like freedome is that which God himselfe hath bestowed Christ Iesus purchased and the holy Spirit declared to such as truly beleeue and such Libertie it is that if the giuer bee respected it must bee greatly esteemed the cost bee valued it must bee highly prized or the commoditie thereof weighed it cannot but bee earnestly desired and zealously defended against all that in any wise would limit such boundlesse loue Wherefore seeing God the Father hath bestowed Gal. 4. 4 5 6. God the Sonne purchased it at the price of his owne bloud Iohn 8. 36. Act. 20. 28. 1. Pet. 1. 17 18. God the Holy Ghost declared it to all in whom he also vouch safeth to dwell 2. Cor. 3. 17 and seeing I am one of them that professe such freedome and haue testified before many witnesses that I doe now vnderstand more cleerely the mystery thereof I shall in a few words labour to expresse it to all that are indued but with the least beginnings of the same free spirit Psal 51. 11 12. That a Liberty there is if any were so impudent as to deny yet can none bee so ignorant as not to conceiue that such a thing must of necessitie be confessed seeing it is so often mentioned and a Law for it declared to all that vnderstand Iames 1. 25. But all the strife is what Libertie it is and who they are who may be truly said to enioy such freedome For answere to both it is affirmed that this Libertie is a freedome from the Law from Sinne and so from Hell and all feare of condemnation from sinnes accusation the Lawes condemnation and Hels anguish and that eternall separation from Gods comfortable presence for euermore We are diuorced from the flesh and so free from it yea dead thereto and so at liberty from the Law as it is written The Law hath dominion ouer a man as long as hee liueth for the woman which hath an Husband is bound by the Law to her Husband so long as hee liueth but if the Husband be dead shee is loosed from the Law of the Husband so then if while her Husband liueth shee be marryed to another man shee shall be called an Adulteresse but if her Husband bee dead shee is then free from that Law so that she is no Adulteresse though she bee marryed to another man Wherefore my Brethren ye are also become dead to the Law by the bodie of Christ that ye should bee marryed to another euen to him who is raysed from the dead that wee should bring forth fruit vnto God Rom. 7. 1 2 3 4. By this similitude is our Diuorce exemplified yea our freedome from the Law by the death of Christ and our death in Christ is most plaine to all that doe vnderstand And lest any one should yet doubt and not rest fully satisfied the Apostle a little after doth instance in himselfe and saith thus I was aliue without the Law once but when the Commandement came sin reuiued and I dyed and the Commandement which was vnto life I found to be vnto death Verse 9. 10. and then hauing put a manifest difference betweene his flesh and his faith his inward and outward man hee concludes with an exclamation thus O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death And in another place hee saith I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might liue vnto GOD I am crucified with Christ Neuerthelesse I liue yet not I but Christ liueth in me Gal. 2. 19 20. What can be more plaine then this that being thus baptized into Christs death wee are free from the Law and it hath no more such authority to condemnation ouer vs at all By this also are wee dead to sinne Rom. 6. 1 2. That is as obey we cannot so disobey we doe not and so hath Hell nor Deuill no more to doe against vs. If sinne would stand vp to accuse God himselfe hath discharged vs by himselfe wee are esteemed iust If the Law would iudge or condemne Christ himselfe hath dyed to yeeld it the due and is risen againe being set downe at Gods right hand to make iutercession for vs. If trouble yea the powers of Hell it selfe would indeuour to separate vs from the loue of God it cannot they can neuer preuaile Rom. 8. So that a Libertie here is but none to the flesh Gal. 5. 13. None to sinne 2. Pet. 2. 18 19. No cloke for malice 1. Pet. 2. 16. But a libertie to Righteousnesse and Holinesse Luke 1. 74 75. yea to runne the way of Gods Commandements Psal 119. 32. As it may stand with faith in Iesus Christ Reu. 12. 17. But for that Libertie from sinnes power is granted and freedome from Hell defended or at least desired by all and willingly acknowledged by men of sound iudgement to all beleeuers therefore it is Libertie from the Law which is here to be proued to such as are willing to know the same we are set free from the whole Law which saith Cursed is euery one which continueth not in all things which are written in the Booke of the Law to doe them Gal. 3. 19. Free we are from that seruice in the oldnesse of the Letter Rom. 7. 6. Free from that forme which was written in stony Tables and presented to those naturall Israelites in Moses hand 2. Cor. 3. And Christ is the Lawes end for rightousnesse to all that beleeue Rom. 10. 4. Free we are from all punishment which the Law exacteth for time past and from all rigorous and strict performance of euery part thereof for time to come The same mans nature yea flesh and bloud which transgressed and is obliged to such formall obedience and exact seruice hath now satisfied and borne the fury due to that transgression Heb. 2. 14 15 16. And wee by faith in him haue yeelded obedience and all satisfaction and are so accepted as obedient Rom. 4. 7 21. Our Libertie from sinne being nothing else but an effect of this freedome from the Law though that from sinne bee first knowne ere this from the Law can be perceiued Rom. 6. 14. For where no Law is there is no transgression Rom. 4. 15.
Glorie Luke 24. 7. 26. that was the day of his exaltation Ephes 1. 20. Then became he the head stone of the corner Psal 118. 22. The head of the Church Ephes 1. 22. and 5. 23. Gaue gifts to men Ephes 4. 8. as on a chiefe Festiuall Day Nehem. 8. 12. Esth. 9. 22. prooued his Resurrection Luke 24. 39. preached his ascension Iohn 20. 17. Gaue the Holy Ghost Iohn 20. 22 and authoritie to the Apostles to binde and to loose to remit and retaine sinnes Verse 23. Opened their vnderstandings to vnderstand the holy Scriptures Luke 24. 45. Powred out more abundantly the gifts of the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 1 2 3 4. Gaue Peter power to conuert so many thousands Verse 37. 41. All were on that Day baptized Verse 41. The Church established and manifestly distinguished Ver. 44. The Disciples met on this day at breaking of Bread Act. 20. 7. This Daies Festiuitie was instituted in the Churches of Corinth and Galatia as appeares by the Almes appropriate thereto 1. Cor. 16. 1 2. The Reuelation opened to Iohn in Patmos Reuel 1. 10. It was knowne to the seuen Churches of Asia by its owne name as a peculiar Day Thus to the Law all daies are now alike yet to the Lord a Day yea a Sabbath Day one of the seuen is to bee obserued alike to the Law for that to the Law we are all dead and a dead man keepes all daies alike yet wee who are raised againe from the dead Ephes 5. 14. wee that liue no more the life of the flesh but by the power of the Spirit not according to the flesh but to the Spirit doe set apart weekly one day of seuen for the Lords Seruice which very day as is prooued Paul writing to the Hebrewes according to his wont endeuouring to speake to their vnderstanding calleth a Sabbatisme Heb. 4. 9. And to the Gentiles a day to the Lord Rom. 14. 5 6. And Iohn expresly the Lords Day Reuel 1. 10. This is then the Day which the Lord hath made and if any be contentious for that other day with the Iewes or deny any Sabbath Day and so would leaue it as a bare Ordinance of man with the Libertines or haue both daies obserued with the Ebionites wee answere them all Wee haue no such custome nor the Churches of God 1. Cor. 11. 16. Obiect As for that Law of difference of things for food Leuit. 11. Deut. 14. if any say such a Law hath beene euer and precisely obserued by Israels Common-wealth while that Iewish Politie stood and that all sorts of transgressors are terribly threatned and for it the Israelites were chiefly reiected Ans The answere is It is true that a difference was put euen in Paradise between things for food and after mans expulsion therefrom a difference held betweene things for Sacrifice and say for food yet was that difference taken away when Noah had free libertie to eate of euery moouing liuing thing as of the greene herbe before he had eaten Gen. 9. 3. And albeit after that againe another limitation was made to one peculiar people when God began to distinguish betweene the Nations and chose to himselfe one peculiar Nation to be his owne people Leuit 20. 24 25. yet was that difference of wholesome Creatures no longer continued then all Mankind remained seuered by that partition wall Ephes 2. 14. Acts 10. 28. But when once the fulnesse of time was come and by the bloud of Iesus all things were reconciled to God Col. 1. 20. which were before in bondage and seuered for mans transgression Rom. 8 20. 21. then God also declared to Peter by a Vision that such obseruations put no longer difference betweene men and men But as hee himselfe had mixed all sorts of Creatures in one Sheet and none of them might any more bee termed vncleane seeing out of Heauen they came and into Heauen were againe receiued so Peter by that learned to esteeme no man from thenceforth vncleane for any want of legall clensing or by reason of the practice of that Lawes transgression Act. 10. 11 16 28. And hath now taken out this Lesson That it is Faith in Christ Iesus that is required of euery man for his acceptance with God Heb. 11. 6. For so Peter after confesseth in the face of a Councell that God put no difference betweene himselfe and the Gentiles after their hearts were purified by faith Act. 15. 9. And by this it may appeare that this Law ceased and had its period by that Cornelius a Gentile and not obseruing the Law but onely exercised in those powerfull Duties of Fasting Prayer and Almes-deeds was by Faith accepted as well as Peter who till that time not onely beleeued as now Cornelius did but also was able with boldnesse to protest before God that no common or vncleane thing had euer entred into his mouth so the Churches of Iudea were all zealous of the Law Act. 21. The Churches of the Gentiles obserued no such things Gal. 2. And these accepted and as famous Churches as any of those and Paul speaking expresly of daies and meates legall concludes thus I know and am perswaded by the Lord Iesus that there is nothing common or vncleane of it selfe Rom. 14. 14. That is if mens hearts bee purified by Faith Titus 1. 15 16. Then all things are pure to them That is all such things as that Law made vncleane for food Those things which some through weakenesse giuing heed to Iewish Fables esteemed vncleane As for that threat to the Gentiles which seemes so terrible to such as vnderstand it not aright it is nothing else but a powerfull application of the Prophets speech to the present hypocriticall Iewes who stood so much on their Prerogatiues and Priuiledges and their segregation from other Nations and yet by their secret abominable practises did breake downe that partition wall with which for the present they were seuered from others by doing the same things or as vile which they so much abhorred in the Gentiles practise To them the Prophet saith in effect that when the Gentiles Church shall be come in and all promises accomplished euen to that nation and people of the Iewes that then shall follow a day of vengeance wherein God shall come with fire and sword in terrible indignation against all that haue abused his long suffering and patience whether Iews or Gentiles and at that day those present hypocrites to whom he then spake shall share in torments with the whole world of damned men Isa 66. 12 13 16 17. Neither is it any prophecie at all of any caters of Swines flesh at this day but at that time for so speaketh the Text in the present tense Sanctificanâ—â—s or Qui sanctificant They that doe sanctifie themselues and not in the future tense they that shall And if any say we are commanded to touch no vncleane thing at this day Let the occasion of that precept be but duely considered and it is cleare that there
And whosoeeuer is not free from the Lawes rigour must needes be subiect to sinnes tyranny Free then we are from the Law as it is wraths Minister as it can doe vs no good as it is weake through the flesh Rom. 8. 4. Neither doth it at all auaile vs to iustification though for obedience it still serueth to curbe our old man and to quicken the new man though the flesh bee now become so contrarie to it as it is not nor can euer bee subiect thereto Rom. 8. 7. And Christ in vs doth the will of God for vs in truth and without vs hath satisfied Gods wrath for vs and also performed that formall obedience which God requireth so that within and without all our perfection is nothing else but the perfection of Christ himselfe If then wee are free from the morall Law in respect of Iustification how much more from that Law of Commandements contayned in Ordinances Ephes 2. 15. called also the hand-writing of Ordinances Col. 2. 14. which was against vs and contrarie to vs being a middle wall of partition to keepe vs that are Gentiles in the flesh from any fellowship with Israels Common-wealth and from all participation in their glorious priuiledges Ephes 2. 14. The bond-woman that Law and her Sonne the flesh is now cast out and quite expelled by true Beleeuers and the free-woman the Promise with her Sonne the Spirit is onely to bee respected for that the inheritance is now by promise The Law as Hagar was added after the promise was made And as Abraham after the Promise that he should haue a Sonne tooke Hagar Gen. 16. and of her begat Ismael who was not the Seed who must inherit so also long after the free Promise of Saluation made to Mankinde through Christ alone and that onely by Faith in him Abrahams Seed tooke the Law and by the works thereof sought to inherit but found the Law not it by which any inheritance could bee obtayned From all this learne we not to burden our selues beyond our power nor to hold fellowship with one that is mightier and richer then our selues for that the Earthen Pot and the Kettle agree not together nor our outward man the flesh with the spirituall Law and for vs in the point of Iustification to seeke to bring our old man the Lawes obedience is to bring drosse to fire to put a weake Infant or a liuelesse Carrion to the Combate with a mightie Giant yea to bring the Lawes workes to the corrupt mans practice is to set a new piece in an old Garment to put new Wine into old Bottels neither can such an earthen Pot as is our olde man and the Kettle the Law bee smitten one against another without the Pots danger for as the euent of these would bee the greater rent of the garment so fondly patched the bursting of the Bottels so ignorantly filled and the dashing of the earthen Pot in pieces so all that euer indeuour to yeeld that Law-obedience as to seeke to be righteous therby with this dead body though a delight they may haue in the inward man and a desire and indeuour so to doe with the outward man yet the good they would they shall neuer perfectly effect and the euill they would not that shall they performe Rom. 7. This was that made Paul cry out for our example to bee deliuered or set free from so dead a bodie And concludes also that from it hee is freed by CHRISTS owne death God hath deliuered him from his dead bodie by Iesus Christ and so from the Law from sin and consequently from Hell and this is that Liberty of which we are possessors of this onely this it may be said If the Sonne hath made you free you shall bee free indeed If then the flesh be crucified the Law is satisfied If the flesh haue obeyed the Law is fulfilled And this is done euen in our owne whole nature and that as it is said by Iesus Christ wee liue now no more the life of the flesh For that all such as so liue are all their life time subiect to bondage and in feare of death and damnation And yet that this Libertie may the better appeare we may consider in the next place the persons set free And they are all such as are borne not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh nor yet of the will of man but of GOD Iohn 1. 12. For that which is borne of the flesh is flesh Iohn 3. 6. And flesh and bloud can neuer enter the Kingdome of GOD neither may corruption inherit incorruption 1. Cor. 15. 50. And wee haue learned that all flesh is as grasse and all the glorie of man as the flower of grasse the grasse must wither and the flower fall away but the Word of the Lord indureth for euer Isa 40. 1. Pet. 1. 24 25. And wee are borne againe not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of GOD which liueth and abideth for euer So that the free men and such as are set at Libertie are not such as are borne of men but those that are borne of God they onely know this Libertie and are truely acquainted with the priuiledges thereof they are such as doe now finde in them the power of the Spirit of Life they doe mind heauenly and spirituall things are quickened in their dead bodies Col. 2. 13. in part to yeeld true and sound obedience to the spirituall Law They haue the Spirit of the Sonne inabling them with boldnesse to call God Father and the same Spirit witnesseth to their spirits that they are the children of GOD Rom. 8. 15 16. They can deny themselues groaning in themselues to be set free in body as they are in spirit from the bondage of corruption and yet can wait patiently for that full Redemption they haue the spirit of Prayer and Prayse and are conformable in a great measure to Christ himselfe These are called to Liberty and entred into the glorious Liberty of the sonnes of GOD Rom. 8. 21. Neither are such free men Lawlesse or at all fruitlesse for as sinne that is serue sinne they can neuer as they haue formerly done Rom. 6. 1. Iohn 3. 9. So are they exercised in the spirits fruites and in them they abound Loue Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnes Faith Meeknesse Temperance they can now declare Gal. 5. 22 23. These enuy not vaunt not themselues are not puffed vp behaue not themselues vnseemly seeke not their owne are not easily prouoked thinke no euill reioyce not ininiquitie but reioyce in the Truth beare all things beleeue all things hope all things and indure all things And if this be lawlessenesse such lawlesse persons are wee become yet are we sure that such are not without Law to God but in the Law to Christ It is the royall and perfect Law of Libertie which these haue attayned and in it they walke That is their mirror and continuall glasse in which they behold