said also thou shalt not kill now if thou doe not commit adultery yet if thou kill thou art a transgressour of the law Jam. 2.9.10.11 Then bear one anothers burden and so fulfill the law of Christ Gal. 6.2 here Christ claimes the law to be his There is one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy Iam. 4.12 the Prophets came all saying Thus saith the Lord but when Christ came and cleered the law from those false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees which say thou shalt not kill but I say whosoever is angry vvith his brother without a cause is in danger of judgement Mat. 5. and ye have heard say thou shalt not commit adultery but I say whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart and so of the rest therefore obey it and so fulfill the law of Christ for he saith I am not come to destroy the law till Heaven and earth passe away not one tittle or jot shall in no wise passe from the law Mat. 5.17.18 now when Christ hath claimed the law to be his and cleered it from their false glosses then there comes a young man to him saying Master what good thing shall I doe to inherite eternall life then Christ answers him directly saying â—f thou wilt enter into life keepe the Commandements he saith unto him which Christ answered him thou shalt not commit adultery nor murther nor steale nor beare false witnesse honour thy father and mother and love thy neighbour as thy selfe Mat. 19.16 17. and although outwardly he had beene doing something for which Christ loved him yet there was that inward lust of covetousnesse stucke fast in his heart therefore Christ sends him backe to the law to be humbled for it this one thing thou lackest Marke 10.21 before thou art fit for faith or to have treasure in heaven goe to the law and see thy sinne for by the law is the knowledge of sinne Rom. 3.20 then is the law sinne nay I had not known sinne but by the law I had not knowne lust except the law had said thou shalt not lust Rom. 7.7 and the law shewes us our failings when we are in the state of grace for it we should cast off the law from being a rule to us we should neither know when we sin nor how to recover our selves for where no law is there is no transgression Rom. 4.15 for whosoever sinneth transgresseth the law for sinne is the transgression of the law 1 Ioh. 3.4 then it is time Lord to worke when they have made voyd thy law Psal 119.126 rivers of teares runne downe mine eyes because they keepe not thy law ver 136. so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God for the carnall mind is enmity against God it is not subject the law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 8.7 Then what shall we say to those sonnes of Beliall that are so weary of the law that as much as in them lyes they seeke to make it void both in the commanding duties and forbidding of vices but cursed be such tenets hath the divell so prevailed with them as to make them take counsell against the Lord and against his Anointed saying let us breake their cords and cast away their bonds from us Psal 2.2 3. How dare they say that Christ hath freed them from all duty and that they owe the Lord no obedience at all so that what they doe is out of their free love and curtesie and not from any duty or obedience to his law which is no rule for beleevers But doe they make void the law God forbid Rom. 3.31 faith should be imployed to fetch power from Christ to enable us to obey the law vve are not sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 but vve can doe all things through Christ strengthening us Phil. 4.13 then faith doth not free us of our duty but makes us more able to performe our duty to the law of God and therefore it is called the obedience of faith Rom. 1.5 it stands not with true faith to call them legall divines by way of scorne and dirision that call upon us and put us in mind of our duty to the Lord because say they we owe him none but let them know and be sure that their sinnes will find them out Numb 32.23 let them take heed how they say that God is like to themselves lest he reprove them and set their sinnes in order before them now consider this ye that forget God lest he teare you in peeces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50.21.22 certainly that man was never justified from his sinne that thinkes it not his duty to mortifie it and doth not grieve and mourne for want of strength to subdue it and his duty to pray against it which our Antinomeans renounce saying this is legall teaching and they will try their condition onely from a bare testimony as I said before although it be a suggestion of the divell it may serve their turne well enough while they despise the operation of the spirit of God sanctifying and changing them and setting up his owne Image in them giving them grace for grace with Christ they say if we looke upon these markes and signes to know our condition this is legall this vvill not stand with their free grace vvhich frees them of that labour vvhich should search and try them they take all from a testimony vvithout examination but this building vvill not endure the storme of persecution Then they say that they love God terribly and this frees them from their duty they say the love of Christ constraines them but they vvill not tell us to what for they flatly deny all duty to the Law of God but saith Christ when ye have done all that ye can you have but done your duty Luke 17.10 and saith Christ ye call me Lord and Master and ye say well for so I am but then ye ought to wash one anothers feet for the servant is not above the Master if ye knovv these things happy are ye if ye doe them John 13.15.16 if the yong man call him Master presently he sends him to his worke and duty of obedience Mat. 19.17 if I be your Master vvhere is my feare Mat. 1.6 It is not enough to call him Lord and Master and then to deny all duty of obedience to him this was the love of Judas who cryed Hale Master when he betrayed him so these men say that they love him dearely but they defie all duty to him for they owe him none but time will come when they that say Lord Lord shall not come to heaven but he that doth the vvill of my Father which is in heaven Mat. 7.21 But their true love frees them from all duty but what love they have I know not for this is the law of God that we keepe his Commandements
shall preach unto you any other Gospell then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed I say againe let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 9. then take heed of the Antinomians new Gospell who have cast off all obedience to the law of God who desire to live without rule like sonnes of Belial that they may take their full swing in sinne under their damnable pretence that they have gotten free grace that hath freed them from all obedience to the law of God but for thy information I have written this little booke read it and if thou receive any benefit or satisfaction give God the praise and me the benefit of thy prayers now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the onely wise God our Saviour be glory and Majesty dominion and power now and evermore Amen Thine in the Lord Jesus Thomas Bakewell A short view of the Antinomean Errours with a Briefe Answer to them They hold that a man is justified as soone as he hath a being in the sight of God before faith or calling TO this I answer leaving the decrees and purposes of God to himselfe as secret things not belonging to us till we have faith and calling but to speake as it is reveal'd and according to our apprehension both of the causes and time of a sinners actuall justification as it is reveal'd unto us in the Scripture First we are said to be justified by the blood of Christ Rom. 5.9 this is done by Christ as the meriting cause of our justification He hath purchased his Church with his owne blood Acts 20.28 Secondly we are said to be justified by the righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 5.18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all unto juctification of life this is the formall cause of our justification this righteousnesse of Christ is not that Inherent righteousnesse or sanctification that is wrought in us by the Spirit of God but it is that without us which remaines in Christ himselfe that justifies us for they are two distinct thing it is called the righteousnesse of God Rom. 1.17 Then they are very ignorant of Gods righteousnesse that goe about to establish their owne righteousnesse and have not submitted themselves to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10.3 Paul desired not to be found in his owne righteousnesse but in that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse of God by faith Phil. 3.9 This righteousnesse without us being imputed to us makes us just and righteous in the sight of God by this alone we are counted worthy of the Kingdome of God 2 Thess 1.5 and accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead Luke 20.35 see 21.36 and saith Paul David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without workes and Abraham by the hand of Faith as an instrument whereby he tooke fast hold of the righteousnesse of Christ giving glory to God and staggered not through unbeleefe it was counted reckoned or imputed unto him for righteousnesse now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed unto him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeve on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead Rom. 4.6 20 21 22 23 24. Thus we become righteous in the sight of God and although we were borne in the guilt of originall sinne yet now it is done away by Christ for he hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Isa 53.6 so then Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sinne is covered and Blessed is he to whom the Lord will not impute sinne Rom. 4.7 Psal 32.1 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not imputing their trespasses 2 Cor. 5.19 thus our sinnes were imputed to Christ but not infused into him for still he was the Lambe without blemish and without spot who did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 1.19.2.22 Yet he that knew no sinne was made sinne for us by imputation they were accounted and reckoned to be his and so Christ hath once suffered for sinnes the just for the unjust 1 Pet. 3.18 That we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 But this was not done by infusing his righteousnesse into us to make us just for we are sinfull creatures still we are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesse are as filthy ragges Isa 64.6 So then we are justified by the righteousnesse of Christ without us imputed or reckoned to be ours for we are made the righteousnesse of God in him and not in our selves this rightly observed might convince them of their proud boasting that they are as righteous as Christ when as the righteousnesse of Christ that makes us just remaines in him and not in us Thirdly we are said to be justified by faith Rom. 3.28.5.1 This is done when we take or receive the righteousnesse of Christ being purchased by the blood of Christ and so imputed and reckoned to be ours being reached forth unto us by the spirit of God and received by the hand of our faith and so we come to have a true title to it yet not by infusion but by imputation and faith for as many as received him he gave power to become the sonnes of God even to them that beleeve on his Name John 1.12 To him that worketh not but beleveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 Not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Phil. 3.9 Israel hath not attained to the law of righteousnesse wherefore because they sought it not by faith but by the workes of the law therefore they stumbled at that stumbling stone but whosoever beleeveth on him shall not be ashamed Rom. 9.31.32.33 Faith applying makes Christ ours as Thomas beleeving said my God and my Lord John 20.27 28. Then I conclude this third cause of our justification being the instrumentall cause of it with that saying of Paul God justifies the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith Rom. 3.30 but I never read of any that were justified without faith or before faith or calling let the Antenomeans prove the contrary if they can Fourthly we are said to be justified freely by his grace Rom. 3.24 that is when God the Father doth freely accept of the righteousnesse purchased by the blood of Christ and accounts and imputes it unto us as ours and reacheth it our unto us by his spirit and we take and receive it by faith thus to justifie us is freely of his grace and this deserves the title of free grace For God so loved the
grace of God we have had our conversation in the world 2 Cor. 1.12 I have lived in all good conscience before God to this day Act. 23.1 I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience beareth me witnes in the Holy-ghost Ro. 9.1 Thus you see that we must not content our selves with a bare testimony but we must labour to see the work wrought in us let but thy conscience bring thee to thy tryall and thou shalt easily see how it is with thee and doe not say that this is legall teaching lest thou be filled with fancies and no reall worke of grace be wrought as yet in thee and doe not thinke that the spirit of God will worke when thou liest still and remainest an empty trunke or a dead stone no thou must be made a living stone and must worke actively by the movings of the spirit of God in thee draw me and we will runne after thee Cant. 1.3 I shall runne the wayes of thy Commandements when thou doest inlarge my heart Psal 119.32 but this they condemne as legall teaching because spirituall sloathfulnesse hath so possessed them that they will make no other triall but rest upon a bare idle perswasion or testimony but whether it came from God or the divell they know not Well they say they are justified as soone as they were borne and then as righteous as Christ and this they know from a bare testimony now it followes say they that God cannot correct them neither doth he correct for their sinne but onely to exercise their faith I grant that God doth not punish his children in wrath and fury with plagues and vengeance but as gentle corrections from a loving father for their good yet still sinne was the cause of it saith David there is no soundnesse in my flesh nor rest in my bones because of my sinne Psal 38.3 4 5. why doth the living man complaine man is punished for his sinne Lam. 3.39 then art thou made whole sinne no more lest a worse thing come unto thee John 5.14 if David a man after Gods owne heart sinne scandalously the sword shall never depart from his house 2 Sam. 12 10. God is not partiall in his corrections though Coniah were as the signet upon my right hand yet would I plucks him thence Ier. 22.24 that soule that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. all things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked Eccles 9.2 the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6.23 And every sicknesse or inward griese or sorrow or outward hurts or maladies all are but parts and parcels of this wages that we receive from the service of sinne and we receive this wages by parts and parsels daily for as Adam in the day that he sinned he began to dye he received some part of that wages of sinne death seized upon him and slew him by degrees and so we as soon as we were borne began to dye and all those afflictions and sorrowes that doe befall us doe but hallen us to our end but who is freed from these things what man is he that liveth and shall not see death Ps 89.41 our Prophets are dead and our fathers are fallen asleep wise men dye as well as fooles for all must dye and be as water spile upon the ground 2 Sam. 14.14 then God doth correct and that heavily for sinne yet his corrections are sweetned to his people the sting or bitternesse of them is takâ—n out yet we shall not be freed from corrections nor death so long as we carry a body of sinne daily about with us death is passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 but will they say that death is not a correction it is the king of terrours Iob 18.14 will they say death is but to exercise their faith but suppose one of them were shot with a bullet how would he exercise his faith or can they exercise their faith to prevent a sinne when they are corrected for their sinne already committed saith David before J was afflicted J went astray Psal 119.67 and Manasseh was converted in the furnace of afflictions which was the meanes to beget his faith and not to exercise it before he had it it is manifest enough that God doth correct his people for sinne if thy children forsake my law and if they breake my statutes then J will visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquity with stripes neverthelesse J will not take away my mercy from him Psal 89.30 then let not the Antonomeans forsake Gods law lest they feele the weight of his correcting hand you have I knowne of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for your iniquities Amos 3.2 then let them take heed how they say when they sinne tush God sees not God is not like to themselves he will reprove them and set their sinnes in order before them consider thâ—â— ye that forget God lest he teare you in â—â—eces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50.21 God will correct Jacob in measure and will not leave him altogethen unpunished Jer. 10.24.20.11 for the transgression of Jacob is all this Micah 1.5 Zachariah and Elizabeth are as famous as any in all the Scripture for being both just and righteous before God and walking in all the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesse yet saith the Angell to him thou shalt be dumb and not able to speake which was a sore correction because thou beleevest not my words Luke 1.6.20 and Jehosaohat was a good man yet if he helpe the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord there shall wrath from the Lord be upon him nevertheles there are good things found in him 2 Chr. 19.23 Miriam was a good woman yet if she speake against Moses the anger of the Lord is kindled and behold Miriam became leprous white as snow Num. 12.1.9 10. for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne that he receiveth if ye endnre chastening whereof all are partakers then are ye sonnes and not bastards Heb. 12.6 7 8. Ephraim bemoaned himselfe thus Thou hast chastâ—sed me yet saith the Lord Ephraim is my deare sonne he is a pleasant child I doe earnestly remember him still my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him saith the Lord Jer. 31.18.20 it is a signe of a humble heart when the Land is scourged for sinne to acknowledge our sinnes to be the cause of it as David did saying to the Lord I even I onely have sinned and done evill indeed but as for these sheep what have they done 1 Chron. 21.17 see 2 Sam. 24.10 Againe when Nathan came to him he said I have sinned against the Lord 2 Sam. 12.13 Againe it is the brand of a reprobate when God ceaseth to correct him for his sinne I will no more punish your daughters when they commit whoredome nor your spouses when they commit adultery Ephraim is
an argument sufficient why beleevers should not be called upon to humble themselves because others are not humbled and because they see others are worse then themselves but this is their folly who have left the law of God which is the true rule and make sinfull men their rule and so the blind lead the blind till both fall into the ditch But we must not follow the Antinomeans rule so long as we have the true rule to walke by which is the perfect and eternall law of God this glasse of Gods law will shew us our sinnes I had not knowne sinne but by the law Rom. 7.7 for by the law is the knowledge of sinne Rom. 3.20 and it was after Pauls conversion that he looked upon the law and came to know his sinne which shews that he had not done with it when he beleeved and are we more perfect then he Although a beleever comes to see his owne vilenesse and therefore denies himselfe and no man more yet he is but part spirit and part flesh and these two are fighting continually in him and we see the often fals of the best of Gods people which should be a warning to us to walke circumspectly not as fooles but as wise Ephe. 4.15 we had need be ready and willing both to give counsell and to receive counsell to walke watchfully and humbly let us consider onâ— another and provoke unto love and to good workes Heb. 10.24 Paul bids Timothy to stirre up that gift that was given him 2 Tim. 1.6 and Paul with stood Peter to his face because he was to be blamed and Barnabas was carrieâ— away also with their dissimulation Gal. 2.11.13 Then sure Paul was no Antinomean that stirs up their dull spirits to their duties of obedience and watchfulnesse neither was Barnabas nor Timothy noâ— the rest Antinomeans that stood in need of the helpe of others when one oâ— them his graces seemed to dye within him and the other almost lost till Pauâ— roused them up againe then take notice of this prophane man how his freâ— grace gives way freely to all manner of sinnes in beleevers when he saith yoâ— need not bid them to humble themselves what is this but to make void aâ—â— Christian duties and for mourning for sinne and fasting when the Bride groome seemes to be taken away from them and his faith is clouded you neeâ— not to bid them fast and mourne for saith he they are too apt and too proâ—â— to wrong themselves thereby and so in the matter of repentance Therefore rather reprove them that doe so for their weaknesse but muâ—â— we beleeve this Antinomean rather then the Bridegroome himselfe whâ— saith the dayes will come when the Bridegroome shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those dayes Luke 5.35 surely if this man had known what it had beene to have his faith clouded and the loving countenance of God hidden from him it would make him fast and mourne and weepe to have those joyes restored againe that the broken bones may rejoyce Psal 51.8.12 and although this man would have them reproved that doe so yet Christ bids them aske and ye shall have seeke and ye shall find kâ—oâ—ke and it shall be opened hitherto ye have asked nothing aske that your joy may be full John 16.24 he saith a child that knowes that his Father loves him shall you need to tell him that he ought in duty to aske it of his Father as much need saith he is there to preach prayer as a duty but cursed be he that denies that prayer to God both for himselfe and others to be a duty saith Samuel God forbid that J should sinne against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you 1 Sam. 12.23 and how frequent have the Saints in all ages beene in this duty both for themselves and others but yet I confesse that such as they are who turne away their care from hearing the law their prayer is abomination Prov. 28.9 now if they be so sensible of this heavy sentence they are wiser then I tooke them to be to save themselves that labour when their prayer is nothing worth because they forsake the law of God But they say a beleever cannot want much nor many things therefore they need not pray I answ Although a beleever be rich yet he hath it not in his owne keeping he hath exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 but we must fetch out these things as we have occasion by the prayer of faith thus saith the Lord God Yet I will be sought for of the house of Israel Ezek. 36.37 aske of me and I will give thee Psal 2.8 and sometimes Dives hath his good things and Lazarus his evill things Luke 16.25 because God loves to hear his people pray Prov. 15.8 But then saith this man if they doe pray sure a very short prayer may serve their turne as our Saviour well knew when he taught us how to pray and reproved long prayer here this man sheweth all his heart then see how he suckes poyson out of the sweetest Flowers as the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the Vallies Cant. 2.1 he turnes the meaning of Christ himselfe to his owne corrupted humour as all Heretiques use to doe For Christ did but teach them the ground of all prayer but when he set himselfe to pray he continued all night in prayer to God Luke 6.12 When Peter was in prison prayer was made without ceasing to God for him Acts 12.5 men ought alwayes to pray and not faint Luke 18.1 Cornelius prayed alwayes Acts 10.2 Then did all these say nothing but that we call the Lords Prayer and then cease or did they say it over as many times as a Fryar will tye his whore to say it to satisfie for her whoredome which is their folly Neither did Christ intend to reprove long prayers but when they asked vaine petitions or when they stand in the street to be seene of men or when they are large in their owne sutes and will not heare the complaint of poore Widdowes but are ready to devour them these shall receive greater damnation Mat. 23.14 But this Antinomean saith if we aske any thing it is a vaine petition because we beleeve that we have it already as to aske for remission of sinne and crying out of the burthen of sinne when we beleeve that Christ hath bourne our sinnes in his body on the Tree and that his blood cleanseth us from all sinne I answer although we beleeve that all our sinnes past are remitted yet we sinne daily therefore Christ hath taught us daily to aske forgivenesse Againe a man sometimes hath some one sinne that troubleth him that he hath no certaine assurance of the pardon of it at the present as David after the sinne of murther prayes the Lord to take away blood guiltinesse from him Ps 51.14 although Nathan had told him before that it was forgiven 2 Sam. 12.13 But he saith he that prayes
others Ephe. 2.2 3. did Paul see this and did not God see it at that time they were without Christ and without God in the world ver 12. and did not God see them saith Paul I was before a blasphomer and a persecuter and injurious 1. Tim. 1.13 did he see this and did not God see it doth not Christ say Saul Saul why persecutest thou me I am Jesus whom thou persecutest Acts 9.4.5 did not Christ then see his sinne although he was a chosen vessell ver 15. but so much before saith or calling But after conversion did not God see Lots incest and Noah drunke and Moses and Aarons unbeliefe which barred them out of the land of Canaan the Lord sent Nathan to David to convince him of his sinne 2. Sam. 12. and he confesseth saying against thee onely have I sinned and done this evill in thy sight Psal 51.4 and saith Moses thou hast set our iniquities before thee and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Ps 90.8 saith the Lord the high places were not taken away out of Israel neverthelesse the heart of Asa was perfect all his dayes 2. Chro. 15.17 yet he was wroth with him that told him of his sinne and put him in person and oppressed some of the people at the same time chap. 16.10 and trusted in the Physician more then God ver 12. then did not God see this how should the Prophet have known it if God had not told him saith the Lord among my people are found wicked men they lay waite as he that setteth snares they set a traâ— they catch men they overpasse the deeds of the wicked they judge not the cause of the fatherlesse yet they prosper Jer. 5.26.28 the sinne of Iudah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond it is graven upon their heart Jer. 17.1 saith Paul Peter and the other Jewes desembled insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation Gal. 2.13 Did Paul see this and did not God see it when Peter denied Christ did not he see him the Lord turned and looked upon him and Peter remembred the words of the Lord and Peter went out and wept bitterly Luke 32.61.62 Yee fools when will ye be wise he that planted the care shall not he bear and he that formed the eye shall not he see Psal 94.8 9. the Lord knowes the thoughts of men then I conclude that a man may build upon the true foundation hay wood or stubble and he may suffer losse but himselfe shall be saved yet so as by fire 1. Cor. 3.11.12.15 therefore God sees all the sinnes of his justified children both before and after conversion And although it be said He beheld no iniquity in Jacob nor perversnesse in Israel Num. 23.21 yet he saw it although he would passe by their transgressions Micah 7.18 and would not suffer Balaam to curse them neither would he forsake them but correct them as he saw good and not according to their enemies rage which hath no mercy And although it be said that they cannot sinne 1 John 3.9 yet saith the same Iohn if we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 1 John 1.8 but yet they doe not sinne that sinne unto death 1 John 5.16 neither with that whole swing as wicked men doe but the spirit striveth against the flesh that they cannot doe the things that they would Gal. 5.17 yet how can he be cleane that is borne of a woman who can bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane Job 14.1 how can man be justified with God or how can he be cleane that is borne of a woman Job 25.4 Who can say I have made my heart cleane Pro. 20.7 there is no man living that sinneth not 1 Kings 8.46 2 Chron. 6. â—6 Eccle. 7.20 Then are we perfectly righteous I meane in respect of degrees in this life if this were so how can there be any degrees of grace as a strong faith in some and a little faith in others Or how can there be any groth in grace if we had already attained or were already perfect in degrees but perfection in this world consists not in the absence of sinne but in the sight of sinne and fighting against sinne and groaning under the burthen of sinne and because we sinne daily we must aske forgivenesse daily and to be kept from temptation daily Matth. 6. we are not perfect in degrees of grace heere therefore the Sacrament was ordained to strengthen our faith and to increase our holinesse but they that say that they are as perfect as Christ what makes them to receive the Sacrament which is onely to strengthen their faith let the subtellest of them make answer if he can but saith Paul as ye abound in every thing in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us so abound in this grace also 2 Cor. 8.7 and saith Iohn I pray God thou maiest prosper even as thy soule prospereth 3 John 2. Yet I grant that we are perfectly justified at once but we are not perfectly sanctified in this life I meane in respect of degrees although we be perfectly sanctified in respect of parts as a child hath all the parts of a man but he must grow up unto the degrees of a man then what bold presumption is this to say we are perfectly righteous as Christ when as he neither wants parts nor degrees and besides it is in him as in the Fountaine and in us but as the Cesterne out of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace John 1.17 againe he waâ— never desiled with sinne as we are and we have no more of his righteousnesse then our weake faith is able to receive yet I grant he that hath little shall have no lacke yet there is degrees of grace here and of glory hereafter God gave not the spirit to Christ by measure John 3.34 but unto every one of us is give grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Ephe. 4.7.16.13 the let us take heed lest we offend Christ in boasting of our righteousnesse wheâ— we have nothing but what we have received then why should we boast as if we received it not 1 Cor. 6.7 and take heed lest you say God cannot see your sin for be sure your sinne will find you out Num. 32.23 the Lord commended Iob for a perfect man upright and one that feared God and eschewed evill Job 1.1 yet Iob sinned not onely in his passion chap. 3. but afterward when he saith the Lord breaketh me with a tempest and multiplieth my wounds without cause chap. 9.17 he saith I am righteous and God hath taken away my judgement my wound is incurable without transgression chap. 34 5 6. he saith I am cleane without transgression I am innocent neither is there iniquity in me behold he findeth out occasions against me chap. 33.9 10. he hath said I am more
joyned to Idols let him alone Hosea 4.14.17 so when the Lâ—â—d smote Uzzah for his errour that he dyed David was afraid of the Lord tâ—â—t day 2 Sam. 6.7.8 when Christ said to his Apostles one of you shall betray me every one suspected his owne heart saying Lord is it I Mat. 26. then let not us say God cannot correct us nor any other for our sinnes which is one maine cause why they refuse the covenant but let them know if God have forgiven them yet he will take vengeance on their inventions Psal 99.8 then if God send Jonah to cry against the wickednesse of Niniveh and he goe to Tarshesh from the presence of the Lord God will send a great and mighty wind and tempest so that the ship was like to be broken and Jonah forced to confesse and say for my sake this great tempest is come upon you Ionah 1.2.12 the judge of all the earth will doe right Gen. 18. and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done saith the Lord God Ezek. 14.23 and when some received the Sacrament unworthily for this cause many were sicke and weake and many dead 1 Cor. 11. then doth not God correct his people for sinne or will they say they dye onely for â—ryall for these men were some of them Gods people which shall not be condemned with the world ver 32. judgement beginneth at the house of God 1 Pet. 4.17 which makes David say my flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements Psal 119.120 Hab. 3.15 but these people are so full of mirth from those following grounds that they brake out into laughter saying they cannot sinne being in Christ and if they should yet God cannot see it or if he should chance to see it he cannot be displeased with it or if he should be displeaâ—ed his hands are bound that he cannot correct them for it then they must neither repent nor be sorry nor pray for the pardon of any sinne neither past present nor to come neither must they heare of their sinnes any more this fils their faces full of comfort when their hearts have cause enough to be heavy saith Salomon he is the happy man that feareth alwayes Prov. 28.14 when this feare stirres up watchfulnesse and diligence to please God with reverence and godly feare Hâ—b 12.28 a child may feare his fathers rod although he feare not to be disinherited even the reghteous shall see and feare Psal 52.6 legall threatnings cannot hurt the righteous saith David let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindnesse and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyle which shall not breake mine head Psal 141.6 these lower hearbs will make us relish promises the better and stick faster to them and it will inflame our love to God more deeper for saving us from those dangers threatned and it will stirre up compassion in us towards our brethren to helpe them out of those dangers and to worke out our owne salvation with feare and trembling Phil. 2.11 Thus they being justified as soone as they are borne and then as righteous as Christ this they know from a bare testimony or revelation or suggeestion then God cannot correct nor punish them for sin now it followes that they are freed from the commanding power of the law of God by their free grace they are discharged from all duty or obedience to it now the law of God is no rule for them but whâ—â— they doe is onely out of love and curtesie for they owe God nothing at all Here I grant that the Juditiall law was not made for us and the ceremoniall law was ended in Christ but the morrall law abides for ever I meane the commanding and discovering power of it remaines as a glasse to beleevers and as a rule or a bridle to keep them in continuall obedience to the Lord. And whereas it is said If ye be led by the Spirit ye are not vnder the law but under grace Gal. 5.18 it is to be understood you do obey the law freely without the lashing or constraining power of the law and where it is said sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace Rom. 3.13 this is plain that if sinne have dominion over you you are under the curse and condemning power of the law but from the raigne of sinne and from the curse of the law you are freed by Christ Rom. 8.1 Gal. 3.13 This curse and condemning power of the law is not made for a righteous man but for the ungodly for sinners and unholy for murtherers and whoremongers theeves and lyars and perjured persons or any other sinne that is contrary to sound doctrine 1. Tim. 1.9.10 Wherefore the law is holy and the commandement holy just and good Rom. 7.12 but they will have the commanding power of the law to last but till John the Batpist because it is said the law and the Prophets were untill John Luke 16.16 and the law was added for transgressors till the seed should come Gal. 3.19 I answer they prophesied of Christ till John Mat. 11.13 but when John shewed them the Messiah and poynted to him with his finger saying Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world John 1.29 then they ceased to prophesie or to foretell of his coming when they saw him but to say that the law should laâ—â— but till John is yet to prove and cannot be gathered from this place For tilâ— the law sinne was in the world Rom. 5.13 but will they gather from hence that there was no sinne in the world after that the law was given if Mical be childlesse till her death she must needs be so for ever and Paul saith to Timothie Till I come give attendance to reading exhortation and doctrine neglect not the gift that is in thee 1. Tim. 4.13.14 but after that Paul is come must he neglect these duties because it is said do them till I come thus they force the Scriptures to favour their errours Then they say Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse so I say too for he hath put an end to all types and shadowes of the Ceremoniall law and he hath put an end to the curse and bondage of the morall law Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us Gal. 3.13 and from the condemning power of it Rom. 8.1 but if we speak of obedience to the commanding power of the law Christ is the scop and end to which all our obedience tends and he is the end for whose sake all the promises are made good unto us and not for our obedience and he alone gives being and performance to them all 2 Cor. 1.20 and he is the end of the law for righteousnesse that is the law brings us to Christ for righteousnesse and in him we have righteousnesse â—â— fulfil the laws not
inherent but by imputation Then are we freed from the law no then are we tyed faster in obedience to it forasmuch as we had no power before to do it but now through Christ we can doe all things Againe they say they have the spirit of God for their rule and they doe all by a free spirit and need not the law to rule them for they are like unto trees that bring forth fruit of themselves without any teaching But let them know that trees although they were never so rooted in the earth yet they would never bring forth fruit of themselves but by the meanes of outward helps as the Sunne and the raine and other helpes and besides the spirit of God brings them to the rule of the law to square and try all their actions by it and shewes us wherein we faile and when we doe that which is required of us But sure these men thinke that our Fathers went to Heaven by one meanes and we must goe thither by another meanes but saith the Apostle we write unto you no new commandement but the old which ye have had from the beginning then there is but one way Ier. 32.39 for them and us had they the law so have we and if we have the Gospell so had they and the law and the gospell command the same vertues and both forbid the same vices then what a cursed errour is this to thinke that God the sonne should free beleevers from all obedience to God the Father but we know that he who honours the son must needs honour the Father Iohn 5.23 the sonne speakes not of himselfe but from the Father ver 16. then he that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walke even as he walked 1 John 2.6 but how was that saith he Loe I come in the volume of thy booke it is written of me to doe thy will O God then said I loe I come to doe thy will O God Heb. 10.7.9 and saith he I seeke not mine owne will but the will of the Father that sent me John 5.30 Mat. 26.39 my doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Iohn 7.16 he was subject to his Parents Luke 2.51 and saith Paul let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2.5 and Christ saith learne of me Mat. 11.29 I have given you an example that ye should doe as I have done to you if ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Ioh. 13.15.17 and for suffering he left us an example that we should follow his steps 1. Pet. 2.21 then did Christ free us from the law or did he not rather by his own example shew us how to obey the law more exactly and saith David thy law endures for ever in heaven Psa 119.89 and the Angels do the commandments of God and hearken to the voice of his word Psal 10.3 and do not the Saints liev there by the same rule have they not all one charter why doth Christ teach us to pray that we may doe the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven Mat. 6. are we on earth more perfect then they or more sanctified then they or hath Christ done more for us then for them if not why then should we forsake that rule that must be for Saints and Angels for ever they boast of their justification but saith Ambrose how can they be justified that are not friends with the law of God and Luther whom they challâ—nge for their own friend he rangeth them among the unjustified and by his câ—nsure rejects them among the unregenerate for saith he Paul said I delight in the law of God in the inward man and I serve the law of God in my mind Rom. 7.22.25 and saith David O how I love thy law Psal 119.97 and the blessed man delights in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night Psal 1.2 then were Christ and his Apostles and the faithfull Ministers that succeed them all legall Preachers for urging the law and pressing on beleevers the obedience of the law yea to the law more strictly expounded by Christ as you shall see anon then it was by the Scribes and Pharisees Then he that neglects the Commandements and shall teach men so shall be least in the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doeth them and teacheth men so shall be called great in the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5.19 againe how can a man teach obedience of faith but he must needs teach obedience to the law for if faith beare no fruits it is a dead faith James 2.17 18. and if those workes or fruits be not regulated by the law they are but grapes of gall which growes on the vine of Sodom and their clusters are bitter Deut. 32.32 the workes of the law and the workes of faith are the same thing they may be distinguished but not devided and saith Christ to the Lawyer what is written in the law how readest thou and he answered thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy strength and thy neighbour as thy selfe and Christ said unto him thou hast answered right this doe and thou shalt live Luke 10.26 27 28. and doth not faith worke by love Gal. 5.6 againe how can a man beleeve that God will shew mercy to thousands of them that love him and keepe his commandements Exod. 20.6 when they shew no endeavour at all to keepe or obey them but scornfully terme them legall teachers that call for any obedience from them but what makes them to love God if the commanding power of his law doth not or if they yeeld to this command of the law why not as well to another bâ—t if they love God and not as a duty to his law that commands it it is bottomlesse groundlesse and in the end will be comfortlesse and why doe they beleeve in Christ but to fulfill the Fathers commandement for this is his commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his sonne Jesus Christ and love one another as he the father gave us commandement 1 Iohn 3.23 this is the vvorke of God to beleeve on him vvhom he hath sent Iohn 6.29 Then doe we make void the law through faith God forbid yâ—a we establish the law Rom. 3.31 being not without thâ— law to God but under the law to Christ 1 Cor. 9. â—1 He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Rom. 14.18 He thâ—â— speaketh evill of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evill of the law and judgeth the law but if thou judge the law thou art not a doer of the law but a judge Jam. 4.11 If ye have respect to persons ye commit sinne and are convinced of the law as transgressors whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all for he that said thou shalt not commit adultery
and his Commandements are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 But if they love God why doe they despise his Law which saith Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy might these words I command thee this day Deut. 6.5.6 and where is their love to Christ they boast so much of for he saith these words in answer to the Lawyer This is the first and great Commandement in the Law to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and vvith all thy soule and vvith all thy mind and the second is like unto it thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe on these tvvo Commandements hang all the Lavv and the Prophets Mat. 22.37.38 And Moses spake the same words of the second Table saying Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe Levit. 19.18 so that you see the sweet harmony between Christ and Moses and the same was with Paul who saith Thou shalt not commit adultery kill nor steale nor beare false witnesse nor covet love worketh no ill to his neighbour therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.9 10. then doth love drive them from the law saith David Oh hovv I love thy lavv and what followes it is my meditation all the day Psal 119.97 thy testimonies are my delight and what followes and my councellours ver 24. Unlesse thy law had beene my delight I had perished in mine affliction I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickned me ver 92.93 thaâ— is the shewing him his duty revived his dull spirits that began to flagge and faint but these men despise the Law of God because it is sent by Moses but saith Christ had ye beleeved Moses ye would have beleeved me for he wrote of me and if ye will not beleeve his writings how shall ye beleeve my words John 5.46.47 Moses told them that the seed of â—he woman should breake the serpents head Gen. 3.15 and that the Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the middest of thee of thy brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken and he shall speake unto them all that I command him Deut. 18.18 and saith the Lord This is my beloved Sonne heare him Mat. 17.5 the Apostle to set forth the faithfulnesse of Christ compares him with faithfull Moses for saith he Christ was faithfull to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithfull in all his house Heb. 3.2 then why must Moses be so despised who was as faithfull to the Lord as ever man was but yet the message was the Lords then why must Gods law be despised because you like not the messenger that brings it Againe Christ cleares the law of Moses from their false glosses but it seemes in their conceit that Moses hath so defiled it that Christ is not able to cleare it againe except he take it quite away for they are not minded to make it a rule to beleevers although they perish by swarving from it as that cursed Whoremonger that is so busie to broach those sweet tolerations for his owne vilany and for such as he vvho esteeme the law of God as a heavy burden to them and as a bridle to restraine them from their sweet pleasures in sinne but if they leave this rule they must needs offer polluted bread to the Lord and the blind and the lame and the sick in their offering vvhich is evill that their governour vvould not be pleased vvith nor accept their persons then cursed be that deceiver that hath in his flocke a male and offereth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Mal. 1.7 8 9 14. if the Lord vvrite unto you the great things of his law and you count them as a strange thing Hosea 8.12 If you doe not make the law of God your guide you must needs bring strange fire to the Lord as the Sonnes of Aaron did and perished for their presumption Levit. 10.12 for vvho required these things at your hands to tread my Courts to vvhat purpose is all that ye doe bring no more vaine oblations it is iniquity my soule hateth them they are a trouble to me I cannot beare them Isa 1.11.12.13.14 see Amos 5.25.26 He that killeth an oxe is as if he slew a man and he that sacrificeth a lambe as if he cut off a dogges necke he that offereth an oblation as if he offered swines blood and he that burneth Incense as if he blessed an Idoll the reason is because they have chosen their owne vvayes Isa 66.3 thus saith the Lord stand in the vvay and see aske for the old pathes vvhere is the good vvay and vvalke therein and ye shall finde rest for your soules but they laid vve vvill not vvalke therein Heare O earth I vvill bring evill upon this people the fruit of their owne thoughts because they have not harkened to my law but rejected it then it followes to vvhat purpose cometh their incense to me from Sheba your offerings are not acceptable nor your sacrifices sweet unto me Jer. 6.16.19.20 these people are like unto King Saul vvho forâ—ooke the commandement of the Lord and then vvould goe offer the sacrifice of his owne devising but to obey had beene better then sacrifice and to harken then the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 so these men forsake the law of God and say that it is no rule for beleevers and then they say that love will move them to something unrequired not as any duty nor done in obedience to the Lord but out of free love and meere good will and curtisie but I say if it be not done by the rule and weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary but onely of their owne head God will say of them as he said of Saul Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and stubbornnesse is as iniquity and idolatry because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord he also hath rejected thee from being King 1 Sam. 15.23 and now O Israel what doth the Lord require of thee but to feare the Lord thy God and to walke in all his wayes and to love him and to serve him with all thy heart and with all thy soule and to keep the Commandements of the Lord and his statutes which I command thee this day for thy good Deut. 10.12 13. but they will answer that their free grace hath freed them from all duties so that they doe not stand in feare to oftend the Lord neither are they bound to walke in all his wayes nor to serve the Lord with all their heart and soule nor to endeavour to keep his lawes and statutes for their good this they say is legall and but the words of Moses and they can love God and this they can shew sufficiently from their free will unrequired of God or done in obedience to his law for it is no rule for them neither doe they acknowledge any duty to it Againe they are not acquainted with the graces of Gods
mans law but by Christ-alone so I say too but will it follow hence that because the law doth not justifie a sinner therefore it is void it is like as if a man should say that because he cannot heare with his eyes nor see with his eares therefore they are all void and of no use to him this is Antinomean divinity And so because the terrours and torments of the law are taken off to beleevers therefore the law is void to Antinomeans if this be so then if the sting of death be taken off to beleevers by their divinity they must not dye nor be â—courged for their sinne but as the sting of death and afflictions is taken away to beleevers and so they are sweetned unto them but not taken away so the â—urse or sting of the law is taken away yet the law is not made void and so â—ne of Luthers Schollers saith the Regenerate are not under the law in respect â—f justification accusation condemnation or coaction but he affirmeth a â—â—reefold use of the law to the Regenerate First as a doctrine to direct in duâ—es Secondly as a glasse to see the defects of them Thirdly to restrain corâ—â—ption that is in them And Master Calvin in his second book of Institutions â—â—ap 7. sect 12. speakes of the morall law as it concernes the faithfull how â—â—ey should use it namely to know the will of God and by the fervent meditation of it they should be excited to the obedience of it and strengthened in their obedience of it and restrained from the offences of it in the 13. sect Libertines deny the law because it is the ministration of death but farre be it from us saith hee to hold such a prophane opinion he saith it hath an excellent use namely to be a perperuall rule of life and so in the 14. and 15. sect and in the third booke 19. chap. sect 2. he saith although Christians must lift themselves above the law and forget the righteousnesse of the law yet saith he we must not conclude the law as needlesse for it doth not cease to teach to exhort and to incite to good though before Gods Tribunall it hath no place in our consciences the law therefore by Master Calvins doctrine and determination abideth by Christ an unviolable doctrine I might mention many famous Divines that have confuted this cursed heresie in their several ages but I will only here mention one more to these two of famous memory in the Church of God because their bookes are all extant and easie to be had without much trouble to the Reader it is that judicious Mr. Perkins in his fruitfull writings appeareth every where as in his Golden-cheyn chap. 31. having set downe the use of the morall law in the unregenerate he concludeth that the use of the law in the Regenerate is farre otherwise for it guideth them to new obedience which may be acceptable to God through Christ and in his Commentary on the Gall. page 172. line 6. he sheweth that still the Lord repeateth his law in his old tenure First to teach us that the law is of a constant and unchangeable nature Secondly to advertise us of our weaknesse and to shew us what we cannot doe Thirdly to put us in mind still to humble us after we have begun by grace to obey the law because even then we came farre short in doing the things which the law requireth aâ— our hands and on page 119. line 35. he enquireth now faith is come what iâ— the guard whereby we are now kept from sinne he answereth the morall law which is as stakes and nailes fastened to range men in the compasse of theiâ— owne duties Eccles 12.11 and upon page 201. line â—4 he puts forth this question how farre the morall law is abrogated his answer is three wayes First in respect of justification Secondly of maladiction Thirdly in respect â—â— rigour for them that are in Christ God accepteth their endeavours to obeâ— for obedience it selfe neverthelesse saith he the law as it is a rule of good liâ—â— is unchangeable and admitteth no abrogation and Christ in this regard did 〈◊〉 his death establish it Rom. 3.31 and page 253. li. 35. he saith the law must 〈◊〉 considered two wayes First as a rule of life thus Angels are under the laâ— and Adam before his fall and the Saints in Heaven and none yeeld more â—â—â—jection to the law then they and this subjection is their liberty but whâ—â— did the Antinomeans learne this divinity that Christ came to abrogate â—â—â— law of Innoceâ—cy which Adam had before his fall or the eternall law of Saiâ—â—â— and Angels glorified also in his Treatise of conscience chap. 2. he saith 〈◊〉 morall law bindeth the consciences of all men and at all times to obedience Now good Reader get these bookes Calvins Institutions and Luther and Perkins on the Galla. and see these things that thou maiest be satisfied and shake off these seducers as Paul shook off the Viper Acts 28.5 lest thou perish eternally by them Well thus we have driven them from their strong holds the Scripture is against them and good men forsake them for they have made lyes their refuge and under falshood have they hid themselves but the haile shall sweep away their refuge of lyes and the waters shall overflow their hiding place Isa 28.15.17 But when thou art spoyled what wilt thou doe though thou cloathest thy selfe with Crimson though thou deckest thy selfe with Ornaments of gold though thou paintest thy face with painting in vaine shalt thou make thy selfe faire thy lovers will despise thee Jer. 4.30 Thou art called to give an account of thy Stewardship art thou resolved what to doe that when thou art put out thy Antinomean proselites may receive thee into their houses Luke 16.2.4 thou hast but one shift more that when thy Masters debters are called to deny half their debt to take their bill and presently discharge them of all their debt written in the old Testament and if this will not please them to receive thee when God and good men have cast thee off then take thy bill and write presently scriptum est any thing is scripture and of an equall vallue with it if it be but written in a play booke or ballad if this will not doe to be maintained privately amongst them tell them that thou knowest no word of God but Christ and this word is in thee and therefore thou needest no other helpe without thou art so full of light within these things comes next to be answered They deny utterly the authority of the old Testament yet this need not to trouble us when as it is so abundantly confirmed both by Christ and his Apostles in the new not onely by coating of it but giving it the name and title of Scripture Paul speaking of Genesis saith What saith the scripture Abraham beleeved God Rom. 4.3 and of Exodus The Scripture saith unto Pharaoh Rom. 9.17 and of Numbers
that the scripture might be fulfilled John 19.36 and of Deuteronomie as the scripture hath said John 7.38 and of Isaiah the scripture saith Rom. 10.11 and of the Psalmes that the scripture might be fulfilled and of Zechariah another scripture saith John 19.24.28.47 what shall I say Christ beginning at Moses and all the Prophets expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself then opened he their understanding that they may know the Scriptures what was written in the law of Moses in the Prophets and Psalmes concerning himselfe Luke 24.27.44 45. saith Christ search the Scriptures for they testifie of me John 3.39 now I demand what Scriptures these were if not the old Testament for the new was not yet written and so Apollos mighty in Scripture convinced the Jewes shewing by the seripture that Jesus was Christ Acts 18.24.28 and all that was written aforetime was for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 then how dare these men deny the old Testament that is so confirmed both by Christ and his Apostles in the new which is the language of their Honey-combe Some Errours that are in a little booke called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evill discovered and answered IN that Book they make any humane writings to be Scripture and make no difference betweene play-bookes and the Scripture of truth Dan. 10.21 but all Scripture is given by anspiration and is profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes and the Scripture is able to make thee wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. then are the writings of men such a Scripture Again the Scripture is of no private interpretation For the prophesie came not in old time by the will of men but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy-Ghost 2 Pet. 1.20.21 then is mens writings Scripture He that shall adde to this Booke God will adde to him all the plagues that are written in this Booke or if any man shall take away any thing from the words of this Booke God shall take away his part out of the Booke of life Rev. 22.18 19. then surely the two Testaments with all their severall Chapters contained in them are the Scripture and not any humane writings whatsoever But I fear any Scripture may serve them that regard none at all for they say that they are led onely by an inward Principle so that they need no other help at all but the noble Bereans did search the Scripture daily to see whither those things were so Act. 17.11 the Scriptures should be the sole Judge of all controversies and that by which we should try all our thoughts words and actions therefore saith Christ search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 To the law to the test mony if they speak not according to that it is because there is no light in them Is 8.20 for the Pen-men of it could not erre in writing of it the Apostles were filled with the Holy-ghost they spake as the Spirit gave them utterance Act. 2.4 and when they mention that which is written in the old Testament they say thus saith the Holy-ghost Heb. 3.7 and well spake the Holy-ghost Act. 28.5 He spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets since the world began Luk. 1.70 therfore when these men say the law is written in their hearts they need not the law in the letter of it they do erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 they think because they see the act of murther and theft are sins therefore they see enough but so much a carnall man may see with that remainder or reliques of the law that was in Adams heart many do by nature the things contained in the law which shew the work of the law written in their hearts Rom. 2.14.15 but yet Paul did not see the lust of heart to be a sinne but by the written law Rom. 7.7 we know but in part and we see but darkly as through a glasse 1 Cor. 13.12 we see Christ but through the lettice Cant. 2.9 and when we see our sinnes by the law if we doe not continue therein we soone forget what manner of men we were James 1.24.25 then let us obey that command and write us a coppy of the law and read therein all the dayes of our life Deut. 17.18.19 and the heart of man is deceitfull above all things and who can know it Jer. 17.9 then we had need to try our selves daily by the written law of God that we turne not aside from it and saith Paul not as though I had already attained or were already perfect but I follow after brethren I count not my selfe to have apprehended but I forget these things behind and presse toward the marke neverthelesse whereunto we have attained let us walke by the same rule let us mind the same thing Phil. 3.12 13 14 15. and as many as obey this rule peace be on them and mercy Gal. 6.16 Againe they say there is no other word of God but Christ because in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the word was made flesh John 1.1.14 but Christ is in them and so the Word is perfectly in them and they neither know nor need any other It is true Christ is the essentiall word of God being the second person in Trinity but he is not the written word of God contained in letters and sillables which are Gods owne words although many of them were spoken by men for it is said God spake all these words and said Exod. 20.1 then blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luke 11.28 and againe Christ said you are cleane through the word that I have spoken unto you Iohn 15.3 and Christ will sanctifie his Church by the washing of water with the word Ephe. 5.26 but neither water nor word were his person it were folly to thinke so then let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Col. 3.16 he that heareth my word and beleeveth in him that sent me hath everlasting life John 5.24 his sheep heare his voyce and follow him they have Moses and the Prophets let them heare them for they all spake Thus saith the Lord and the word of the Lord came unto me saying but if they will not heare Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luke 16.29.31 Some other Errours I find in a little Booke Intitled Christs counsell to the Angell of the Church of Laodicea discovered and answered they say that legall teachers say God will not save us without faith and repentance humility self deniall fasting mourning and prayer and the use of the Ordinances as hearing reading and receiving the Sacraments and observing the Sabbath and doing as we would be done by and a desire to