and Regeneration by the Spirit of Life and Grace from Christ and of this the Apostle Discourses after the Mentions of the Law of Nature and the Gentiles Conformity to it in some parts the Grace of the Gospel turns the Uncircumcision into Circumcision of the Spirit as he goes on 2. Let us consider the great difference between the Law and the Gospel in that which Scripture in the New Testament so universally stiles the Law viz. the whole Frame of the Mosaic Law and as this was purely by it self and as it did not look to Christ it is Represented as that rigorous and severe Dispensation that is the Killing Letter the Ministration of Death of Condemnation the Law that worketh Wrath by which is the Knowledge of Sin by which no Flesh can be Justified in his Sight a Law of Works done by our own Power in Number Weight and Measure or else it brings under the Curse A Law therefore that can by no means give life and so Righteousness cannot be by it unto Justification of Life and all the Ceremonies are but so many Labels Hand-writings and Seals against us and contrary to us Binding us to keep the whole Law so opposite to Christ that where they are observed since Reversed by the Gospel he can profit us nothing opposite to Grace so that he that Adheres to them for Righteousness falls from Grace and is under the works of the Law and under the Curse as the Apostle says whoever Sins having the Law perishes by it and with having it It is a Covenant that is found fault with because God finds fault with them who are under it for Breaking it And yet all this time the Law is Holy Just and Good and therefore there was a Glory in regard of its so intimate and essential Goodness that reflected a Glory on Moses his Face when God gave the Two Tables as it were in Remembrance of the first Glory on Adam but it soon vanished into a Ministry of Death and Condemnation shewing how soon Adam fell from the glory of God And yet even this whole Mosaic Frame was designed with all its Ceremonies to lead to Christ according to all the Service of the Law to the Gospel when it is in the hand of the Gospel as hath been before explained in which regard also Moses his Face shone receiving the Raies of the Divine glory in the Face of Christ but because the Efficacy of the Gospel-grace was only to the Elect the Law became Superior and the Ceremonies thickned as a Veil upon that glory Emblemed by the Veil on Moses his Face which hid the glory of Christ which Veil so sadly lies on the Minds of the Jews blinding them to this day But this very Law being in the hand of the Gospel to the Elect was a Law converting the Soul making Wise the Way of Life and all its Ceremonies led to Christ and his glory shone through them although because it was not a Dispensation high and Spiritual enough for that glory oâ— grace They saw That glory was to be done away in Christ not to Remain and therefore even as God did often under-value all the legal State in compare with the Gospel-grace So did his Saints also in the time of the Old-Testament and under the Gospel it is done away But the substantial Goodness of of it was then and ever shall be in the hand of the Gospel as hath been more fully set out in the last Head of Discourse 3. Let us now lastly duly weigh how far even the Dispensation of the Gospel becomes Law to them who by not being in Christ are under the Law although they have the Light of the Gospel vouchsafed to them in the outward Administration For to whomsoever the Gospel is hid or veiled and a Savor of Death they are left to the Dominion of the Law over them However the Gospel be never so clearly offered to them The Law then having nothing to do with the Promises of Grace it urges upon us whatever is to be done by our selves it presses the Acceptance of Christ and of his Righteousness a Conformity to his Holiness and to his holy Precepts as the only way to Recover our selves but it having no Power of Promise according to the Gospel in its own proper Ordination or Dispensation it calls upon us in our own Strength and Improvements of our selves to obtain both Righteousness and the Spirit and so entitles us after the manner of Works only to Pardon of Sin Righteousness and Sanctification by Christ which is turning the Gospel into a Law to all who are not the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ Hereupon it proceeds to aggravate Guilt and Condemnation and to make it more Tolerable for any than for those who having had the Gospel have not yet reached Justification and Righteousness and Sanctification and Holiness by and from the Gospel according to it But now the Gospel proceeds quite otherwise with all those who are the Evangelized truly the Children of Promise For it gives all to them freely and as a Ministration of Righteousness of Life and of the Spirit even that very Righteousness and Spirit It does not set the Elect of God to Correct their Faces the Face of their Hearts and Lives by it as by a Glass or Mirror shewing them what they are but it presents Jesus Christ the Image of God who is also the Lord that Spirit changing the Saints into the same Image though indeed it be but a Beginning Glory onwards still to Perfection of Glory So that there are Raies of Glory from Christ upon the Soul and Spirit of every one united to him far greater than the Raies of Glory on Moses his Face shining from God in his Law by his Image Christ but not as Mediator but as the Eternal Word in our Nature and as in the First Creation not our Trustee and Surety in the New-Covenant and New-Creation So That Glory was none being so much exceeded by Christ as Mediator which is also a remaining Glory always going on to the Perfection of Glory Whatever therefore of Righteousness arises any way to or in Man not thus derived from Christ Scripture calls it Flesh as being Man's Righteousness not Gods and Righteousness of Flesh that is of Humane Erection not Gods Righteousness and so the Holiness rising from Mens Faculties and Power is Born of Flesh and so is Flesh and is not Spirit not after the Spirit Therefore it cannot See Enjoy or enter into the Kingdom of God And this must needs be plainly our Lords Sense and thus he does not speak of Flesh Corrupt Flesh as it speaks Lust and foul Corruption for that cannot pretend to have any thing to do in the matter of Righteousness and Holiness but by Flesh is to be understood Creature-Righteousness and Holiness as in our present Fallen State and in regard of this No Flesh that is Man with all his Powers even of Soul in this sinful lapsed
thus I have laid down the great Doctrin of the New-Testament in these Points as I have Reason from such an abundant Scripture Evidence to be assur'd Let me for a Conclusion recommend to all the Ministers of the Gospel the due Consideration of the whole matter For it is of most exceeding Concernment to our Ministry This is our Enablement our Sufficiency as Ministers of the New-Testament to Preach not the Letter but the Spirit to Preach it as a Ministration of Righteousness and not of Condemnation as a Ministration not of the Letter but of the Spirit For the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life Thus we shall Minister it in its Abiding Continuing Glory as it shall continue in the Kingdom of Christ set out in all its Freeness and in all its Efficacy We cannot else Triumph in manifesting the Savor of the Knowledge of Christ nor will our Ministry be of Sufficiency to be a Savor of Death unto Death to the lost as it ought to be according to the Divine Ordination laid down by the Apostle 2 Cor. c. 2 3. For if the Full and true Grace of the Gospel be not set out as a Ministration of Righteousness of Life and of the Spirit It does not offer to Men the great Gospel Experiment whether it is unto them a Savor of Life unto Life or of Death unto Death They have not that high Savor of the knowledge of Christ that is the Instrument of Grace as by a most Divine and heavenly Suffumigation or Perfume of Life to excite and bring to Life such a stream of Life to give Life from the Spirit nor on the other side till This be Administred can it according to this Gospel Canon or Rule be said That the Ministry of it is a savor of Death unto Death for to whomsoever this high savor of Life is not Administred there is not that conclusion to be made it is of Death unto Death herein being the strength of the Crisis or distinction If the highest savor of the Gospel give not Life the only flavor of Life be not effectual to Life be but like a dead Savor effect nothing produce nothing of Life it must needs be argued such are unto Death And even the Gospel Preached concludes them unto Death when it does not prevail if the most irradiant Light of Christ the Image of God shining to Men does not Enlighten Such a hiding demonstrates such Lost and their Case Desperate Rationalizing Moralizing upon the Gospel yea Scripture Legalizing upon it without a continual interweaving this high Spirituality and rich Grace of it cannot thus Conclude Seal and Bind up If the Fountain and Sources of Light and Life be not kept clear and open tho Men do indeed die and perish for want of Life and Light yet they are not Sealed and bound up for Death as the true Preaching of the Grace of the Gospel by this Ordination of God declared here by the Apostle does The close Experiment for want of this Ministration of the New Testament is not made For the Apostle says Who is sufficient so to Preach the Gospel as that it should be if not a Savor of Life unto Life the principal purpose design and scope of it then of Death unto Death This sufficiency saith he is of God who hath therein Sufficientized to Minister the New Testament not as of a Letter that Kills but as of the Spirit that giveth Life so that tho it be not indeed to all a Ministration of the Spirit giving Life to all yet it is not our Male Admistration for we are by such a faithful discharge of our selves a Savor of Death unto Death without which so faithful a Discharge we could not be so for such a Preaching only as was said puts such a Crisis upon Persons makes such a Tremendous Gospel Experiment which the only Wise God hath yet Ordained should be made by the Free Gospel Preaching And that this Experiment may be made saith the Apastle we take great care not to allay the high flavor of the Gospel by any mixture of the Doctrin of Works with that of Grace as they who minding thir own Advantages make a Trade of Debasing what is most Excellent by vending worse in Temperament with Nobler Liquors But with greatest Sincerity as in the sight of God we bring forth only pure Gospel Supream Grace and herein we use all Freedom Clearness Frankness Openness and Boldness in manifesting this No darkned unintelligible Doublings between Grace and Works as Moses who veiled so the Gospel-part of his Ministry that it became a Ministration of Death And because Paul knew how distasteful this purity of Preaching is to the Condemned World that would yet be Righteous and to the proud and stately Powers of Reason and Free Will He says we arm our selves with a Divine Courage and constancy in pursuing this Ministry and will not on any account whatsoever use Art or Guile but with all integrity represent Truth in its own Light and leave to God the Discrimination of the Lost to whom this Preaching is as the Jealousie-Water to discover them when their very Mind the highest Rational Part being Blinded by the God of this World find not the Rays of the Glory of the Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God and all our Perfection is Likeness to Him shining to them Wherein the Apostle manifestly alludes to what he had said of the Superior Glory of the Gospel to that of the Law tho that gave such a Gloâ—y to Moses his Face And he alludes also to the Veil on Moses his Face upon that Glory and to the Veil on the Hearts of the Jews to this day Implying That not to receive this Pure Gospel Light is like Jewish Unbelief who Stumbled at that Stumbling-Block of Exalting Works and their own Righteousness above Christ and Grace It is true indeed this Preaching up of our Works Endeavours relying upon our own Action is very plausible and seems to carry greater force as being more a kin to our first Constitution under the First Adam And of this the Apostle also gives a Secret as we say Gird when in this so great Point he interposes not without great Design We Preach not our selves As if Preaching intermingled with Works and Humane Powers of Holiness were setting up and exalting our selves into a Dominion over mens Consciences but saith He we Preach Christ the only Lord and our selves Servants iâ— so high a Ministry And in this Epistle Chap. 11. They who even with design against the Grace of the Gospel Teach the Law are as the Apostle says in the appearance of Angels of Light and Ministers of Righteousness Zealous enforcers of Holiness and good Life if yet they stop up these Springs and are Enemies of this Grace they are False Apostles and Ministers of Satan Evil Workers as the Apostle calls them in a taunt of their high pretence to Works and others for want of true distinguishing Thoughts desirous and most propended to be Teachers of the Law and yet dare not desert the Grand Gospel-Principles Know not what they Speak nor whereof they affirm that is do not accurately Think nor Speak nor Reconcile themselves to themselves For the Law is good if a Man use it Lawfully that is according to the Gospel direction of it But pure perfect Law is only pointed set against those upon whom the Gospel hath not Effect who are given up by it as Incurable and unto Death This I speak not I appeal to Him who Searcheth Hearts with Reflection on any Person or sort of Persons and least upon Mr. Williams of whom I desire much other Esteem But to move and perswade him and all Preachers of the Gospel to reconcile all their Notions Disputes Preaching the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God commited to their Trust which the Apostle hath defined to be then sufficiently Preached when it is Primarily and till the Gospel hath remanded the Lost under the aggravated Condemnation of the Law for refusing the Grace of the Gospel 'till then I say the New Testament is to be Preached as a Ministration of the Spirit and not of the Letter for the Letter Killeth but the Spirit giveth Life a Ministration of Life not of Death not of Condemnation but of Righteousness which Ministration shall in a short time be with Open Face and all Veils removed the Lord drawing near and all Turning to Him beholding Christ the Image of God and the Glory of God in the Face of Christ we shall be Changed into the same Image from the Glory of a lower degree now to the Glory that shall be in perfection by the mighty Effusions of that Spirit who is Jehovah that shall so soon be Now this high and richest Gospel Treasure we have saith the Apostle at the present but in Vessels of Earth Men of like Corruptions and guilt low and base Appearances of outward Condition and State and of the vile and dying Bodies for Sin that the excellency of Divine Grace and Power may be Exalted alone throughout and throughout For at the present we have as the Apostle saith all this Glory but in hope we see yet but as in a Glass tho with an Open Face this Glory But when the Angelical Ministry Rev. 14. 6. shall in the Kingdom of Christ be Missioned and sent out this Ministration shall so Exceed in Glory that all other Glory of Humane Righteousness shall utterly Disappear and when it comes it shall for ever Remain And this shall he when the Israel of God shall be Called and Turn'd to the Lord and that shall be when 〈◊〉 Times are at an End as Christ says Luke 21. 24. And when the Eclipse on the 〈◊〉 Churches going off they shall have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a full Orbed Light as that Word Rom. 1â— 25. Opposed to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Eclipse in that Chapter properly signifies and All this shall I doubt not begin at 1697. FINIS
among all Nations to whom it comes and is most strictly enjoined and commanded by it And so the Apostle might most elegantly say Boasting is excluded By what Law of Works viz. The Law as it Commands Works Nay by the Law as it Commands Faith or the Receiving Christ as a Saviour and his Righteousness by meer Gift and of Grace in which Righteousness hath so great Honour and full Satisfaction paid to it that it cannot but accept and charge upon All that hear of it the Acceptation of it But because thus Faith will stand as a Work though as I may call it a Post-Work or a Work after Sin I rather understand the Apostle using here the Word Law of Faith in a Lax and Allusive Sense as any Doctrin or Divine Manifestation may be called a Law 2. The Law hereupon cannot but enlarge its Promises according to this Divine Constitution For if God have declared that He will give Eternal Life to all that Believe in Christ and savingly Turn from Iniquity by Repentanâ—â— and doth accept the Righteousness of Christ imputed to Believers instead of unsinning Obedience the Law must needs join Issue with these Declarations of God and with what Infinite Truth and Grace have said and Confirm with its own Sanctions all these Promises as earnestly to be desired and laid hold of yet still this belongs to the Law as Law and enterferes not with Gospel as Free Grace For as all the Commands of the Law are grounded upon the Sovereignty and Righteousness of God So are its Promises grounded upon the Power Truth Goodness and Unchangeableness of God If then the Gospel declares a Righteousness of God a Righteousness of God by Faith in Jesus Christ accepted of God beyond any Righteousness by Works of the Law The very Law it self opens and enlarges all its Promises to that Righteous Person by the Righteousness of Christ and as this Righteousness on which such a Person is Justified is exceeding unto Him and upon Him as the Apostle speaks that is every way over flows him and so beyond all other Righteousnesses So does the Law extend its Promises to the utmost in Relation to it and therefore God is said as in Triumph to declare herein and at that very time his Righteousness that he might be Just and the Justifier of him that Believes in Jesus Rom. 3. And the Apostle John saith If we Confess our Sins that is acknowledge our Absolute Necessity of such a Righteousness by Christ and receive it He is Faithful and Just Even according to the Eternal Law of Righteousness to forgive us our Sins and to Cleanse us from All Unrighteousness So they who receive abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness shall Reign in Life by Jesus Christ Not only Live as the Law saith to the Man who doth its Works but Reign in Life the Promises of the Law being stretched out and accumulated upon such a Person so Justified by the Transcendent Righteousness of Christ 3. The Law opens wide its Threatnings in the Cause of and on Injury done to the Gospel and the Grace of God Revealed in it for Seeing It is Essential to the Law of Righteousness to Condemn Sinners It is also Essential to it to Condemn and Adjudge to its Punishments according to the Degrees of Sin and Guilt For saith the Apostle He that Transgressed Moses Law died without Mercy under two or three Witnesses and every Transgression Received a just Recompence of Reward that is according to the degree of Guilt and Demerit Of how much sorer Punishment suppose ye shall he be thought Worthy who hath trod under Foot the Son God and Counted the Blood of the Covenant a Common Thing and done despite to the Spirit of Grace This is plainly according to the Law of Righteousness according to which also Christ said It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha Thus we may see how far the Law must needs attend the Gospel with all its Authority I will now shew how the Gospel takes in the Law and makes use of it for its own great Ends and Purposes Upon Account of which the Apostle says Do we make void the Law nay we Establish it The Law stands fair in the Gospel and in its Full Perfection of breadth and length that it may shew the Glory of the Righteousness and Obedience of Jesus Christ and also It stands with all its Penalty Severity Curse and Condemnation that it may shew the Deep of the Sufferings of our Great Mediator and Interpret to us the Agony wherein he Sweat drops of Blood and the Meaning of that loud Cry My God my God Why hast thou Forsaken me For said Christ Thus in every Iota of the Revealed Will of God It be came Him to fulfil All Righteousness 2. That it may shew to all the Glory from which they are Fallen and from which they daily fall lower and lower the Deformity of their own State the Dread and Horror of that Ruin and Condemnation of Hell and Death that is so justly come upon Sinners fallen short of that Glory of God For this Holy Righteous and good Law of such Purity and Cleanness a Fiery Law a Royal Law a Law of Liberty Shewes all the Hatefulness of Sin and Justice of Punishment and Condemnation And All This is in order to Humiliation Sight and Sense of Sin Conversion from it and especially to shew the great Necessity of Christ's Redemption Grace the Free Gift of Righteousness and Justification by him For thus by the Law is the Knowledge of Sin Thus the Law worketh Wrath That is it both stirs up the due Apprehension of it and if not prevented by Pardon and Justification It calls up Vengeance against the Offender wherefore the Law is our School master to bring us to Christ by the Severity and Rigor of its Justice And as such it is in the hand of the Gospel 3. That the Gospel may by the Law shew that perfect Pattern and Exemplar of Holiness and Purity of Thoughts Words and Actions to which we are to aspire that Cleansing of our selves from the Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit to perfect Holiness in the Fear of God that exceeding Broad Commandment that sets an End or bound shewing all other Perfection too short and too narrow compared with it self and so the Law may be as a Rule of Holy Life and Action to which we should follow on according to the Mark even of Perfection it self If it could be to attain the very State of that Perfection that shall be in the Resurrection of the Dead And herein there are Four great Gospel Ends Aimed at by the Gospel thus taking the Law under it self 1. That we may feel a continual Necessity of making Recourse to the Blood of Christ the Fountain set open for Sin and for Uncleanness because by this holy Law there is a discovery of daily Defilements Failings Falls Imperfections and Infirmities concerning which there can be no Attonement between
God and us but by the Blood of the Lamb offered by the Eternal Spirit and his Appearing in that Blood to the very Face of God for us in Heaven For on the least Failing or Offence the Law hath none to offer us So that there can be nothing but Condemnation On this Account therefore we find in the Gospel so many of the Laws Severities that we may be continually awakened to go to Christ 2. That we may find Inability in our selves to do any thing suitable or agreeable to that holy Law which Commands with an Astonishing and Admirable Excellency of Holiness but gives not the least Power or Strength to perform what it Commands And in both Respects The Apostle may be very well understood If there had been a Law that could have given Life verily Righteousness should have been by the Law But the Law that Commands and gives not Power is therefore called a Letter that Kills 3. That herein the Gospel may shew it self to be a Gospel indeed In the Ministration of Righteousness opposite to the Law the Ministration of Condemnation and in the Ministration of Life and Power by the Spirit giving strength to do what is Commanded and so enabling the Spirits of Saints to become the Epistle and Gospel of Christ Ministred by the Servants of Christ in Preaching the New Testament but written not with Ink or in the Leaves of the Bible but with the Spirit of the Living God and not in Tables of Stone but in the Fleshly Tables of the Heart and therefore is the Gospel in all its most proper ways of Speaking so constantly interlineated with Christ and his Spirit 4. Seeing what even the Spirit is pleased to vouchsafe in the present State is so much below the very Glory the Gospel holds out There is a continual Incitation the Gospel sets before us to desire that Change from the Beginning Glory of the present State to the Glory that shall be in the Perfect State of the Kingdom of Christ And on this Account is that Future State so often mentioned when indeed with a Face perfectedly open we shall behold as in a Mirror not as in ordinary Mirrors our own Natural Faces but Jesus Christ the Image of God in his own Glory and we now are in Degrees and shall be perfectly Changed into the same Image from Glory begun now to the Perfection of the same Glory in the Kingdom of Christ as by that Spirit Jehovah And this gives us the true Excellency of the Gospel The Law like our ordinary Mirrors shews our own Faces by that Light which first indeed represents what we ought to be but we not being that it Reproves and Condemns such Sinners or Imperfect Saints as the Best are but it shews no Glorious Image or not in Christ with an Efficacious Changing Grace and Power But this the Gospel does for us 4. The Gospel takes the Law into it self that it may though it be in it self a Ministration of Righteousness and Life and Spirit Yet that it may by the Law shew the Greatness of the Sin of Unbelief and Impenitency Reâ—â—ection of it self and Refusal of its gracious Offers And this it does on Two great Reasons 1. That all those Manifestations of the Sin and Danger of an Unbelieving Impenitent State may be Rational Instruments and Conveyances in the hand of the Spirit of that Power of Faith and Repentance flowing from it self in the New-Testament into the Hearts of the Elect. 2. That the Gospel may have in Readiness the Law to Revenge every Disobedience against it self and yet preserve its own high Title of the New-Testament and the Covenant of Grace For as the Lord saith I accuse you not You have one that Accuseth you even Moses in whom you Trust and I Judge you not The Words that I have spoken they shall Judge you at the Last Day viz. in the Virtue and the Authority of that Eternal Law of Righteousness which as hath been shewn cannot but pass along with the so gracious Gospel Dispensation And thus when the Gospel hath made offer of it self and all the Grace of it without Saving Effect The Law and Justice according to it Seises upon the Sinner for Sin against that Eternal Righteousness Essential to it self and against the Unspeakable Grace of the Gospel with dreadfullest Aggravations of Condemnation And herein Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God in our Nature is the Righteous Judge at that Day though here on Earth he judged not being Come not to Judge but to Save And his Judgment is according to that Eternal Law seated in the Heart and Thoughts of Men and yet according to the Gospel as the Apostle speaks declaring that his Judgment agreeable with the Law written in Mens Hearts and so in the Word of God which very Law written in the Heart and Thoughts of Men Accusing or Excusing is now in the hand of Christ and of the Gospel to its own great Ends of drawing them to Christ who are his and leading them under the Conduct of his Spirit And God is said there to Judge the Secrets of Mens Hearts according to the Gospel concerning that Light and Sense of Natural Conscience Because the Grace of the Gospel both exalts this Light and because also according to the saving Effects of the Gospel upon these Powers of Natural Conscience so preserved by Christ every Man is found to Honor Praise and Glory or else falls under the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God upon their hard and Impenitent Hearts and Ways by which they have treasured up Wrath against the Day of Wrath. And of all things in both States Jesus Christ is most righteously and propperly constituted the Judge as shall be further made out But notwithstanding the Law and the Gospel do thus far join themselves one to another yet which will come up close to the Decision of this Question The Law can never pass into the Nature of the Gospel nor can the Gospel become a Law For First It is most evident the Law can never become Gospel or of the excellent Nature of it as shall be seen in a brief Compare of the one with other in these following Particulars 1. The Gospel or New-Testament gives the Image of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ an Image of the Admirable Beauty and Life in Christ the Wisdom of God the Righteousness of God and the Power of God Perfect Increated Invariable Eternal ready to communicate it self in Richest Abundance to All the Election of God But the Spirit of God it self Represents the Law a Holy and Righteous Rule It must so needs be But it is Engraven only in Tables of Stone or written with Ink For Jesus Christ the Image of God in which Adam was made withdrew upon the Sin and Fall of Adam and what Adam had was lost and defaced so that there is a Rule of Glory but no Image of Glory as in the Gospel that by the Covenant
Law of all Evangelical Obedience have the benefit of a Pardon how dreadful were all our Case for if this Law allow no Pardon it is expresly assured There Remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but that of the Gospel and if that extends not to Sins against the Gospel there would rest nothing to us but a certain Fearful expectation of Judgment and Fiery Indignation If it be said there is no sin against this Law but final Unbelief Impenitency or Insincerity or an Apostacy including all these How imperfect then is the Evangelical Law that hath command only upon those final Results of our State and Case and the Subjects of it are either left to the Law of Works in all other Cases or else being under no Law there is no Transgression but those fore-named But if the Law do so ratifie and confirm the Gospel in those grand Points of Faith and Repentance by its own Authority and in all things else stand the immutable Rule of Holiness then the Grace of the new Covenant does offer Pardon and Remission by the Blood of that Everlasting Covenant and needs not be a Law but a Fountain of Pardon and Remission and of Power and Strength only as hath been Explained enabling to every Act of Obedience both of Faith and Repentance and all Holiness and making Attonement for every Disobedience and Imperfection which it does not Prevent From all which is much the fairer and clearer state of the Case in Reason and more agreeable to the Scripture duly considered and compared Add hereunto The Condemnation of every Unbeliever is according to the Law of Righteousness because He loves Darkness rather than Light in that his deeds are Evil and so he dares not come to the Light This saith Christ is the Condemnation Joh. 3. 19. And thus if the Law does ratifie and confirm the Gospel with its own proper Authority as hath been asserted every offence seemingly against the Sanction of Grace is Condemned by the Law as primarily against it self and so the Covenant of Grace is applied to for the Pardon of it and as against it self which is all Grace as a Covenant and hath nothing of Law but as sin against the Gospel it cannot but be against that Eternal Law to refuse Grace when offered by God and Christ as will fully appear by the next Argument Arg. 6. The Apostle says the Gospel or New Testament truly properly or strictly defined is a Ministration only of Righteousness of Life of the Spirit not of the Letter that Killeth but of the Spirit that giveth Life it can therefore be no Law except upon it self for if it Minister Life Righteousness Spirit only if it write not in Tables of Stone nor with Ink in Paper but in the Tables of Hearts and by the Spirit of the living God And if it is not only written in the Heart as the Apostle says The Law is written in the Hearts of all Men which may be turned by Disobedience to it into an accusing Record but gives a mighty Spirit enabling and a gracious Pardon remitting as is evident by the whole Covenant of Grace if all this be so then whatever it charges it charges upon it self that it hath not so Ministred as it takes upon is to Minister and that it hath not Ministred as such a Ministration as it asserts it self to be to all that are within it as its proper Subjects it must fault it self as the other Covenant was found fault with because they Brake it that were under it But seeing this cannot be supposed of so Glorious a Ministration The Gospel cannot be a Law Requiring and Condemning when not Obeyed but a Covenant of Grace Ministring Righteousness and Pardon and not Condemnation for what ever is against the Eternal Law on the Gospel account as well as on the Law 's account and so giving Power and enabling to whatever the Law requires on its own or the Gospel account Lastly Ministring Righteousness and Pardon in whatever it Ministers only in Degrees and not to Perfection Having thus determined upon the second Head That however the Law and the Gospel unite one with the other in several great Concernments and Interests of both yet neither can the Law pass into Gospel nor the Gospel become a Law I come therefore to the third Head to make out That the Humiliation under the sight and sense of Sin effected by the Spirit of Bondage Faith in Christ and Repentance are not Qualifications or Conditions of an Interest in Christ or Justification by his Righteousness but are effluxes from Electing Love and from Christ the Mediator and from his Righteousness and Redemption and whoever has a sense of these great Concernments of Eternity is not to wait for these as Qualifications or Conditions but to hasten to Christ to fly to him for Refuge to be found in him and look to Christ for all these great Effects and to expect them from him as such Effects for such they are to all the Elect though to the Non Elect they are Branches of the same Eternally Righteous Law upon Promulgation of the Gospel of Salvation by Christ and upon the very acknowledgment of Christ as a Saviour and the general sense of our lost State I lay in the Non-Elect also an Uniformity in the Order of first looking to Christ upon those two great Declarations of the Gospel 1. That all Men are lost and undone in themselves which rises up also from evident even Sense and Experience 2. That in Jesus Christ there is Life and Salvation for Sinners from whence also it naturally follows in Reason and true Arguing as the Apostle observes If one died for all then were all Dead so that Proposition That Christ hath died for Sinners may be in Divine Declaration as well first as the other viz. That all are lost without Christ The very Preaching of Christ infers in all true Judgment as the Apostle Reasons That all are lost in themselves I know not then why in regard of its Dignity it may not be first that Jesus Christ dyed for Sinners or why not so in most Absolute Consideration For though it is true in our State our lost State is before the offer of Salvation in Christ in time yet Grace in Christ is first in the Purpose of God before the World began and the permission of the Fall and of our lost State upon it came in after I know not therefore why that great Proposition God so loved the World that he gave his only Begotten Son that whoever Believes in him should not Perish but have Eternal Life should not be throughout the Supream and First and carry the other in it That then all were Dead And when the Proposition the Apostle gives That Christ died for the chief of Sinners is First Then the Belief and Acceptation shall follow and the abundance of Grace and the gift of Righteousness Draw Invite and Invigorate the reception of it I say therefore even to Non-Elect
of God in Christ by Eternal Election what Qualification or Condition can there be of Cutting out of the Wild Olive or Vine unless to be in the Wild ones or in Darkness are made a Condition Sanctification or making Perfect in every good Work to do his Will and Working in us what is well-pleasing in his sight is as much secured as Glorification is and Justification may as well be called a Condition of Sanctification For God Sanctifies none but whom he Justifies as Calling a Condition of Justification or Sanctification of Glorification Seeing then cutting off only some Particularities as proper to the present State All These are of God in Christ and are found together in the state of Grace here and perfected each distinct in Glorification and Glorification distinct from them All and by it self in that Illustrious state of Saints superadded to all that Perfection of Grace even in Glory I may conclude none of Them is either Qualification or Condition but of and by it self in Free grace And this is Caution Limitation Prevention of Deception sufficient That no one part can be without the other Scripture therefore speaking of these Things so freely so manifoldly It shews All is alike Free-gift Free-grace All is in Connexion and inseparable Concatenation and indefailable Certainty to the Elect and Grace opens sometimes one way sometimes another as to Appearance or Manifestation But whoever is to be advised or directed to the most wise and hopeful Method in Case of Doubt It is to lie at the Foot of God through Christ for All grace from first to last and not to stay for or rest in any of our Preparations or Qualifications but to press up as near and as close to Christ as we can And happy is he whom he Calleth so to do for from whom else can we hope for any for so much as the First Turn of our Souls to God Himself and into the whole way Everlasting as from in and throuâ—h him alone And 〈◊〉 have dispatched the Third Head I proposed and come to the â—ourth and Last I am yet to speak to And that is That the Procedure of the Judgment of Christ at that Great Day However it be Represented in regard of the Exactness Righteousness and Equity of it as if it was and shall be by the Examination of every Mans Works and an Application of those Works to Law and that the Law as vindicating the Gospel Yet from undoubted and undeniable Grounds of Scripture it must needs be that the Good and the Bad are judged by their very Appearance in and out of Christ and so found written or not found written in the Book of Life And that so every Man's Case is determined and yet that the Works of the Servants of Christ Cloath Apparel and adorn them or as the Scripture says Follow them and the Works of Evil Men or their Sin finds them out Comes as Water into their Bowels and as Oil to their Bones is as the Garment that covers them and as the Girdle wherewith they are girded continually Notwithstanding this All these three Things are most admirable in the grand Oeconomy of that Day which the Father only and not so much as the Created Humane Nature of Christ could adjust or set in Order or in that sense knows or hath Cognizance of 1. The Spirits of Good and evil Men re-invested with Bodies must necessarily be understood to return into them with those Resentments they had in the Enjoyment of Christ or in Separation from him the Happiness of the one and Misery of the other For it is not possible to be supposed that such their Re-investiture should stupifie and benum and efface what they were so newly in the full Sense of That to me is the great Argument against Pre-existence that there are no Traces of the Sentiments in that former supposed Existence without which no Improvement can be apprehended to be made of the State before this and the Experiences therein but we are as much Strangers to them as if it were on all sides confessed we never were before This would be much stranger here when the whole Man Spirit Soul and Body are immediately to enter into the full Possession of the Happiness or Misery before enjoyed or sadly felt and therefore can by no means be supposed to lose what they had both in regard of the Justice of God upon that state of Spirits as in Prison and what is to be further executed upon them and much more in regard of his Grace to Spirits that had been as the Apostle says with Christ and that are so immediately to appear in Bodies of Glory 2. The very Company and especially the great Head and Prince under whom and with whom the Saints appear does most illustriously shew their Pardon and perfect Absolution and Justification from all their Sin and the perfected compleated Holiness and inherent Righteousness received from the imputed Righteousness and Spirit communicated by his Spirit of Christ So that they appear in Robes made white in the Blood of the Lamb and with Palms of Victory in their Hands They are Just Men made every way Perfect their Sins are blotted out when the times of Refreshing come from the presence of the Lord Herein they are above Judgment in themselves even as Christ their Head their appearing with Him is their immediate Justification both according to the Eternal law and Everlasting Gospel and with him they Judge Angels and the World But those who have no Interest in Christ not being with him even that is their Condemnation That he knows them not that they are made to depart and to go away from him Thus he that is Justified is for ever Justified and he that is Filthy and unrighteous is so for ever All which is in one view determined by being with or not with Jehovah our Righteousness the Sun of Righteousness arising with Glory in his Rays or Righteousness upon us or Healing in his Wings And this is according to what hath been said and according to all that hath been discoursed of our being found in Christ and receiving all from him and so apprehending that State of Perfection for which we are apprehended of Christ Jesus 3. The very View and Appearance in Bodies of Glory and Light and Purity called Armies of Heaven on White Horses in Linnen white and clean Bodies made like to his glorious Body by that Power of his subduing all things to it self the being made like to Christ by seeing him as he is does without any other Law but the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus set free from the Law of Sin and Death sufficiently declare Saints to be so without laying them to any other Law And all the Wicked are known by their Bodies of Shame and Contempt like Men condemned and known to be so by their Prison Cloths their Chains and Fetters Sheep are presently known and Goats appear Goats by that very Law of Appearance And
be Holiness to Jehovah in Christ our Sanctification And this is also so worthy a Head as to be determined single and for its own own sake as who will deny 4. God hath Chosen Children who shall be Conformed to the Image of his Son in Glory who is in us the hope of Glory Colos 1. 27. And this is it self so Blessed and Worthy a Point that it may be considered by it self As all will readily grant It is true None of those can be One without the Other but that They most necessarily implicate infer and include One the Other Yet there is not One of Them but Scripture speaks of it singly Not only because It includes the Other but because It is worthy to be alone in the Eye of God and to be the Supream Point of his Eternal Council wherein it can be considered as Distinct as how often are the Fore known Predestinated Elected spoken of without any thing else The People whom he Fore-knew Rom. 11. 1. Knowing Brethren your Election of God The Lord knows them that are his Predestinated according to the Council of him who worketh all Things after the Council of his own Will So of Justification Scripture speaks often by it self In him shall all the Seed of Israel be Justified and Glory Justified by his Grace and so throughout Rom. c. 3 c. 4 c. 5. Galat. 3. 6. So of Sanctification Inheritance among them that are Sanctified He hath for ever Perfected them that are Sanctified So of Glory Written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the Foundation of the World And another Book was Opened which was the Book of Life Heirs of Life bringing many Sons to Glory an exceeding great and Eternal weight of Glory Now if this were Considered It would take away much of the Dispute about Conditions and Qualifications Seeing every Link of the Golden Chain is it self a Jewel of inestimable Value and hath in it self the Oâ—iâ—ncy and Riches of all the Other Yet notwithstanding It is to be freely acknowledged that God for the Manifestation of his own Grace hath setled an Order and Connection but not so as to lessen the Dignity of any Head below the Worthiness it hath in the Eternal Council of God to be one Head with the Other and were It not even as all the Other Freely given of God according to the Riches of his Grace Take any One of them that seems fittest to be look'd upon as a Qualification or Condition and it would as much deserve to have some Qâ—alification Means or Condition found out for it as any of those which seem most Removed from being so and to which Any of the Other may seem to be so But not in a Secondary Consideration but equal with the First All This is to be Considered in Christ the Image to which All is to be Conformed The Eternal Love of God is in Him Calling is to and in Him The Righteousness of Christ is imputed to us Holiness is derived from Christ not only by one Act of Sanctification but by a continual Efflux from Him our Head and Root Even as it is through his whole Meritorious and Efficacious Sanctification of himself that we are Sanctified John 17. our Glory is seeing Him as He is being made like to Him Appearing with Him in Glory in the Beams falling from his Glory Encompassing and Filling us with his Light Now as All these are in Him for us as the Head and Foutain and Example One as well as the Other without any Notion of Condition or Qualification or Means and so They are to be look'd upon therefore in Saints And so He stood in Eternity before God in that Everlasting Covenant wherein All was settled in Him as the Exemplar Head and Root of the Church and not only so but as a Mediator Surety and Testator upon the Foresight of Man a fallen Lost Sinful Nature out of which the Elect are recovered by Christ as such Mediator Testator and Surety Now if this Eternal Settlement had the Solemnity and Sanction of a Covenant For so the Apostle tells us There was an Everlasting Covenant in Christ And if All be settled thus by an Everlasting Covenant It must be in the same Eternity wherein the grace and purpose of God was whatever then was settled in that purpose and Council was Established in and by that Covenant and so must stand Fast for ever And the Apostle there instances a Point that One would be as ready to suppose a Condition or Qualification as any whatever And yet he makes it a Point settled by the Everlasting Covenant viz. To be made Perfect in every good Work to do his Will and the Working whatever is well pleasing in the sight of God What can be more supposed to be a Condition or a Qualification than these Things and the Apostle enough assures us These were settled by the Everlasting Covenant because He prays to Him that brought again from the Dead the Shepherd of the Sheep by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant to make perfect in every Good work Now as It is most observable The Spirit of God singles out those Attributes of God that are most enforcive of a gracious Answer seeing then God bringing back the Shepherd of the Sheep by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant is chosen as most moving of God in Prayer for the making perfect c. It shews there is a like certainty of the Everlasting Covenant availing to Perfect Saints that there was in bringing Christ back from the Dead The same for the Shepherd and the Sheep One from the Grave dying for Sin the Other from the Death of Sin Now then if there was such an Everlasting Covenant in Christ For It must be as Old as the Purpose and Grace in Christ That may be most infallibly argued That there can be no Change For as the Apostle saith Though It be but a Mans Covenant Yet if it be Confirmed no Man disanulleth nor addeth thereto And this saith He I say The Covenant that was before Confirmed of God to Christ The Law that was Four hundred Years after cannot disanul Galat. 3. 15. 17. Now how much higher will the Argument run concerning the Everlasting Covenant If every Link of the Chain of Salvation was equally Settled and Established that it should be freely given and most certainly Given No after Model nor manner of promiscuous universal Preaching of the Gospel can add to or take from the Everlasting Covenant settled between God and Christ that every part of Salvation should not be as unchangeably Conserved and Secured by God in Christ One as Another nor turn any part into Condition and Qualification or so much as a Means on our parts on which any thing Relating to Salvation should be dependent any Law or Usage of Scripture speaking to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding For to this Standard Covenant must every Thing be Reduced Adjusted and Reconciled when the Gospel according to the Universal Preaching