curse and condemnation it denounceth the justification it proposeth the rigour of obedience it requyreth ye are not under the law Rom 6 14. Ye are divided from the lawe Rom 7 6. The lawe is not given to the righteous man 1. Tim. 1.9 From the law ceremoniall the witnesser of sinne Christ hath put out the handwryting of Ordinances which was against us toke it out of the way fastened it upon the Crosse Col. 2.24 and so from the traditions and precepts of men or things indifferent whatsoever as binding the conscieÌ„ce which is coÌ„monly called the christian liberty or coÌ„moditie Rom. 14.16 Ye are bought with a price be not the servaÌ„ts of men 1. Cor. 7.23 The liberty which sanctification bringeth is that spirituall priviledge wherby Gods children are freed from the power and dominion of sinne Sathan c not perfectly but in parte yet in al the powers and faculties of the soules senses and members of the body The minde from the power of darknes the will from the power of disobedience the heart from the power of deadnes the affections from the power of pollution and corruption the body and members thereof from the power of sinne wherby they are made weapons of unrighteousnes that the renued man thus freed might at the least concerning the inner man delight in the lawe of God and in his minde serue it without constraint willingly chearfully The law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath freed me from the law that is the power and authoritie of sinne and death Rom 8 2. This liberty of sanctification hath two degrees the one is in this life imperfect which may be called the liberty of grace the other after this life perfect the liberty of glorie Rom 8.21 the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God The same Apostle to the Col 1.13 shutteth up this twofold liberty of Iustification sanctification in a word The Father saith he hath delivered us from the power of darknes and hath translated us into the kingdome of his deare sonne Now from this internall liberty followeth that comfortable liberty which the Apostle in sundry places calls Parâ—êsia wherby the soule of the freeman hath free accesse to the throne of grace to receiue mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Heb 4.16 From this springeth that peace which passeth all understanding Phil. 4.7 Rom. 5.1 That ioy which Peter calleth glorious unspeakable 1 Pet. 1.8 Without this internal liberty ther is nothing in the soule and conscience of the sinner but terrour distraction and doubting even in the smallest matters c. The externall liberty which is instrumental and defensiue in respect of the former is likewise twofold the libertie of the preaching and professing of the truth of God the true doctrin drawne out of the pure fouÌ„taine of the word The libertie of the practise of holy Discipline following from the same fountaine This may be called the liberty of the house of God wherby it is governed which is the Church of the living God the piller and ground of the truth 1. Tim 3.15 We call them instrumental because they are Gods powerfull and ordinary instruments through which by his spirit he worketh the internall liberty continueth keepeth it Take away these instruments no Iustification no sanctification 1. Pet. 1.23 We call them dcfensiue because the gard the inward which if they were not would easily vanish and Satan would soone weare it out of the soule The third word in this exhortation is that he desireth to stand in this liberty yea to stand fast as the word importeth as within a compasse or station There appeareth to be a Metaphore in the word borrowed from the custome of worldly warriours who stand stedfast in the station in the which their captaine placeth theÌ„ resolved without feare to fight never to flee but couragiously to confront their adversaries So stand ye stedfast saith the Apostle and settle the affection of your heart fast in the liberty wherin as in a statioÌ„ your graue gracious captaine Iesus hath placed you resisting by faith that spirituall adversary the Devil who wil striue by all meanes possible to drawe you out of that liberty This is the exhortatioÌ„ in the which the Apostle expresly meaÌ„eth the internall libertie froÌ„ the law morall ceremoniall sin death c. In the afore said respects and by consequence of this we inferr the externall defensiue liberties For if we should stand fast in one poynt of this spirituall liberty then we should stand fast in all The dehortation is from the contrary Be not entangled c The yoke of bondage is opposed as contrary to liberty the entaÌ„gling with this yoke to the standing in the libertie This bondage is a spirituall boÌ„dage of the soule conscieÌ„ce principally and is answerable in the opposition to this libertie in all the sorts poynts thereof the bondage under sin Sathan death the law morall ceremoniall traditions of men Antichrist the man of sinne in corrupt doctrine and Discipline We briefly passe it over because it is cleere by the contrary in the words be not entangled And now there appeares also to be a metaphore borrowed from the custom of Oxen or other beasts whose neckes being once comprehended or conteyned as the word signifieth in the yoke are forced to follow whithersoever the driver by word or by goad lusteth So faith the Apostle if you fall backe to bondage you entangle your selues with such a heavie yoke that whither soever sinne or Sathan leades you you must goe This word agayne importeth not that the Galatians had been under the Ceremoniall law for they were of the Gentills and not Iewes to whom this law was proper but that they had ben before under the yoke of bondage the law moral engraven in their hearts by nature albeit defaced by sin the yoke of sinne Idolatrie c. So that now to fall backe to this bondage or whatsoever spirituall yoke was to be entangled againe This is the dehortation in which the Apostle expresly meaneth the yoke of the law ceremoniall morall But by consequence all spirituall yokes of bondage whatsoever are forbidden for if we should not entangle our selues in a my then likewise in none The reasoÌ„ enterlaced betwixt the two branches of the admonition is drawne from the purchaser and giver and so the excellencie of this libertie which is so much the more excellent by how much the contrary bondage is dangerous If ye aske who is the purchaser giver of this libertie the Apostle Paul answereth here it is Christ If the Sonne shall make yow free ye shal be free in deed saith Christ himselfe of himselfe Ioh 8.38 If the Father be the author of this libertie the sonne is the purchaser and giver of this libertie the spirit is the worker and sealer up of this liberty in our soules If ye aske whereby Christ hath purchased this libertie the Apostle Peter answereth Not with
corruptible thinges as silver or gold but with the pretious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe undefiled and without spotte 1 Pet 1.18.19 If ye aske which is the register or Charter of this libertie in and by the which our right of this liberty is sett downe and made sure we answer The word of the Old and New Testament principally the word of the Evangelists in the which this liberty all the sorts and particuler poynts therof are plainly and plentifully layd out before our eyes The word is truth if ye know the truth the truth shall make you free saith Christ Iohn 8.23 For it is both the Charter and working instrument of this liberty Now the meaning of this whole admonition is this shortly and simplie Seing ye are once set at liberty and so freed from spirituall thraldome by Iesus Christ the Lord of life and liberty stand fast to this libertie and fall not backe againe under the wofull misery of any spirituall bondage whatsoever To come to the doctrine First we see there is a libertie wherewith the Sonne of God hath priviledged his people whom Peter calleth the people set at libertie 1 Pet 2.9 which is heavenly spiritually and supernaturall and in nature far differēt from any earthly or worldly libertie which is even in all and every one of the sorts and poynts therof the purchase of his owne pretious bloud the free gift of his liberall loue the right wherof is conferred to them by the charter of his blessed word sealed up in the tables of their hearts and cōsciēces by the spirit of grace which is delivered to us from day to day by the publicke preaching of the word Therfore neither Angell in heavē nor man on earth should take upon them to chop or change in this liberty or the meanest poynt therof without the warrāt of the word unles they would that the purchaser of this libertie should be avenged of them for the violation thereof It is true in outward or earthly liberties given by men or which are amonge men for outward society or comodity men may doe as they think meet alter add impare c. But as for this liberty and the particulars therof which come as it were immediately out of the hands of Christ let men take heed how they meddle with them to add to alter to impaire or to pervert as they would wish that God should not meddle with them in wrath Yet such is the follie and presumption of mortall men that they haue oft their head and their hand in these inviolable liberties altering or disanulling thē for their owne further libertie or rather loosnes to the flesh Take an exāple from the Papists who in effect overthrow this liberty in all and every poynt thereof The libertie of Iustification and sanctification by their freewill in nature their preparations to Iustificatiō their good works chiefly of the outward man their pilgrimages purgatory and satisfactions by the which they entangle thēselues with the yoke of the law sin and condemnation the libertie of thinges indifferent or humane traditions by an heap of Idolatrous superfluous Ceremonies thrust upon the consciences of ignorant people as a parte of Gods worship necessary and meritorious The defensiue liberties by their unwritten verities and traditions mixed matched with the pure and sincere word of truth by their Antichristian Hierarchy and innumerable superstitious rites defeating yea excluding the true Discipline and comely order of the house of God Thus while they shew themselues enimies to this libertie in all the particulars of it they also declare that all the linckes of this spirituall yoke of bondage lie heavie upon the necke of their soules which is a just and deserved recompence of the violation of this liberty wherwith Christ hath made us free Therfore by their example we should beware of such for we haue great cause seing within thes few yeares it may be perceiving that we were inclyning their way in our Church govermēt they are so encreased encouraged that not onely here they set up their heades but also they haue been bold as yow know of late to set out the publicke ensignes of Idolatry as though their had been neither Prince nor Pastor in Israel as though both the edge of the civill and spirituall sword had been either broken or blunted and yet they are not much dashed nor dismayed As for us my brethren it becommeth us alwayes in holines and faithfulnes to preserue mainteine every one of these liberties so farr forth as our place or power will extend that we may stand fast in them seeing Christ by them hath made us free that we be not entangled againe with the yoke of bondage Secondly the Apostle sheweth that this happie priviledge which Christ hath purchased for us is not a loosnes but a libertie not a loosnes or a licence to sinne but a libertie in holines and righteousnes to serue the Lord not a loosenes or a loose rayne to rūne whithersoever our vayne and raging lusts leade us but a libertie which is likewies a yoke not like the yoke of bondage which is hard and heavie a yoke of iron but a goldē yoke of the which our Saviour Christ Math 11.30 saith My yoke is easie and my burden light not a loosenes that hath no limittes but a libertie which is bounded and limitted by the Lord himselfe in his blessed word which we shall easily perceiue by passing through shortly the particulers of this libertie First the liberty of Iustification sanctification is not a loosnes that they who imagine they injoy thē may doe what they lust but a liberty which should not be abused as an occasion to the flesh saith the Apostle in this same chapter 13 which hath his owne limitts prescribed by God in his word Being made free from sinne yea are made the servants of righteousnes Rom 6.18 Being freed from sinne ye are made servants unto God having your fruite in holines Rom 6 22. There is a limitte of this liberty righteousnes holines or the service of God Ye are a people set at liberty that ye should shew forth the vertues of him who hath called you out of darknes into his marveilous light 1. Pet 2.9 There is another limitte of this liberty further The freedome from the lawe is not a loosenes as though we might cast the law of God behind our backs as no way perteyning to us but a liberty limitted For albeit we be freed frō the curse and condemnation of it yet are we not simply freed from the command of it Albeit we be freed from the correction of it yet not from the direction of it It continueth to be a director and leader of us in the way of light Oh how far then are the Atheists and Epicures of this age blynded who are so in effect albeit lurking under the shadow of outward profession with all the Hypocrites in these dayes they resting themselues upon the broken reed
of bondage Fourthly the Apostle telleth vs that there is no keeping nor continuyng in this liberty unles we stand fast setled our affections fastened thereon this is the principall meanes whereby we may keep this liberty For ofteÌ„ tymes as the word importeth there wil be so many mighty adversaryes spirituall temporall so many strong temptations both of terrors and allurements drawing and dragging at this liberty to pull it from us that they will prevaile unles we with all the powers of our soules and all the strenght of our hearts renewed by the mighty force of the grace of the spirit of Iesus hold fast our hold It is the loose holding of this liberty that looseth it It is the fast and sure holding of it that is the great and principall preserver thereof He that standeth in this liberty staggering or holding any one foote up ready to step out of it if occasion doe present either perill or preferment and profit he I say wil be easily beaten from this liberty But he who fixeth and fasteneth both his feet his minde and his heart theron wil abide the brunt and battery of the stroÌ„gest temptation and yet keep his standing Now to strengthen us to stand fast there are two thinges principally requyred Faith and Loue Faith wherby we should be perswaded of this liberty of all the sorts poynts bounds thereof as purchased by the bloud of Iesus registred in the word of God the want wherof or of that coÌ„venient measure thereof that is requisite for this assurance maketh us loose our staÌ„ding For the least teÌ„ptation that lighteth upon a man of an vnstable minde that is staggeriÌ„g wavering through doubt will drawe him away from this liberty If we begin once to doubt of our Discipline or Church-govermeÌ„t whether it be stablished by the sure warrant of the word or whether it be a thing alterable and indifferent and that another forme may be lawfully received and many now a dayes thinke so who would make their gayne by such a change then our stedfastnes is gone and we easily are drawne away by any occasions Agayne the unfayned loue to this liberty maketh our standing steedfast Loth would they be to turne from it or the least poynt thereof who loue it well But if loue be lacking or that convenient measure therof that is reasonable there wil be little or no standing to this liberty But what is the requisit measure of this loue To loue this liberty better then all outward or earthly thinges yea better then our life it selfe When we preferre these earthly thinges as profit or preferment c. in this world and giue to them first and chiefe place in our affections then we want this loue so loose our standing A man that loveth honor and commoditie better then this liberty to winne a poynt of this worldly profit or preferment will loose a poynt of this liberty yea two ere he will want it Demas of whom Paul saith Phil 2.4 that he was one of his fellow helpers in 2 Tim 4.10 he saith crying out by way of complaynt Demas hath forsaken me Well there then is a token of Demas his loose standing but what was the cause of it Paul addeth it and hath embraced this present world saith he A sensible signe he loved the world better theÌ„ his Ministery and this moved him to forsake the libertie of his spirituall calling when he saw the occasion of worldly profitt and preferment Surely if Demas heart be bent to imbrace the world loving it better then his Ministery it is meete he should even forsake Paul and betake him to the thing he loveth best rather theÌ„ to hold the Ministery with the one hand and grype the world with theother for these two grypes agree not well together the one looseth ever the other If any will alleadge that the earthly prerogatiues in a Minister get to him in his Ministery credit reverence and authority the Apostle 2. Cor. 10.4 answereth The weapons of our warfare are not carnall nor earthly whereby we purchase and gett hearts in faith and obedience to Iesus Christ in loue and reverence to our selues and our Ministery in him but spirituall and mightie in God to this effect They are grace fidelity sincerity godlines in a Minister which are the meanes of his advancement in the hearts of the faithfull I am perswaded that we carrie more credit and are better accounted of in the hearts of those that feare the Lord wheÌ„ we content our selues within the compasse of our calling with the styles of M George M. Iohn Pastor of such or such a place then when we borrow through ambition the titles of worldly honor and dignityes loving the style of my Lord Bishop better then to be called a faithfull and diligent Minister So we see how needfull it is that we should study to gett faith and growe in it whereby we may be perswaded in all the poynts of our liberty and calling and also to gett loue and growe in it whereby we may hold fast that neyther it be drawne from us nor we froÌ„ it but that we may stand fast in the liberty c And surely yf we should enter into a reckonyng of the reasons and causes that should moue us to stand it would requyre a longer time then is allowed to us Therefore we shall only bring out a few 1. This liberty in all the poynts of it is the purchase of the pretious bloud of Iesus It is deere bought the price is great the worth is great such things albeit earthly we use to keep well should not we then stand fast in this liberty 2. This liberty is the free gift of Christs liberall loue Now â—he gift useth to be liked and kept if it were but for the givers sake Should not â—e then stand fast in this liberty 3. The â—ight of this liberty is made and given vnto us in the sure charter of the word of God registred in the bookes of the Old and New Testament there caÌ„not be under the heavens a surer holding should we not theÌ„ stand fast in this liberty 4. Which toucheth principally the defensiue liberties we haue them approved and ratified by the fundamentall lawes of our Country should we not then stand fast in them 5. We haue ben many yeares in peaceable possession of them Now we know that the meanest society in the land wil be loth to loose the least poynt of their civill liberties having both right to theÌ„ and the same ratified by the Actes of Parliament possession of them yea they will admit no endeavour or attempt that may prejudice a circumstance of them much lesse the substance Should we not then stand fast in this liberty to the which we haue right from God registred in his word ratified by the lawes of the land so long by us peacably possessed 6. To these liberties all estates of the land King Counsell Nobility Pastors People haue sworne and