for the pardon of his sinne is like a man afrighted with sinne and at the same time giving thankes for the râ—mision of sinne and of a man that is afraid of the sinnes of his present prayers and of one that hath victory over sinne death and hell I answer although our sinnes be pardoned and the guilt taken away yet the being of sinne is not taken away and although we are justified from all sinne yet we are not sanctified from all sinne so that we ought to be humbled for our filthinesse for want of sanctification when we come into the presence of God and because that sinne is in us we may well feare that we shall not carry our selves so holy as becometh such a presence as the men of Beth-shemish said Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God 1 Sam. 6.20 and yet not so despaire as to leave off the duty but to pray still and as sanctification increaseth we come into the presence of God with more cheerfulnesse and as our assurance increaseth we shall be lesse in our petitions and more in thanksgiving and praising God for his mercies to us He saith we present a man that is delivered from the law into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God and yet puts himselfe under the law I answer we are delivered from the curses of the law and the threatnings of the lavv and from the condemning povver of it and from the constraining povver of it but vve are not delivered from the commanding povver of it the free grace of Christ did not deliver us from our obedience to the lavv of God but in giving us the eye of faith vve see our duty more cleerly that is vvritten in the lavv of God and by our hand of faith vve fetch more strength from Christ to enable us to performe our duty to the lavv of God I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 but if our eye of faith vvere never so cleere to see our duty yet if vve vvill not looke upon the lavv of God but count it as a strange thing Hosea 8.12 it is all one to them as if the book of the law were sealed up and he that hath no faith is like a man to whom the booke of the law is open but the man cannot read for he is not learned Isa 29.11 12. so then the eye of faith is the Organ and our duty is the object and the written law of God is the Medium by which we see our duty but when the law is taken from us or if we cast away the commanding power of it which is all one we can see our duty no more then a man can see in a dungeon then well may the Antinomians be so blind concerning their duty when as they cast away that light that should shew it unto them thy law is a lanterne to my feet and a light unto my pathes Psal 119.105 But then faith hath another property when it sees the greatnesse of the work to be done and the weaknesse of the doer of it that it seeth helpe in another which is Christ and presently fetcheth it to helpe him this honour have all the Saints Psal 149.9 He saith we need not to tell a healthfull man that it is his duty to feed himself even so is it needfull to tell a beleever that it is his duty to heare Sermons read the Scripture and frequent the Lords Table these are his proper and his naturall food by which his faith is strengthened and increased yet saith he in what a sad and fearfull manner are these pressed upon mens consciences upon paine of having no part in Christ and of everlasting damnation in hell for ever I answer first if one should tell a healthfull man that it is his duty to feed himselfe I hope it would not make him leave feeding and goe about to starve himselfe because he is told that he must doe it as a duty and so for spirituall duties to be told of them is rather an encouragement to goe on still because it is their duty and what if he know it before he need not be offended at the love of his friend for telling him that which he knew before but I smell wherein lieth the venome of this man he hath free grace bestowed on him which hath freed him from all duties of obedience to the Lord so that what he doth is onely out of free love for he thinkes to be tyed by way of duty will not stand with his free grace but I say againe we trust in no duty as causes of our salvation but we obey and doe these duties as the way to salvation neither did they ever heare those worthy Divines whom they villefie with the termes of legall Teachers presse any duties to merit salvation for the doing of them but let the sonnes of Belial know that if they slight their duties to the law of God they may purchase damnation by it neither can there be any salvation for that man till he humble himselfe and freely yeeld to the commanding power of the law of God and count it his duty to give all the power of body and soule in obedience to it but this yoke is too heavy for the sonnes of Belial they will be tyed to nothing but upon free love and currisie that they may leave it when they list they have gotten free grace He saith they put us upon these duties to try and to prove our selves by the performance of them as by markes and signes of grace within I answer if Christ be in the soule there must needs be fignes of his presence we need not goe by heare-say or from a bare Testimony or suggestion they told Jacob that Joseph was alive but that did not satisfie him till he saw the Wagons Gen. 45.27.28 so now if the eyes of the soule be opened to see our duty written in the law it is Christ that hath done it Acts 16.14 whose heart the Lord opened Doe ye aske whence he is and yet he hath opened mine eyes John 9.30 Acts 26.17 18. Secondly the worke must arise from a true justifying faith that knits them to Christ and makes their person accepted Rom. 5.1 Gen. 4.4 this faith must take hold of that promise that is made to them that doe this duty Exod. 20.6 Thirdly in our duties we must aime at Gods glory 1 Cor. 10.31 thus by any duty we may try our selves whether we doe it by vertue of Gods command without us and whether it be acted by an inward principle of faith within us and whether it tend to Gods glory as the utmost end of it he that hath thesemarkes and signes the Spirit of God is in him this faith worketh by love and obedience Rom. 1.5.1 John 5.3 neither can he say what a fearfull thing it is to presse these things as duties upon our consciences that belongs to the sons of Belial that cannot abide the yoke of Gods saw
World that he gave his onely begotten sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 He spared not his owne sonne but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 then is not this of free grace and Christ gave his life a ransome for all the Elect 1 Tim. 2.6 he gave himselfe for his Church Ephe. 5.25 he gave his life a ransome for many Matt. 20 28. he gave himselfe for us to redeeme us from all iniquity and to purifie unto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Titus 2.14 saith he I lay downe my life no man taketh it from me I lay it downe of my selfe I have power to lay it downe and I have power to take it up againe John 10.17.18 and then is not this out of free grace and the spirit of God worketh where it listeth John 3.8 then if the spirit of God reach out unto us the righteousnesse of Christ is it not of free grace and out hand of faith by which we receive the righteousnesse of Christ this faith is the gift of God Ephe. 2.8 then is not this also out of free grace thus by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Ephe. 2.8 then let us speake of this to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloued Ephe. 1.6 And thus farre of the causes of our justification in the sight of God being all that are mentioned in the Scripture except that of workes which justifies our faith and persons in the sight of men as James speaketh James 2.24 but this we are not to speake of at this time From these caules we may easily see when we are justified in the sight of God I grant in the decree of God this righteousnesse of Christ was purchased vertually for all the Elect aâ— well before his coming in the flesh as afterward for he was the Lambe slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 Again I grant that this purchase was actually paid above sixteene hundred yeeres agon when Christ in our nature died actually and really on the Crosse for beleevers but to say that the righteousnesse of Christ is really ours before that the spirit of God doth reach it forth unto us or before we have any faith or calling that is before that we have either eye to see it or hand of faith to receive and take it this I say is a cursed error suggested by the father of lies into those that are led by him to beleeve lyes For was that man in the Gospell who had a legion of divels within him justified when as the presence of Christ was a torment to him and he cryed out Jesus thou sonne of God most high I beseech thee torment me not I must needs confesse in one thing he was like our Antenomeans for no bonds could hold him but when the divels were cast out the man was in another mind he that could not abide the presence of Christ before now he can beseech Christ that he might be with him Luke 8.18.38 Then shall we be so foolish to thinke that the holy spirit of Christ will dwell in that foule and filthy heart where the divell reignes and leads them captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 but such are all the Elect before they be recovered out of the snare of the divell shall we thinke that the holy spirit of Christ was in Mary Magdalen when those seven divels kept their randevouse within her What agreement hath Christ with the divell that he should be as an underling in that soule where the divell reignes Doth Christ come to justifie such a soule and not to sanctifie it at the same time Doth he not say come out of Babylon and be not partaker of her sinnes that ye receive not of her plagues Rev. 18.4 Come out from among them and be ye seperate saith the Lord touch not the uncleane thing and I will receive you and I will dwell in you 2 Cor. 6.16 17. but will Christ come into the strong mans house and not bind him nor spoile his goods is not Christ stronger then he Luke 11.21 22. Why then will Christ live in that soule that Sathan hath in possession it may be twenty or forty yeeres togther before faith or effectuall calling be truely wrought in it If ye be the Temple of God and his spirit dwell in you if any man desile the Temple of God him shall God destroy let no man deceive himselfe 1 Cor. 3.16.17 Doth Christ say this and will he himselfe live and dwell among divels especially where they rule and reigne I hope no Christian truly justified will harbour such blasphemous thoughts within him lest they should say he hath an uncleane spirit Marke 3. â—0 Secondly But will they yeeld and say God forbid that we should thinke that the holy Spirit of God should dwell and live in that soul that the divell hath in possession then I reply and say if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is for the present none of his Ye are not in the flesh but on the spirit if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you Rom. 8.9 There shall no flesh be justified in his sight Rom. 3.20 but saith Paul You in times pasted were Gentles in the flesh at that time yee were without Christ and without God in the world but now in Christ Jesus yee who were sometimes afarre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Ephe. 2.12.13 Then is the righteousnesse of Christ wrought in us by the Spirit of Christ that makes us cleane temples for his Spirit to dwell in and will not his holy Spirit live among divells in a cage together of uncleane and filthy lusts and are they for the present without Christ and without God in the world and in the flesh when as no flesh living shall be justified in the fight of God and having not the Spirit of God they for the present are none of his then how dare any man say that they are justified in the sight of God as soone as they had any being in this world O horrible and blasphemous doctrine that makes the pure and holy Spirit of God to be a companion yea a very band to cursed divells and filthy lusts else how can he live where the divells reigne but thou O blessed Spirit of God art of purer cyes then to behold evill and canst not look on iniquity with approbation Hab. 1.13 But ye in time past walked according to the course of the world and according to the prince of the ayre that ruleth in the children of disobedience saith Paul wee all had our conversation in time past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the minde and were by nature children of wrath even as others Ephe. 3 2 3. but were they
spirit that are wrought in his people I meane such as these 2 Cor. 7.11 tell them what carefulnesse godly sorrow hath wrought in you and they will answer that their care is taken and what a cleering of your selves and they will say that they are as cleere from sinne as Christ and of anger for sinne and they will say that they have none to be angry at and of feare to offend God and they will say that they cannot sinne to offend him tell them of a desire to please God and they will say that Christ hath done that already and what need they to trouble themselves tell them of a zeale for Gods glory and revenge on sinne and they will say these are legall things which they are freed from and so of all other graces they know not what we meane But they have faith to see that all is done by Christ without faith or application onely when faith is come by it they can see what was done in them before and without it they say Christ lives in them and acts and moves them as we move a stone and they are still as an empty trunke for his spirit to move in so that nothing is required of them but onely to let the spirit of God-doe his owne vvorke in them and by them they remaine still but dead stones they are not acquainted with that principle of life that is put into Gods people they are not as yet made living stones but they like Balaams Asse remaine as they were a though shee speake with mans voyce yet an Asse still and so are they but the child of God is quickned that vvas dead in trespasses and sinnes Ephe. 2.1 saith Christ â—he that heareth my word and beleeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Joh. 5.24 from all this vve may cleerly see that duties of obedience are required of beleevers and they will be easily convinced of it that are living members of the misticall body of Christ and living stones in his spirituall building but for dead stones and empty trunkes we wonder not much at their folly which breaks out into all licentiousnesse and abominable practises as for example a woman prostrating her selfe to uncleannesse said you thinke that you should sinne if you should lye with me but what law doth forbid it unto us O horrible practise of lawlesse people but when they see any to live as neer the rule of Gods law as they can those they reproach with such names as these duty-mongers duty-doers followers of legall preachers scorning that word of God which condemnes their sinfull courses and to expresse their dislike of the duties of holinesse they say What have we to doe with the dungie durty duties of sanctification we thanke God through Jesus Christ we have nothing to doe with them these they say are workes for home-booke Christians they tell us that beleevers doe duties onely in respect of men for God requires none at their hands they are so deluded that a woman said Jesus Christ came and tooke her by the hand and asked her why shee was so sad and bad her leave off her mourning for sinne and be cheerfull for shee greatly dishonoured the Gospell in being troubled for her sinnes another as shee was sitting by the fire Christ came to her and bad her pray for such a one of her acquaintance that she may have assurance which she did and presently the party received by a light from Heaven full assurance and another said nothing troubled her so much as the time shee had spent in prayer and other duties which held her so long from her comfort these are they that will not be guided by the law of God who are given up to strong delusions to beleeve lyes that they may be damned who beleeve not the truth 2 Thess 2.11 12. But when these men with their owle eyes cannot abide the Sun-beames of cleare Scripture against them they would hide themselves with some humane testimonies wrested and distorted from the true meaning and intention of their alleadged Authors First they boast highly that Master Luther is theirs wholly and they hold nothing in this point but what they sucked from his breasts but by this instance you may see how they serve the rest for Master Luther was so farre from being an Antinomean that no man doth more expresly and soundly overthrow and contradict this wicked opinion then he neither can any man desire a stronger humane witnesse against them then Master Luther read his words with a pause and judge satan saith he stirreth up daily new Sects and now he hath raised up a sect of such as teach that the ten Commandements are to be taken out of the Church and that men should not be terrified with the law see this in Luthers Preface to his Commentary on the Gal. and in pag. 171. he speaketh of three sorts of men that abuse the law first those that seeke justification by the law secondly those that will utterly exempt a Christian man from the law and on page 153. he admonisheth all those that feare God that they would learne out of Paul to understand the true and proper use of the law which I feare saith he after our time will be troden under foot and abolished by the enemies of the truth but if Master Luther thought that Christ had abolished the law he would never desire men fearing God to learne the true use of it and if he feared that men would abolish it then sure he thought in his judgement that it ought not to be abolished and if he esteeme them that would abolish it to be enemies to the truth then sure he is not their Patron and in page 154. he saith we doe plainly testifie that we reject not the law nor workes as our adversaries doe falsly accuse us but we doe altogether establish the law and require the workes thereof and we say the law is good and profitable and chap. 5.14 page 154. saith he it is necessary that godly Preachers should as diligently teach the doctrine of good workes as the doctrine of faith for satan is a deadly enemy of both but then is Luther an Antinomean doth he not directly contradict your foolish tenents and disclaime you as adversaries and false accusers you reject the law and workes but he rejecteth neither you abolish the whole law but he establisheth it you reject them for legall preachers that teach not Christ aright who urge men to the duties of the law but he imposeth it as a necessary part of their office to urge the law as to teach the doctrine of faith for shame never claime Luther more But they object to small purpose that Luther should say Christ hath abolished all the law of Moses so I say too that he hath abolished all the ceremoniall law of Moses but they say he saith pag 177. man is not justified by Gods law nor
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