Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…

§. 91.

Mr. Bl. The alone Argument, so far as ever I could learn, that hath brought some of Reverend esteem into this opinion, is, That if the Covenant requires not exact perfection in the same height as the Law calls for it, then a Christian may fall short of the Law in his Obedience, and not sin; perfection being not called for from him, nor any more called for from him then through Grace he doth perform; he rises as high as his Rule, and sins not through any Imperfection; therefore to make it out that a Believers Imperfections are his sins, it must needs be that the Covenant requires perfection; as to make good that he may be saved in his Imperfections, it must be maintained that he accepts sincerity. But this Argument is not of weight: Christ entering a Gospel-Covenant with man, finds him under the command of the Law, which command the Law still holds, the Gospel being a confirmation, not a destruction of it. All Imperfection th•n is a sin upon that account, that it is a Transgression of the Law, though (being done against heart, and laboured against) it is no breach of Covenant: we are under the Law as men; we are taken into Covenant as Christians: retaining the humane nature, the Law still commands as; though the covenant in Christ through the abundant Grace of it, upon the terms that it requires and accepts, frees us from the sentence of it.

Mr. Bl. THe alone Argument, so far as ever I could learn, that hath brought some of Reverend esteem into this opinion, is, That if the Covenant requires not exact perfection in the same height as the Law calls for it, then a Christian may fall short of the Law in his Obedience, and not sin; perfection being not called for from him, nor any more called for from him then through Grace he doth perform; he rises as high as his Rul•, and sins not through any Imperfection; therefore to make it out that a Believers Imperfections are his sins, it must needs be that the Covenant requires perfection; as to make good that he may be saved in his Imperfections, it must be maintained that he accepts sincerity. But this Argument is not of weight: Christ entring a Gospel-Covenant with man, findes him under the command of the Law, which command the Law still holds, the Gospel being a confirmation, not a destruction of it. All Imperfection thn is a sin upon that account, that it is a Transgression of the Law, though (being done against heart, and labored against) it is no breach of Covenant: wee are under the Law as men; we are taken into Covenant as Christians: retaining the humane nature, the Law still commands as; though the covenant in Christ through the abundant Grace of it, upon the terms that it requires and accepts, frees us from the sentence of it.