The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

2. God hath not Redeemed us by his Son to be Lawless: To be without Law is to be without Government. We are without the Law (that is, of Works, or of Moses,) but not without Law; Jesus Christ is our Ruler, and he hath made us a Law of Grace; an easy yoke, and commands that are not grievous. This Law hath Precepts, Promises and threats: it must needs be either obeyed or disobeyed: and so the penalty must be due or not due; and the Reward due or not due. He that performs the condition, and so to whom the reward is due and not the penalty, is Righteous in the sense of this Law. As when we are accused to be sinners against the Law of Works, and so to deserve the penalty ⟨p. 78⟩of that Law, we must confess all, and plead the Righteousness of Christs satisfaction, for our Justification: so when we are accused to be final unbelievers or impenitent, and so not to have performed the conditions of the new Covenant, we must be Justified by our own Faith and Repentance, the performance of that condition; and must plead, Not guilty: And so far our own Acts are our Evangelical Righteousness; and that of such necessity, that without it no man can have part in Christs Righteousness, nor be saved. I would desire any man else to tell me, what else he will plead at Judgement, when the Accuse• chargeth him (or if he do so charge him) with final unbelief: will he confess it, and say, Christ hath Believed and Repented for me that is as much as to say, Christ was a Believer for Infidels, that he might save Infidels ▪ All false. If he will not say thus (and lying will do no good) then must he plead his own Believing and Repenting as his Righteousness in opposition to that Accusation▪ And if it be of such use then, and be called a hundred times in Scripture, our Righteousness, and we Righteous for it, then doubtless we may accordingly try by it now, whether we shall then be able to come off and be Justified, or no; and so may build our comfort on it.

2. God hath not Redeemed us by his Son to be Lawless: To be without Law is to be without Government. We are without the Law (that is, of Works, or of Moses,) but not without Law; Jesus Christ is our Ruler, and he hath made us a Law of Grace; an easie yoak, and commands that are not grievous. This Law hath Precepts, Promises and threats: it must needs be either obeyed or disobeyed: and so the paenalty must be due or not due; and the Reward due or not due. He that performs the condition, and so to whom the reward is due and not the paenalty, is Righteous in the sense of this Law. As when we are accused to be sinners against the Law of Works, and so to deserve the paenalty