The Antecedent hath two Parts, 1. That all are bound to love and gratitude 2. That they owe these for Christs dying for them. And as to the debt it self. I hope few Christians will deny it: For if they do, 1. They will deny a great part of the Law of Christ, and if such a curse be denounced against him that addeth or diminisheth, as to the Law of ceremonies, what shall be due to him that wipeth out so great a part of the Gospel at a dash? 2. It is plainly High Treason, to discharge so many of Christs Subjects of their Allegiance, or of the chief part of their duty, even Love and Gratitude: His Subjects I may call them, though Rebellious; because though they acknowledge him not, or not sincerely, yet he is their rightful Lord. 3. It is notorious compliance with Satan, to say, Duty is no Duty, and that so great Duties as these; and that Sin is no Sin, and that such heinous Sins. ⟨p. 148⟩4. If tendeth most desperately to the Damnation of Souls, by drawing them to neglect these duties, and hardening them in impenitency when they have done. For if it be no duty to Love Christ for Redeeming them, and to be thankful for it, then it is no Sin not to love him, and not to be thankful, and if it be no Sin, they need not repent of it. 5. They will wickedly justify Men from the Accusation of the guilt of these Sins, at the Bar of Christ, and dare any that now boldly maintain this cause in dispute, undertake to justify and vindicate them at Judgment, and prove, that it was never their duty to love Christ, or be thankful to him for Redeeming them, and therefore that it was not their Sin, that they did it not? This will be a harder task, then it is now to find a flourish of words which seem to prove it. 6. And worse then all this, They will condemn Christ for condemning them for these Sins. When he hath sentenced them, [Go you cursed] For not loving him and showing it to his Members, Mat. 25. And pronounced that Man Anathema Maranatha that loves not the Lord Jesus; if these Men can prove that it was none of their duty, then they must accuse Christ and his Law of injustice, and condemn his condemnatory sentence.
The Antecedent hath two Parts, 1. That all are bound to love and gratitude 2. That they owe these for Christs dying for them. And as to the debt it self. I hope few Christians will deny it: For if they do, 1. They will deny a great part of the Law of Christ, and if such a curse be denounced against him that addeth or diminisheth, as to the Law of ceremonies, what shall be due to him that wipeth out so great a part of the Gospel at a dash? 2. It is plainly High Treason, to discharge so many of Christs Subjects of their Allegiance, or of the chief part of their duty, even Love and Gratitude: His Subjects I may call them, though Rebellious; because though they acknowledg him not, or not sincerely, yet he is their rightful Lord. 3. It is notorious compliance with Satan, to say, Duty is no Duty, and that so great Duties as these; and that Sin is no Sin, and that such hainous Sins. ⟨p. 148⟩4. If tendeth most desperately to the Damnation of Souls, by drawing them to neglect these duties, and hardening them in impenitency when they have done. For if it be no duty to Love Christ for Redeeming them, and to be thankful for it, then it is no Sin not to love him, and not to be thankful, and if it be no Sin, they need not repent of it. 5. They will wickedly justifie Men from the Accusation of the guilt of these Sins, at the Bar of Christ, and dare any that now boldly maintain this cause in dispute, undertake to justifie and vindicate them at Judgment, and prove, that it was never their duty to love Christ, or be thankful to him for Redeeming them, and therefore that it was not their Sin, that they did it not? This will be a harder task, then it is now to find a flourish of words which seem to prove it. 6. And worse then all this, They will condemn Christ for condemning them for these Sins. When he hath sentenced them, [Go you cursed] For not loving him and shewing it to his Members, Mat. 25. And pronounced that Man Anathema Maranatha that loves not the Lord Jesus; if these Men can prove that it was none of their duty, then they must accuse Christ and his Law of injustice, and condemn his condemnatory sentence.
