A30249:588
Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the…Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the…
Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the errors of Papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians in XXX lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London / by Anthony Burgess ...Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the errours of Papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians in XXX lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London / by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by James Young for Thomas Underhill, 1647
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In the first place therefore consider, That about a Law there 1are these affections (if I may call them so;) There is an Interpretation, a dispensation, or relaxation: and these differ from an abrogation; for the former do suppose the Law still standing in force, though mitigated; but Abrogation is then properly, when a Law is totally taken away. And this Abrogation ariseth sometimes from the express constitution at first, which did limit and prescribe the time of the laws continuance: sometimes by an express revoking and repealing of it by that authority which made it: sometimes by adding to that repeal an express law commanding the contrary. Now it may be easily proved, that the Ceremonial, and Judicial laws they are abrogated by express repeal. The Judicial Law 1 Pet. 2. 13. where they are commanded to be subject to every ordination of man: and this was ⟨p. 212⟩long foretold Genes. 49. 10. The Law-giver shall be taken from Judah. The Ceremonial Law that is also expressly repealed Act. 15. and in other places: not that these were ill or that they did come from an ill author; but because the fullness and substance of them was now come, of whom the ceremonies were a shadow. Yet still you must remember, that while they were commanded of God, they were the exercises of faith and piety, & God did dispense grace in the use of them; only they were beggarly and empty to such who trusted in them, & neglected Christ. Nor doth this assertion contradict that of the Apostle, Ephes. 2. 15. where he calls those ordinances enmity, and decrees against us: for those ceremonies may be considered two ways; first as they were signs of Gods grace and favour: and secondly as they were demonstrative of a duty, which we were tied unto, but could not perform, and in this sense all those purifications and cleansings were against us. Thus we see these laws in every consideration made void; so that it is not now an indifferent thing to use them, though we would not put our trust in them, but sinful. Hence I cannot see how that of Luther is true upon