Answ. To that I answer, Certainly, if the ceremonial Law were a yoke, then take all together Ceremonial and moral and it was greater; take merely the performing of outward Ceremonies, and it was not such an intolerable yoke; but we must take the whole Law in the latitude of it, & that will appear to be the meaning; for the question was here, not only about the ceremonial law; but about Moses Law in general, and about justification by it: this was the Question that the Church of Antioch sent to the Church of Jerusalem to be informed about, for ⟨p. 34⟩this was all the Synod that was here in Acts, 15. there were Certain men came from Jerusalem to the City of Antioch and there taught, that they must still of necessity keep Moses Law for justification. Now the Church of Antioch being troubled that some should come from Jerusalem and teach this doctrine amongst them; they Sent certain Brethren to the Church of Jerusalem to be informed further about this question, and you may see at the •. verse, There arose certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying that it was needful to Circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses as to the matter of justification. Now in the assembly of Jerusalem Peter riseth up and tells the rest, that they should take heed what they do, and not put such a yoke upon the disciples, especially that of the law, which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear; and that it is not only meant Ceremonial but moral; it appears at the 11. verse We believe that through the grace of our lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they. Now the grace of our lord Jesus christ is not only opposite to the ceremonial law, but to the moral Law, when it is taught in way of Justification to life. So that this law that is such a yoke is that that is opposite to the grace of Christ that brings salvation; it is that law that reveals Sin; it is that law which is the minister of death, by which the mouths of all come to be stopped, so that it is a heavy yoke, those that are under this Law: that is, such as are under the first covenant, the Covenant of works, that seek for Justification by that, they are under a grievous burden, they are the children of the bond woman, for the law requires that that is impossible for them to do.
Answ. To that I answer, Certainely, if the ceremonial Law were a yoke, then take al together Ceremonial and moral and it was greater; take meerly the performing of outward Ceremonies, and it was not such an intolerable yoke; but we must take the whole Law in the latitude of it, & that wil appear to be the meaning; for the question was here, not only about the ceremonial law; but about Moses Law in general, and about justification by it: this was the Question that the Church of Antioch sent to the Church of Jerusalem to be informed about, for ⟨p. 34⟩this was al the Sinod that was here in Acts, 15. there were Certain men came from Jerusalem to the City of Antioch and there taught, that they must stil of necessity keep Moses Law for justification. Now the Church of Antioch being troubled that some should come from Jerusalem and teach this doctrine amongst them; they Sent certain Brethren to the Church of Jerusalem to be informed further about this question, and you may see at the •. verse, There arose certain of the sect of the Pharisees which beleived, saying that it was needful to Circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses as to the matter of justification. Now in the assembly of Jerusalem Peter riseth up and tels the rest, that they should take heed what they do, and not put such a yoke upon the disciples, especially that of the law, which neither we nor our fathers were able to beare; and that it is not only meant Ceremonial but moral; it appeares at the 11. verse We beleeve that through the grace of our lord Jesus Christ we shal be saved even as they. Now the grace of our lord Jesus christ is not only opposite to the ceremonal law, but to the moral Law, when it is taught in way of Justification to life. So that this law that is such a yoke is that that is opposite to the grace of Christ that brings salvation; it is that law that reveales Sin; it is that law which is the minister of death, by which the mouths of al come to be stopped, so that it is a heavy yoke, those that are under this Law: that is, such as are under the first covenant, the Covenant of works, that seek for Justification by that, they are under a greivous burden, they are the children of the bond woman, for the law requires that that is impossible for them to do.
