A special expedient, whereby they make the exercise of Christian virtues unnecessary, is their turning the commands of God into Counsels, such as need not be observed. Such they count many of those excellent rules in Christ's Sermon on the Mount. These and many others specified. More instances in virtues, which concern our selves, God and others, in acts of temperance and contentment, in acts of Religion, and in acts of Righteousness and Mercy. Also Mortification, crucifying the World, self-denial, taking up the Cross, and all growth in grace is but matter of Counsel. So is every degree of grace, above the lowest of all. Yea all commands for good acts are no more than Counsels, but only in the article of necessity. And all acts that have more than moral goodness. And all actings in a virtuous manner, and from a good principle. Exercise of virtue not necessary either in Worship, or common ⟨image 11⟩conversation. Not in those cases, where, if in any at all it would be needful. A way they have for any man to turn whatever precept pinches him, into a Counsel. There is no danger, nor any sin at all in rejecting the counsel of God. No not when Conscience dictates that it is good to follow them. No nor when God further calls thereto by inspirations or motions of his Spirit. They may be neglected out of Contempt. And with some abhorrence of them. They may boast and glory in such neglects. They may bind themselves by Oaths not to observe Gods Counsels. Sect. 9. to page 181.
A special expedient, whereby they make the exercise of Christian vertues unnecessary, is their turning the commands of God into Counsels, such as need not be observed. Such they count many of those excellent rules in Christ's Sermon on the Mount. These and many others specified. More instances in vertues, which concern our selves, God and others, in acts of temperance and contentment, in acts of Religion, and in acts of Righteousness and Mercy. Also Mortification, crucifying the World, self-denyal, taking up the Cross, and all growth in grace is but matter of Counsel. So is every degree of grace, above the lowest of all. Yea all commands for good acts are no more than Counsels, but only in the article of necessity. And all acts that have more than moral goodness. And all actings in a vertuous manner, and from a good principle. Exercise of vertue not necessary either in Worship, or common ⟨image 11⟩conversation. Not in those cases, where, if in any at all it would be needful. A way they have for any man to turn whatever precept pinches him, into a Counsel. There is no danger, nor any sin at all in rejecting the counsel of God. No not when Conscience dictates that it is good to follow them. No nor when God further calls thereto by inspirations or motions of his Spirit. They may be neglected out of Contempt. And with some abhorrence of them. They may boast and glory in such neglects. They may bind themselves by Oaths not to observe Gods Counsels. Sect. 9. to page 181.
