Observe 1. Satan started first the dispute concerning the equity of the Law, and that we are Disciples of and apprentices to Satan, when we toss and racket arguments in our carnal heart-Logic against the holy Law of God, Gen. 3.2. and make the heart a ferry boat to carry messengers and devilish thoughts hither and yonder, in questioning the goodness of the Law, and the acts of providence, and therefore it is speaking Grace, to close with the sweetness not only of the Law written in the heart,1 and these inbred principles of honesty and truth, to hurt none, to obey God, (for Satan raised not the first dispute about these) but with all the judgements and testimonies of God, as David, Psal. 119.127, 128. vers. 86. All thy commandments are faithful, 1 Sam. 12.7. Stand still that I may reason with you of all the righteous acts of the Lord. Its a mind like Christs that hath an heart prejudice at no one command, by an other, and is sweetly friended with all that God commands, Math. 3.15. It becomes us to fulfil all rightness, and O! how sweet to have no heart quarrel, but a sweet stooping of soul unto, and an adoring of God in all providences, and acts or decrees he hath concluded or done in time or from Eternity. These draw deep in the decree of Reprobation, God had an hateful design against me. 2. The Gospel is an untrue and fabulous dispensation. What a spirit is Galaenus who reproacheth Moses because he teacheth not that God works ever and by necessity ⟨p. 154⟩2of nature, 3what is most good for the creature. And that Prince who said, that if he had been Counsellor to God in the time of the Creation, many things should have been created ordinatius & melius, in a better order and state, then they were. Let the man be remembered who called the Gospel a fable, and the spirits who reproach the Scripture as inky wisdom. 1. A bare dead form bare flesh, &c. and weak ones under desertion, who feed upon reports and lying news from Satan, God hated me before time, and carries on a design of eternal ruin to me, therefore I have no right to hear, to pray, to eat, to sleep. 2. Yet the necessity of good works is asserted by Luther, the Augustine Confess. and Apol. Arti. 20. docent nostri, 4&c. Evangelic works are necessary, not to merit, but by the will and commandment of God: Calvin calleth them inferior causes of the possession of our salvation.
Observe 1. Satan started first the dispute concerning the equity of the Law, and that we are Disciples of and appr•ntises to Satan, when we tosse and rackot arguments in our carnall heart-Logick against the holy Law of God, Gen. 3.2. and make the heart a ferrie boat to cary messengers and divellish thoughts hither and yonder, in questioning the goodnesse of the Law, and the acts of providence, and therefore it is speaking Grace, to close with the sweetnesse not only of the Law written in the heart,1 and these inbred principles of honesty and truth, to hurt none, to obey God, (for Satan raised not the first dispute about these) but with all the judgements and testimonies of God, as David, Psal. 119.127, 128. vers. 86. All thy commandements are faithfull, 1 Sam. 12.7. Stand still that I may reason with you of all the righteous acts of the Lord. Its a mind like Christs that hath an heart prejudice at no one command, by an other, and is sweetly friended with all that God commands, Math. 3.15. It becomes us to fulfill all rightenesse, and O! how sweet to have no heart quarrell, but a sweet stouping of soul unto, and an adoring of God in all providences, and acts or decrees he hath concluded or done in time or from Eternitie. These draw deep in the decree of Reprobation, God had an hatefull designe against me. 2. The Gospel is an untrue and fabulous dispensation. What a spirit is Galaenus who reproacheth Moses because he teacheth not that God works ever and by necessity ⟨p. 154⟩2of nature, 3what is most good for the creature. And that Prince who said, that if he had been Counsellour to God in the time of the Creation, many things should have been created ordinatius & melius, in a better order and state, then they were. Let the man be remembred who called the Gospel a fable, and the spirits who reproach the Scripture as inkie wisedom. 1. A bare dead forme bare flesh, &c. and weak ones under desertion, who feed upon reports and lying news from Satan, God hated me before time, and carries on a design of eternall ruine to me, therefore I have no right to hear, to pray, to eat, to sleep. 2. Yet the necessity of good works is asserted by Luther, the Augustine Confess. and Apol. Arti. 20. docent nostri,
- 1Its grace to close with all sorts of commands.Its grace to close with all sorts of commāds.
- 2Galaenus de usupartuum.
- 3Alphonsus decimus rex Castellae. Melius ordinatiusque singula conderentur. Pamphlet printed an. 1647. p. 31.
- 4Luther, Gal. 5. In libello de votis Monasti. Chemn. Loc. Com. de bonis oper. cap. 1. qu 3. pag. 21, 22. Confess. August. & Apol art. 20. Docent nostri, quod necesse sit bona opera facere, non ut confidamus per ea gratiam mer•ri sed propter voluntatem De•, lib. 6. Concor. p. 666. Some necessary distinctions touching the necessity of Evangelic works.Luther, Gal. 5. In libello de votis Monasti. Chemn. Loc. Com. de bonis oper. cap. 1. qu 3. pag. 21, 22. Confess. August. & Apol art. 20. Docent nostri, quod necesse sit bona opera facere, non ut confidamus per ea gratiam mer•ri sed propter voluntatem De•, lib. 6. Concor. p. 666. Some necessarie distinctions touching the necessity of Evangelick works.
