Nor doth Master Town and Antinomians infer by good arguing, because believers may be stricken off sins, upon the consideration of Law-threatenings, that their sins, deserve not wrath, as well as the sins of others, as • Job saith, What then shall I do, when God riseth up? and • Destruction from God was a terror to me. But it followeth not, that therefore to obey God sub paenà; for fear of the condemning ⟨p. 13⟩Law, is not free, Gospel-obedience. For its most false, seeing this obedience for fear of the desert of sin was in Paul, though he was persuaded, that eternal wrath should never be inflicted on him, 1as is clear by his words. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade m•n. And 2we know if our earthly house be dissolved — we have an house not made with hands, but eternal in heaven. 2. Law-threatening (when Faith assureth the conscience, of freedom from the wrath to come) and love-persuading are most consistent. For most clear it is, that Christ and his Apostles do command, and strictly charge in the Gospel. So Antinomians err, who 3teach that the Gospel persuadeth rather then commandeth — and reasons and argues us to duties, rather then binds and enforces; and that 4holiness and sanctification now is not such, as is fashioned by the Law of outward command, but by the preaching of Faith, by which the Spirit is given, which renews a believer, and makes him the very Law himself, and his heart the two Tables of Moses. For, 1. persuasions and commands may w•ll stand together, and all Law-inforcings are but mere reasonings, and moral and objective acts on the mind and will▪ and so the Law no more enforceth then the Gospel. 2. Holiness and Sanctification cometh by the Law, animated by the Spirit, as well as by the Gospel: for the Law converteth the soul; 5but it doth this (saith the Antinomians) not as the Law, but as the Gospel revealing Christ. But I am sure, neither can the Gospel ••terally, only revealing Christ, and being void of the Spirit, it cannot convert the soul; and the Law as animated by the Spirit, leadeth to Christ as a Pedagogue, I mean as mixed with the Gospel. For the Law without the Gospel can never sanctify, nor lead to Christ; and neither of them without Christs Spirit can do any thing.
NOr doth Master Towne and Antinomians inferre by good arguing, because beleevers may bee stricken off sinnes, upon the consideraton of Law-threatnings, that their sinnes, deserve not wrath, as well as the sinnes of others, as • Job saith, What then shall I doe, when God riseth up? and • Destruction from God was a terror to me. But it followeth not, that therefore to obey God sub paenà; for feare of the condemning ⟨p. 13⟩Law, is not free, Gospel-obedience. For its most false, seeing this obedience for feare of the desert of sinne was in Paul, though he was perswaded, that eternall wrath should never be inflicted on him, 1as is cleare by his words. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, wee perswade m•n. And 2we know if our earthly house be dissolved — we have an house not made with hands, but eternall in heaven. 2. Law-threatning (when Faith assureth the conscience, of freedome from the wrath to come) and love-perswading are most consistent. For most cleare it is, that Christ and his Apostles doe command, and strictly charge in the Gospel. So Antinomians erre, who 3teach that the Gospel perswadeth rather then commandeth — and reasons and argues us to duties, rather then bindes and enforces; and that 4holinesse and sanctification now is not such, as is fa•hioned by the Law of outward command, but by the preaching of Faith, by which the Spirit is given, which renewes a beleever, and makes him the very Law himselfe, and his heart the two Tables of Moses. For, 1. perswasions and commands may w•ll stand together, and all Law-inforcings are but meere reasonings, and morall and objective acts on the minde and will▪ and so the Law no more inforceth then the Gospel. 2. Holinesse and Sanctification commeth by the Law, animated by the Spirit, as well as by the Gospel: for the Law converteth the soule; 5but it doth this (saith the Antinomians) not as the Law, but as the Gospel revealing Christ. But I am sure, neither can the Gospel terally, onely revealing Christ, and being void of the Spirit, it cannot convert the soule; and the Law as animated by the Spirit, leadeth to Christ as a Pedagogue, I meane as mixed with the Gospel. For the Law without the Gospel can never sanctifie, nor lead to Christ; and neither of them without Christs Spirit can doe any thing.
- 1[…]〈…〉
- 2[…]〈…〉
- 3Saltmarsh […] 4• 14•,Saltmarsh 〈…〉 4• 14•,
- 4Psal. 19▪ •.Ps•l. 19▪ •.
- 5Antinom•a•• […].Antinom•a•• 〈…〉.
