The Law is yet to be preached, as tying us to personal obedience, whatever aAntinomians say on the contrary; in the covenant of works, personal and perfect obedience was ⟨p. 29⟩craved. Antinomians judge that by the Gospel, Christ hath done all for us, which is most true in the kind of a meritorious and deserving cause, satisfying justice, but they do loose us from all personal duties, or doing our selves, or in our own persons, so as we should be obliged to do, except we would sin. We think the same Law-obligation, but running in a Gospel-channel of Free-grace, should act us now as if we were under a covenant of works, but not as if the one were Law-debt, and the other wages that we sweat for, and cometh by Law-debt; Antinomians make all duties a matter of courtesy. Yet would we wish 1. Preachers to extol Christ,2 and study Christ as their daily Text, and heighten free-grace. 2. Preach Christ the garland, crown, and flour of all duties. 3. Press duties as taking their rise from Gospel-grace, and running as in a channel of free grace, and into Christs bosom. 4. Let people often know, doing is no merit. 5. That self-righteousness is the great Idol, the bosom and breast-God brought up with us from our youth, and warmed with us in Egypt with our first life-heat. 6. That imputed righteousness is a way too high for a fool, from the womb, while grace casts us in a new mould. 7. That literal, and moral preaching of dead and letter-works, too Seneca-like, is far from the Gospel-free-Spirit, and the subduing of corruption; that Moral Philosophy of virtues and vices cannot draw blood of a wounded conscience. 8. That Antinomians bvainly argue from the strength the Law giveth, to obey (which is as good as nothing of it self, without the Spirit) to disannul all binding power of the Law. 9. Beware of licence to the flesh, under the coat of liberty of the Spirit; and let none think that Law-curses, looseth us from all Law-obedience; or that Christ hath cried down the ten Commandments; and that Gospel-liberty is a dispensation for Law-looseness; or that free grace is a lawless Pope. Grace is active, dutiful in acting, thankful, holy, solicitous in doing, as if there were not a Gospel; free, fearless, bold; as if there were not a cursing Law; tender of the honour of the Law-giver, and of Gospel-glory due to him who justifies the ungodly.
THe Law is yet to be preached, as tying us to personall obedience, whatever aAntinomians say on the contrary; in the covenant of works, personall and perfect obedience was ⟨p. 29⟩craved. Antinomians judge that by the Gospel, Christ hath done all for us, which is most true in the kinde of a meritorious and deserving cause, satisfying justice, but they doe loose us from all personall duties, or doing our selves, or in our own persons, so as we should be obliged to doe, except we would sinne. We thinke the same Law-obligation, but running in a Gospel-channel of Free-grace, should act us now as if we were under a covenant of works, but not as if the one were Law-debt, and the other wages that we sweat for, and commeth by Law-debt; Antinomians make all duties a matter of courtesie. Yet would we wish 1. Preachers to extoll Christ,2 and study Christ as their dayly Text, and heighten free-grace. 2. Preach Christ the garland, crowne, and floure of all duties. 3. Presse duties as taking their rise from Gospel-grace, and running as in a channell of free grace, and into Christs bosome. 4. Let people often know, doing is no merit. 5. That selfe-righteousnesse is the great Idol, the bosome and breast-God brought up with us from our youth, and warmed with us in Aegypt with our first life-heat. 6. That imputed righteousnesse is a way too high for a foole, from the wombe, while grace casts us in a new mould. 7. That litterall, and morall preaching of dead and letter-works, too Seneca-like, is farre from the Gospel-free-Spirit, and the subduing of corruption; that Morall Philosophie of vertues and vices cannot draw bloud of a wounded conscience. 8. That Antinomians bvainely argue from the strength the Law giveth, to obey (which is as good as nothing of it selfe, without the Spirit) to disanull all binding power of the Law. 9. Beware of licence to the flesh, under the coat of liberty of the Spirit; and let none thinke that Law-curses, looseth us from all Law-obedience; or that Christ hath cryed downe the tenne Commandements; and that Gospel-liberty is a dispensation for Law-loosenesse; or that free grace is a lawlesse Pope. Grace is active, dutifull in acting, thankfull, holy, solicitous in doing, as if there were not a Gospel; free, fearelesse, bold; as if there were not a cursing Law; tender of the honour of the Law-giver, and of Gospel-glory due to him who justifies the ungodly.
- aTown ass. grace p. 31.Towne ass. grace p. 31.
- 2How duties are to be preached.How duties are to bee preached.
- bTown a• ser. 36.Towne a• ser. 36.
