A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in…A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in…

CHAP. XL. Antinomians, the perfectists of our time, say, we and our works are completely perfect.

CHAP. XL. Antinomians, the perfectists of our time, say, wee and our works are compleatly perfect.

Antinomians ^aascribe not only an imputative perfection, in that Christs perfect righteousness is made ours, but also an inherent perfection to the Saints. But we judge our state and persons through Christ to be perfect, but our duties, and begun sanctification are not perfect, but is so in growing as the Moon, as a vessel not full to the brim and banks of the soul, it receives quarts and gallons more. Its true justification ⟨p. 43⟩removeth the evil of works, as touching all guilt, or obligation to eternally revenging justice. But as Christs grace addeth to our good works no dignity and perfection of meriting, as Papists say, so doth it not remove the inherent blot of sin,² that cleaveth to our good works, so as it should give to these works, inherent perfection, and remove their sinful defects; for as sin dwelleth in our persons after we are justified, though it be not imputed: so doth sin cleave to our most gracious acts, but is not accounted on our score, because the surety hath answered our bill, and removed the sinful imperfection from them, but hath not made them inherently perfect, so as there should remain nothing in the works of the justified, that is contrary to the Law of God.

ANtinomians ^a