Nor do we deny, as aAntinomians would charge us, But we are from under the Law, in regard of Sanctification, as well as of Justification, thus far; that the Apostle saith, As many as are Christs, bare led by the Spirit of Christ, and so not under the Law; and cif ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the Law. But this only beareth so much, that our voluntary, free, sweet, and loving obedience, cometh not from the fear of cursings,4 Rom. 8.15. or the Spirit of bondage; but yet from the binding and obliging authority of the Law-giver, nor is this obliging rule, and government of the Law, contrary to the sweet cords of Gospel-love, by which the Spirit kindly draweth, and gently leadeth the Saints in the way of Sanctification, these two are made friends in Christ, and jar not as contraries; which is the cardinal and first principle of gross mistaking in the Antinomian, while he grossly conceiveth, there is no awe of love in the Law, which commandeth all gracious acts of fear, though not from Law-principles; for the Law is terrible, and causeth Moses fear and dquake, but it is because it acteth and breatheth out curses on Moses, as a sinner, and a broken man, to chase him in to his surety, and the sweet sanctuary of a terrified conscience; but the Law demandeth the same awe and fear of love, of sin as sin, and as done against a Father in a covenant of grace. It is true, when the man is once under sin, he cannot pay the debt of lovely awe, out of his own unbroken and sinless nature.6 Yet the Law still craveth as the Law, and it craveth the same debt, if the broken man pay it out of money borrowed from his surety, that is, from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ; the Law is the same craver, the sum is the same debt now payed in gold, though clipped, and wanting many grains, because of the sinfulness of flesh, out of the Kings treasure; the fullness of Christ, and his Spirit of grace; the sinner is the same debtor, that is obliged to the same creditor and Lawgiver, only the bond, and the tenor of it is changed;
NOr doe wee deny, as aAntinomians would charge us, But we are from under the Law, in regard of Sanctification, as well as of Justification, thus farre; that the Apostle saith, As many as are Christs, bare led by the Spirit of Christ, and so not under the Law; and cif yee be led of the Spirit, yee are not under the Law. But this onely beareth so much, that our voluntary, free, sweet, and loving obedience, commeth not from the feare of cursings,4 Rom. 8.15. or the Spirit of bondage; but yet from the binding and obliging authority of the Law-giver, nor is this obliging rule, and government of the Law, contrary to the sweet cords of Gospel-love, by which the Spirit kindly draweth, and gently leadeth the Saints in the way of Sanctification, these two are made friends in Christ, and jarre not as contraries; which is the cardinall and first principle of grosse mistaking in the Antinomian, while hee grosely conceiveth, there is no awe of love in the Law, which commandeth all gracious acts of feare, though not from Law-principles; for the Law is terrible, and causeth Moses feare and dquake, but it is because it acteth and breatheth out curses on Moses, as a sinner, and a broken man, to chase him in to his surety, and the sweet sanctuary of a terrified conscience; but the Law demandeth the same awe and feare of love, of sinne as sinne, and as done against a Father in a covenant of grace. It is true, when the man is once under sin, he cannot pay the debt of lovely awe, out of his owne unbroken and sinnelesse nature.6 Yet the Law still craveth as the Law, and it craveth the same debt, if the broken man pay it out of money borrowed from his suretie, that is, from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ; the Law is the same craver, the summe is the same debt now payed in gold, though clipped, and wanting many graines, because of the sinnefulnesse of flesh, out of the Kings treasure; the fulnesse of Christ, and his Spirit of grace; the sinner is the same debter, that is obliged to the same creditor and Lawgiver, onely the bond, and the tenor of it is changed;
- aTown asser. 9.•0.Towne asser. 9.•0.
- bRom. 8.14.
- cGal. 5.18.
- 4The obliging rule of the Law, not contrary to Gospel love.
- dH•b. 12.2•.
- 6How the Gospel and the Law demand the same debt of obedience, how not.
