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…

Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law: for they stumbled at the stumbling stone. Yea, being ignorant (then it was their pride and error, not their state of non-age) of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own ^erighteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. It was never lawful for the Jews to dream they could get, or earn Gods free love, and undeserved grace, by fasting and praying, and other acts of obedience; no more then it was lawful for them to stumble at, and break their neck upon Christ, the stone laid on Zion, it was never lawful for them to go about to establish their own righteousness, and not to submit to the ⟨p. 71⟩righteousness of God; this was their sin. But sure it was not their sin to be under Tutors, and the Pedagogy of the Law, for that was Gods holy and innocent dispensation, as the Scripture ^fsaith. And it was not any Legal justification by works; But it was, (1) in that they were kept 1. under shadows, elements of the world, Ceremonies representing forth Christ to come, and (2) God kept them under a greater terror, because of Law-transgressions; and (3) a sparer measure and diet of grace, then we have. But 1. it was never lawful for them or us to seek justification by works, and by fasting and prayer. 2. The Lord cried out against Merit, and placing all godliness in their new ^gMoons, and in saying, We have fasted, and thou ^hseest it not; So there was no Legal strain in getting the love of God by fasting, praying, &c. To the Jews, more then to us. 3. It was never a Legal strain, nor a way approved of God under the Old Testament, that they should serve God for hire, which the Devil acknowledgeth to be ⁱhypocrisy; and that they should ^kpray, or rather howl, like hungry dogs, for corn and wine, or follow Christ▪