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…

Answ. Miserable be they, with Herod and Pilate, who call it a miserable case, that Christs silken cords of love, and ties of free Gospel-bands, oiled and sweetened with the love of Christ, renders us no help, but makes our yoke and Law-chains heavier. It is happiness, not misery, and sweetest liberty to serve God. But to Antinomians, Puritanical walking, and strict adhering to the Law of God, as a rule of righteousness, sweetened and perfumed with Gospel-grace, to perform any personal obedience (they lay all on imputative mortification abused,¹ not rightly expounded) to God is bondage. 2. The rigour of the Law is not in commanding holiness, the Law then should be unjust, but in that it now obligeth us to ⟨p. 123⟩obedience under a curse, when we are utterly unable to obey, but Christ abateth the rigour of the Law, in that 1. He removeth the curse, which Town seemeth to esteem a poor courtesy Christ hath done us. 2. Giveth grace to obey. 3. Pardoneth in Christs blood the sinful defects of obedience. 4. Justifieth us not by Law, (that door to heaven is shut, never to be opened to sinners) but by faith, (which is his own gift) laying hold on the righteousness of Christ freely, and of only pure grace imputed to us.

Answ. Miserable bee they, with Herod and Pilate, who call it a miserable case, that Christs silken coards of love, and tyes of free Gospel-bands, oyled and sweetned with the love of Christ, renders us no helpe, but makes our yoake and Law-chaines heavier. It is happinesse, not misery, and sweetest liberty to serve God. But to Antinomians, Puritanicall walking, and strickt adhering to the Law of God, as a rule of righteousnesse, sweetned and perfumed with Gospel-grace, to performe any personall obedience (they lay all on imputative mortification abused,¹ not rightly expounded) to God is bondage. 2. The rigour of the Law is not in commanding holinesse, the Law then should be unjust, but in that it now obligeth us to ⟨p. 123⟩obedience under a curse, when we are utterly unable to obey, but Christ abateth the rigour of the Law, in that 1. He removeth the curse, which Towne seemeth to esteeme a poore courtesie Christ hath done us. 2. Giveth grace to obey. 3. Pardoneth in Christs bloud the sinnefull defects of obedience. 4. Justifieth us not by Law, (that doore to heaven is shut, never to be opened to sinners) but by faith, (which is his own gift) laying hold on the righteousnesse of Christ freely, and of onely pure grace imputed to us.