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…

The same Spirit, I say, doth command or enjoin them; likewise to retain the best, and quit the contrary, and obey them accordingly. And so speak the Libertines of ^bN. England, These that be in Christ, are not under the Law, or commands of the Word, as the rule of life. 3. If man, because he is flesh, hath need of a Law without, and in the Letter; by flesh is either understood a body and sensitive soul; but then the meaning must be, that the Law of Word and Gospel is given to the outward man, to regulate him in his animal and vital actions, as eating, sleeping, walking, seeing, hearing, and other senses, as if no Law were imposed on the Spirit, heart, understanding, conscience, and will, a carnal dream that many put upon the Pharisees; or by the flesh must be understood, the unrenewed and sinful corruption. This must be the sense of Saltmarsh, for he citeth, Rom. 7.14. The Law is spiritual, that is just, and holy; as vers. 12. Wherefore the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good; but I am carnal: that is, sinful, flesh, unholy, and sold under sin. Now thus, Law and Gospel commands threatenings; Gospel-promises sweet invitations of free grace, that loaden sinners would come to Christ, and be refreshed, eased, saved, are all given to man, because he is sinful; and no outward Commandment would be laid on man, if he had not sinned, which is a conjecture and fancy. Divines say, the Tree of life, and of knowledge of good and ill, were Sacraments to innocent Adam, the Sabbath was ordained for Adams worshipping of God, an outward Law was laid on him, If thou eat, thou shalt die, when as yet Adam was not carnal, ⟨p. 126⟩or sold under sin. Yea, so it would appear to Antinomians, nothing in man is under an outward Law or Command, either of Law, or Gospel, or any Gospel-promise, or Law-threatening, save only the fleshly body of sin; then Christ came in the flesh to redeem and save only the Old Adam, and the corrupt flesh; then is the corrupt flesh, and it only obliged by a Law without, and the Letter to believe in Christ, to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man, to live with, and in Christ, to sit in heavenly places with Christ, to have right to the Tree of life, to have the hid Manna, the White stone, the new Name given to it. And what then shall be the condition of the New man;