Ans. Then the written Gospel, and promises of the new Covenant, obligeth not a believer to pray, believe, give alms, or not to kill his father or King; but when the H. Ghost breatheth in the soul to do these duties, then if a believer whore, swear, kill, rob, blaspheme, misbelieve, &c. he sins not against any command in Law or Gospel, because the holy Spirit acted him not to abstain, and God the holy Ghost is the only cause of all the sins of the Saints, because he concurs not with more then the letter, even with saving grace, to prevent these sins. We sin not in not praying, not believing, when the grace of God joins not; then a man being in Christ, may whore, rob, blaspheme, misbelieve, &c. if God will be wanting to him with his flowings, and out•shinings of free grace, let him see to it, blame himself, he fails against no Law, Commandment, or Obligation. Libertines taught the very same, to wit, That God is the only cause of sin, 1no creature, Man nor Angel is to be rebuked or punished for sin, God sins in them. Oh blasphemy! 2. We never said, that the mere Commandments and Letter of the Scripture, is our obliging rule, as the Letter is a thing of Ink, and a Paper, divided from the natural and genuine sense, but as it includes the things signified, and as it expresseth to us what is the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God: which will obligeth Christians with an obligation different from any obligation that the L•w written in the heart lays on us. But this is as much as when a Sectary being justified, robbeth and killeth the innocent, he fails nothing against this written commandment, (Thou shalt not murder) and a Saint cannot sin, yea if the Law written in the heart, excite him not to abstain, he sins against no commandment of God; but the Law written in the heart, is the new creation as acting, which cannot be a Regula, or Rule, but a regulatum, a thing ruled; and this is to make the Spirit within us, not the spirit as speaking in the Word, the formal object of our faith, the Judge of controversies, and that is then lawful, that every unwarranted spirit biddeth us do and believe.
Ans. Then the written Gospel, and promises of the new Covenant, obligeth not a beleever to pray, beleeve, give almes, or not to kill his father or King; but when the H. Ghost breatheth in the soule to doe these duties, then if a beleever whoore, swear, kill, rob, blaspheme, misbeleeve, &c. he sinnes not against any command in Law or Gospel, because the holy Spirit acted him not to abstain, and God the holy Ghost is the onely cause of all the sinnes of the Saints, because he concurres not with more then the letter, even with saving grace, to prevent these sinnes. Wee sinne not in not praying, not beleeving, when the grace of God joyns not; then a man being in Christ, may whore, rob, blaspheme, misbeleeve, &c. if God wil be wanting to him with his flowings, and out•shinings of free grace, let him see to it, blame himselfe, he fails against no Law, Commandement, or Obligation. Libertines taught the very same, to wit, That God is the onely cause of sin, 1no creature, Man nor Angel is to be rebuked or punished for sin, God sinnes in them. Oh blasphemy! 2. We never said, that the meer Commandements and Letter of the Scripture, is our obliging rule, as the Letter is a thing of Ink, and a Paper, divided from the naturall and genuine sense, but as it includes the things signified, and as it expresseth to us what is the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God: which will obligeth Christians with an obligation different from any obligation that the L•w written in the heart layes on us. But this is as much as when a Sectary being justified, robbeth and killeth the innocent, hee fails nothing against this written commandement, (Thou shalt not murther) and a Saint cannot sinne, yea if the Law written in the heart, excite him not to ab•taine, he sinnes against no commandement of God; but the Law written in the heart, is the new creation as acting, which cannot be a Regula, or Rule, but a regulatum, a thing ruled; and this is to make the Spirit within us, not the spirit as speaking in the Word, the formall object of our faith, the Judge of controversies, and that is then lawfull, that every unwarranted spirit biddeth us doe and beleeve.
- 1Calvin Inst. advers. Libert, c. 13. c. 14. c. 15. p 445, 446, 447, 448.
