A77854:287
Vindiciæ legis
Vindiciæ legis: or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the errors of papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians. In XXIX. lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London. / By Anthony Burgess, preacher of Gods Word.Vindiciæ legis: or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the errours of papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians. In XXIX. lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London. / By Anthony Burgess, preacher of Gods Word.
London: printed by James Young for Thomas Underhill, 1646
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And this is also further to be observed, that though the obedience unto this positive law be far inferior unto that of the moral law, because the object of one is inwardly good, and the object of the other rather a profession of obedience, then obedience; yet the disobedience unto the positive law is no less heinous then that to the moral law, because hereby man doth professedly acknowledge he will not submit to God: Even as a vassal, that is to pay such homage a year, if he wilfully refuse it, doth yearly acknowledge his refractoriness. Hence the Apostle doth expressly call Adams sin disobedience, Rom. 5. not in a general sense, as every sin is disobedience; but specifically it was (strictly taken) the sin of disobedience: he did by that act cast off the dominion and power that God had over him, as much as in him lay; and though pride and unbelief were in this sin, yet this was properly his sin.
And this is also further to be observed, that though the obedience unto this positive law be far inferiour unto that of the morall law, because the object of one is inwardly good, and the object of the other rather a profession of obedience, then obedience; yet the disobedience unto the positive law is no lesse hainous then that to the morall law, because hereby man doth professedly acknowledge he will not submit to God: Even as a vassall, that is to pay such homage a yeare, if he wilfully refuse it, doth yearly acknowledge his refractorinesse. Hence the Apostle doth expresly call Adams sin disobedience, Rom. 5. not in a generall sense, as every sin is disobedience; but specifically it was (strictly taken) the sin of disobedience: he did by that act cast off the dominion and power that God had over him, as much as in him lay; and though pride and unbeliefe were in this sin, yet this was properly his sin.
3. Why God would make this law, seeing he fore-knew his fall, and 1abuse of it. For such is the profane boldness of many men, that would have a reason of all Gods actions, whereas this is as