A77854:475
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.
Now our Saviours explications of the Law go upon those grounds which are observed by all sound Divines, viz. 1. That the Law is spiritual, and forbids not only the fruit and branches of sin, but even the root it self and fountain: And 2. that wheresoever any sin is forbidden, and in what latitude soever; the contrary good things are commanded, and in that proportionable latitude. This therefore considered, may make every man tremble and be afraid of his own heart, and with him to cry out, Gehenna sum Domine, I am a very hell it self. Let us not therefore be afraid of preaching the Law as we see Christ here doth, for this is the great engine to beat down the formality, and Pharisaism that is in people.
Now our Saviours explications of the Law goe upon those grounds which are observed by all sound Divines, viz. 1. That the Law is spirituall, and forbids not onely the fruit and branches of sinne, but even the root it selfe and fountaine: And 2. that wheresoever any sinne is forbidden, and in what latitude soever; the contrary good things are commanded, and in that proportionable latitude. This therefore considered, may make every man tremble and be afraid of his owne heart, and with him to cry out, Gehenna sum Domine, I am a very hell it selfe. Let us not therefore be afraid of preaching the Law as we see Christ here doth, for this is the great engine to beate downe the formality, and Pharisaisme that is in people.
And thus I come to raise the Doctrine, which is, that The Law 1of God is such a perfect rule of life, that Christ added no new precept or duty unto it: But even as the Prophets before did only explicate the Law, when they pressed moral duties, so also Christ and the Apostles, when they urge men unto holy duties, they are the same commanded heretofore: I do not speak of Sacraments, or the outward positive worship, which is otherwise then was in the Old Testament (they had Circumcision, and we have Baptism) 2but of the moral duties required of us.