A77854:477
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.
It is true, in the Old Testament many things were expressed more grossly and carnally, which the people for the most part understood carnally; yet the duties then commanded were as spiritual as now: There is only a gradual difference in the manifestation of the duties, no specific difference of the duties themselves. And that this may appear the more to the dignity and excellency of the Law, I will instance in particulars:
It is true, in the Old Testament many things were expressed more grosly and carnally, which the people for the most part understood carnally; yet the duties then commanded were as spirituall as now: There is onely a graduall difference in the manifestation of the duties, no specificall difference of the duties themselves. And that this may appeare the more to the dignity and excellency of the Law, I will instance in particulars:
First, The Law of God required the heart-worship and service. That this may be understood, take this for a general rule, which is ⟨p. 172⟩not denied by any; That when there are any moral duties pressed in the Old Testament, the Prophets do it, as explainers of the Law; they do but unfold and draw out that Arras which was folded together before. This being premised, then consider those places in the Old Testament that call for the heart: Thus Pro. 3. 1. Let thine heart keep my commandments; So Pro. 23. 26. My son, give me thine heart: So that all the duties then performed, which were without the heart and inward man, were not regarded: God required then heart-prayer, and heart-humiliation. Its true, the people for the most part understood all carnally and grossly, thinking the outward duty commanded only: and that is no marvel; for do not people, even in these times of the Gospel, look to the external duty, not examining whether they pray or humble themselves according as the Word speaks of such duties? Thus David was very sensible of his heart-neglect, when he prayed, Unite my heart to fear thy Name: and are not the people of God still under the same temptations? They would pray, they would humble themselves, but oh how they want an heart! That is so divided and distracted, that if after any duty we should put that question to it, as God did to Satan, From whence comest thou? it would return Satan's answer, From compassing the earth.