Vindiciæ legis

I answer, All this may be granted, and nothing makes against Answ. this opinion; for none deny the Gospel, to be the instrument of holiness: But is not here a contradiction? The Author before made the Gospel and a Promise all one, whereas here it doth command holiness and godliness. Is not this, with the Papists, to make the Gospel a new Law? Let him reconcile himself. In the next place, he doth ambiguously put into the argument, the word effectually, which is not in the Text; for, although God doth by his grace in the Gospel effectually move those that are elected to Godliness; yet Scripture, and experience showeth, that where the grace of the Gospel hath appeared, thus teaching men, yet all are not effectually turned unto holiness from their worldly lusts.

I answer, All this may be granted, and nothing makes against Answ. this opinion; for none deny the Gospel, to be the instrument of holinesse: But is not here a contradiction? The Author before made the Gospel and a Promise all one, whereas here it doth command holinesse and godlinesse. Is not this, with the Papists, to make the Gospel a new Law? Let him reconcile himself. In the next place, he doth ambiguously put into the argument, the word effectually, which is not in the Text; for, although God doth by his grace in the Gospel effectually move those that are elected to Godlinesse; yet Scripture, and experience sheweth, that where the grace of the Gospel hath appeared, thus teaching men, yet all are not effectually turned unto holinesse from their worldly lusts.

Besides, the argument may be retorted upon him: What word teacheth to deny all ungodliness, that sanctifieth, instructeth, but the Law doth so, insomuch that the Psalmist saith, Psal. 119. A young man, whose lusts are strongest, and temptations most violent, may be cleansed by attending thereunto: only you must always take notice of the preheminency of the Gospel, above the Law; for the Law could never have any such good effect upon the heart of man, were it not for the gracious Promise by Christ: Therefore all the godly men in the Old Testament, that received benefit by the Moral Law, in studying of it, and meditating upon it, did depend upon the Gospel, or the grace of God in Christ, as appeareth by David, praying so often to be quickened by Gods Law. And here, by the way, let me take notice of a remarkable passage of Peter Martyr in his Comment on the seventh Chapter of the Epistle to the Rom. ver. 14. where, speaking of the great commendation the Psalmist gives the Law of God, that it converts the soul, (and we may add those places, of enlightening the mind, that they cleanse a mans way, &c.) he maketh this Question, Whether the Law doth ever obtain such effects or no? And he answereth affirmatively, that it doth: but then when its written not in tables, but in the hearts