Vindiciæ legis

1. In what sense the Apostle argueth against the Law; and what ¹was the proper state of the Question in those days. And that appeareth Act. 15. where you have a relation made of some believing Jews, that were of the sect of the Pharisees, who pressed the necessity of Circumcision: and so would join the ministry of Moses and Christ together. Now it seemeth, though the Apostles in this Council had condemned that opinion, yet there were many that would still revive this error; and therefore the Apostle in this Epistle to the Romans, and in that to the Galatians doth reprove this false doctrine, and labour much against it. Stapleton, and other papists, they think that the controversy was only about the Ceremonial Law; and this they do, to maintain their justification by the works of the Law; when wrought by grace. But, though it must be granted, that the doubts about keeping the Ceremonial Law were the occasion of that great difference, and the most principal thing in question; yet the Apostle, to set forth the fullness of grace and Christ, doth extend his arguments and instances even to the Moral Law: for, the Jews did generally think, that the knowledge and observation of the Moral Law without Christ, was enough for their peace and comfort. And if they could persuade themselves, that the external performing of the Ceremonial Law was enough to make them acceptable with God, though they lived in gross disobedience to the Moral Law, (as Isai. 1. & alibi, it many times appeareth they did) how much more, when they lived a life externally conformable to the Moral Law; must they needs be secure of their favour with God? ⟨p. 216⟩And in this sense it is that the Apostle speaks seemingly derogatory to the Law, because they took it without Christ. Even as he calleth the ceremonies beggarly elements, when yet we know, they were signs of an Evangelical grace.

1. In what sense the Apostle argueth against the Law; and what ¹was the proper state of the Question in those dayes. And that appeareth