The beatitudes

Privi∣ledge. 8 8. If we are children, then we are in a state of freedom. Claudius Lysias valued his freedom of Rome at an high rate; a state of son-ship is a state of freedom; this is not to be understood in an Antinomian sense, that the children of God are freed from the rule of the Moral Law; this is such a freedom as Rebels take: Was it ever heard that a child should be freed from duty to his parents? But the freedom which Gods children have, is an holy freedom; they are freed ab imperio carnis, from the Law of sin, Rom. 8.2.

Privi∣ledge. 8 8. If we are children, then we are in a state of freedom. Claudius Lysias valued his freedom of Rome at an high rate; a state of son-ship is a state of freedom; this is not to be understood in an Antinomian sense, that the children of God are freed from therule of the Moral Law; this is such a freedom as Rebels take: Was it ever heard that a childe should be freed from duty to his parents? But the freedom which Gods children have, is an holy freedom; they are freed ab imperio carnis, from the Law of sin, Rom. 8.2.

This is the sad misery of an unregenerate person, he is in a state of Vassalage, he is under the tyranny of sin^*. Justin Martyr used to say, It is the greatest slavery in the world for a man to be subject to his own passions: A wicked man is as very a slave as he that works in the Galley; look into his heart, and there are Legions of lusts ruling him; he must do what sin will have him; a slave is at the service of an usurping Tyrant; if he bid him dig in the Mine, hew in the Quarries, tug at the Oar, he must ⟨p. 333⟩do it. Thus every wicked man must do what corrupt nature inspired by the Devil bids him; if sin bids him be drunk, be unchaste, he is at the command of sin, as the Ass is at the command of the Driver; sin first enslaves, and then damns.