The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…

If we be doubtful whether this be the Lord's Mind, the Lord himself resolves it by Zechariah, Luke 1.74. and tells us, that 'tis his Oath, That we being delivered out of the Hand• of our Enemies, we should serve him without Fear, in Holiness (in all the Rules of the first Table) and Righteousness (in all Duties of the second Table) all the Days of our Life, and that all this should not be out of a Spirit of Bondage and slavish Fear, but without, Fear, i. e. Fear of our Enemies, Sin, Death, Wrath, and so consequently out of Love to him that delivered us; that one would wonder it should ever enter into the Heart of any christian Man that hath tasted the Love of Christ, as to think that there is no Use of the Law to one in Christ; and that because they are to live the Life of Love to Christ, that therefore they are not to look to the Law as the Rule of their Love, expressly cross to the Letter of the Text, John 14.15. If ye love me, keep my Commandments; which Commandments are not only Faith, and Love to the Saints, but Love to Enemies, and spiritual Obedience unto the moral Law, in a far different Manner▪ and Measure than as the Pharisees instructed the ⟨p. 247⟩People in those Days; as you may see. Mat. 5.17. 'Tis true indeed, Obedience to the Law is not required of us now as it was of Adam; it was required of him as a Condition antecedent to Life, but of those that be in Christ it is required only as a Duty consequent to Life, or as a Rule of Life, that seeing he hath purchased our Lives in Redemption, and actually given us Life in Vocation and Sanctification, we should now live unto him, in all thankful and fruitful Obedience according to his Will revealed in the moral Law. 'Tis a vain Thing to imagine that our Obedience is to have no other Rule but the Spirit, without any Attendance to the Law; the Spirit indeed is the efficient Cause of our Obedience, and hence we are said to be led by the Spirit, Rom. 8.14. but it is not properly the Rule of our Obedience, but the Will of God revealed in his Word, especially in the Law is the Rule: The Spirit is the Wind that drives us in our Obedience, the Law is our Compass; according to which it steers our Course for us: The Spirit and the Law, the Wind and the Compass, can stand well together, Psal 143.10. Teach me to do thy Will, O God, (there is David's Rule, viz.