Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that…

Object. But you will say, a Christian that is under the covenant of grace, is not within the covenant of Works, that Bond is cancelled, the last Will must stand; and therefore ⟨p. 15⟩he being out of that covenant, no sins of his can be said to break the covenant; for no man can be said to break that law under which he is not, and which he is not bound to keep.

Answ. I answer, every believer has a double being or standing, and so there may be put upon him a double respect.

1. First, he may be considered as united to, and having a spiritual being on Christ; and so it is true, he is under Grace, and the covenant of Grace, and not under the Law, nor the covenant of works; and hence not being under the Law, nor bound to keep it as a covenant of life (though it be a rule of life) no sin can condemn him, there being no condemnation to them that are Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. But as Christ is above condemnation, and law, and death, and curse, so is he. And this truly understood, is the foundation of a Christian's joy and peace, and glory, every day; yet so, as tho' sin doth not condemn him, yet he has good reason to say, it is mercy, and mere mercy, Lord, that I am not consumed, that I am not condemned. For sin is the same; nay grace and God's love aggravates sin; for to sin against the law, deserves death without recovery; but to sin when grace has received me, and loved me; when the blood of Christ has been shed abundantly, to deliver me from sin; Oh this makes the most secret silent sin a crying one! So that if you do consider this well, you may see what little cause there is to have your ⟨p. 16⟩