The Law of God Ratified by the Gospel of Christ, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
NOw followeth the other part of his Answer, by way of Negation o… Denyal. Concerning which, I grant it to be an Affirmation in respect of the form of the words, if they be considered as a sentence by themselves; but consider this clause as an Answer to the former Question or Objection, and so it is a Denial, and more than a Denial, in regard of the matter of it, it is a Denial with advantage. The Question or Objection is, Do we make void the Law thro…gh Faith? implying that the doctrine delivered by the Apostle concerning justification by faith, doth make void the Law, that is, that by maintaining this doctrine, that they who receive Christ by a lively faith, applying his righteousness, obedience, and satisfaction, to themselves, and relying wholly upon him for justification and salvation, are accepted of God as truly righteous, without any consideration at all of any works of theirs done in obedience to the Law; that they hereby do make void the Law, or take away the use and authority of it. This the Apostle doth most strongly deny, by affirming the contrary, yea, we establish the Law. If he had said no more but this, we do not make void the Law through Faith, it had been a denial of that which was objected. But to add strength to his denyal, he affirms the contrary, that the doctrine of justification by faith, is so far from making void the Law, that it confirmeth and establisheth the Law. So that the Apostle shews that there was a double falshood in this Objection: For if the doctrine objected against, had neither made void the Law, nor established it, it had been false to say, it did make void the the Law: but to say it made void the Law, when it was so far from making it void, that it did establish it, was a double falshood. Again, it seemeth the objection was made both against the doctrine, and them that taught it, Do we make void the Law through Faith? scil. the Apostle and other Gospel-preachers? And the Answer cleareth both, Yea, we establish the Law: The doctrine which we preach, and we in preaching this doctrine, are so far from making void the Law, that both our doctrine, and we in teaching it, do establish the Law.
Hence may be noted this Point,Doct. 3. Complicated falshood charged sometimes on truth and the preachers of it. That such things have been Objected against the Truth, and them that stand for the truth, as are doubly false. I conceive there is an Objection implied in the speech of our Lord Christ, Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; Mat. 5. 17.I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. It seemeth some either did Object, or were inclined to object against the Son of God, that he came to destroy the Law and the Prophets. Now he shews that there was a double falshood in this surmize: for 1. He did not come to destroy them. 2. He came to fulfill them in such an exact and perfect manner and measure, as the best of men that ever came before him were never able to do. So when he had cast the Divel out of a dumb man, that was possessed, so that the dumb spake,& Mat. 9. 34. and the multitude marveiled saying, it was never so seen in Israel, See Luk. 23. 2. with Mat 22. 21the Pharisees said, he casteth out Devils through the Prince of Devils. There was a double falshood in this envious and Blasphemous cavil. They accused him as a confederate of the Devil, who both by his doctrine and works made it appear that he came to destroy the works of the Devil. The Lord Christ having said, I am the light of the world: Joh. 8. 13.he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees said unto him, Thou bearest record of thy self, thy record is not true. This was doubly false; for he is the truth it self, and neither did nor could speak any untruth. So when the Lord Jesus had opened the eyes of one that was born blind, on the Sabbath day, Some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. This was doubly false: If a man be accused for breaking the Sabbath, when he doth some work of necessity, which is permitted on the Sabbath day, though not commanded, it is a false accusation: but when he is accused to break the Sabbath, for such a work as is a work suitable to the Sabbath; there is a double falshood in such a charge. Now such was this, and other miraculous works wrought by the Lord Christ on the Sabbath. They were not only things permitted to be done on that day, but they were special and choice Sabbath day works; for they were divine works, works of divine and almighty power, works tending to prove and confirm his doctrine: yea, proofs and evidences of that great doctrine, that he was the Son of God, the Christ, the Saviour of the world. So those enemies of the Gospel at Philippi fal…ly accused Paul and Silas, and slandered their doctrine,Act. 16. 20, 21. saying, these men being Iews, do exceedingly trouble our City, and teach customes which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. Here was a double falshood. For,
1. It was lawful for them to receive and observe the things taught by Paul, &c. 2. It was not only lawful but necessary. They were bound to receive them as the counsels and commands of the Lord Jesus, exalted to the right hand of God, as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, to whom every knee mnst bow, &c. To whose Soveraignty both the Romans, and all other nations of the world were subject. So the unbelieving Iews of Thessalonica cried out against them,& 17. 6. These that have turned the world upside down, are come hither also. Now this had been false, if Paul and Silas had done neither good nor harm in the world. But it was doubly false; For they were so far from turning the world upside down, that they laboured mightily to set the world in order: They found the world wofully disordered, full of confusion, and as it were turned upside down, by the subtilty and malice of Satan, and the wickedness of men: the Divel the worst and basest of all the creatures raigning over the World: man at first made after the Image of God, and Lord of the rest of the creatures, so far abased as to worship stocks and stones, yea, the Images of Birds and Beasts, &c. and inslaved to divers lusts and vile affections. Now Paul and Silas, and other faithful Preachers of the Gospel, taught such a doctrine as tended to the remedying and rectifying of these disorders and confusions, to put the world into a right posture, to beat down the strong holds of Satan, to cast him out of his usurped Throne, to deliver the people of the world out of his power, to rescue them out of the slavery of sin, to reconcile them unto God by Christ, to subject them to his authority, to restore them to his likeness. So there was also a double untruth in their other accusation, These all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar. This had been false if Paul, &c. had spoken nothing at all either for or against Caesars Authority: But it was a double untruth to lay such a charge upon them, that taught obedience and subjection to Caesar. Let every soul be subject, Rom. 13.&c. Yea, and Paul directed Titus to teach thus,Tit. 3. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey Magistrates. This proceedeth,
1. From Ignorance I suppose in some, who not having their senses exercised in the word of God,1. Reason of the Point. do grossely mistake things that are delivered, and misunderstand the words and meaning of those that bear witness to the truth. Such it may be was the case of those unbelieving Iews, Act. 17. 18.who complained of Paul and Silas, that they turned the world upside down: And those Heathens at Athens who said of Paul, he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange Gods, because he preached unto them Iesus and the Resurrection: Whereas his endeavour was to perswade them to renounce all strange gods, and to turn to the only true and living God. Others seem to have taken his speech for vain babling: Whereas I believe it was the most serious weighty discourse that ever was uttered within their Walls since the foundation of their City was laid. But they were trained up in heathenish blindness and ignorance, and therefore no wonder if they were subject to such gross mistakes: For saith the Apostle, we preach Christ Crucified, 2 Cor. 1. 13.unto the Greeks foolishness. The most excellent wisdom that ever was revealed to the children of men, is accounted foolishness by ignorant and foolish men. I conceive,
Secondly, This may proceed from misinformation in some, Reason 2. From Credu…ity.who being weak credulous persons do take things upon trust without judicious trial and examination, giving credit to false reports, of such as speak evil of that which they understand not, or of such as for base ends do slander the truth, or those that profess and preach the truth. So when Demetrius minding his trade and gain, had stirred up an uproar among the ignorant people of Ephesus, Some cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the most part knew not wherefore they were come together. And yet it seemeth this rude and ignorant multitude joyned together to make up the common cry. All with one voice about the space of two hours cryed out, Great is Diana of the Epbesians. How many have made loud clamours against the truth,Act. 19. 32, 33. and them that preach and profess it, upon the false suggestions of others, themselves not being able to give a reason for what they say!
3. I conceive many do this out of malice against those that maintain the truth. Reason 3. From malice.The malignity of their Spirits is not satisfied with lesser calumnies than those of a double dye.Act. 24. 5, 6. Tertullus the Oratour was not content to term the blessed Apostle Paul, a pestilent fellow, (as our English hath it,) but a Pest or Plague as in the original: and then accused him for a mover of sedition among all the Iews throughout the world, and one that went about to prophane the Temple: Whereas he endeavoured to prevent or suppress sedition or tumults, and endured great afflictions, and was exposed to extream dangers by the turbulent and seditious adversaries of the truth, and instead of being a Plague, he was one of the chiefest instruments of good to the world that ever was, and instead of going about to Profane the Temple, he shewed special regard of the supposed holiness of the Temple even after the date of it was expired, that he might not give offence to the weak: and yet the Iews assented to their Oratour, in these most false suggestions, saying that these things were so.
Fourthly, It seemeth many do this for want of Arguments to confirm their false opinions, and overthrow the Truth: And therefore they lay on load, heaping up railings instead of reasons, false and reproachful accusations, instead of convincing demonstrations; thinking to disgrace those truths which they cannot disprove, and to discredit those teachers the light of whose doctrine they cannot resist. And how ready are the weaker sort to be scared from the truth, and alienated from those assemblies where it is taught by such shifts as these? A bold face and a rolling tongue pouring out store of opprobrious language against the truth, goes a great way with the simple. What an out-cry was made by the Iews of Asia against Paul, Men of Israel help: This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the Law, and this place: and farther, brought Greeks also into the Temple, and hath polluted this holy place. And all the City was moved, and the people ran together, and they took Paul and drew him out of the Temple, and went about to kill him. How soon are the multitude stirred up, and set in a rage by the meer clamours of those who outragiously exclaim against the truth, and them that maintain it? Men of Israel help; as if all were like to be lost, unless Paul and his doctrine were suppressed. So when they that disputed with Stephen, were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake,Act. 6: 9, 10, 11 Then they suborned men, which said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God, and they stirred up the people. They were beaten from their arguments, and then sought to over-bear him with false accusations, and the ignorant people were ready to hearken to them.
First,Vse 1. This may teach us not to think it strange, if the Truth and those that profess it be evil spoken of in these times; if things that are doubly false be objected against it and them.Eccles. 1. 9. Solomon saith, There is no new thing under the Sun: Certainly this is no new thing, as ye have heard by divers examples out of Scripture; it is a practice as antient as the Apostles dayes. Paul and his Ministry did not escape these envenomed tongues. Nay, the Lord Christ himself, together with his doctrine and works, was thus traduced. Why should it be expected that the servants should be above their Master, or the truth in their mouths be more free from false reproaches than it was in his? If ye hear such things in these dayes, consider that the Divel doth but keep his old wont. If the doctrine of free justification be slandered as licentious, and tending to carnal liberty, was it not so in Pauls time? If the Ministers of the Gospel be called Antichristian, Baals-Priests, and the like, by Hereticks and Sectaries, it is no wonder; the Divel seeth them to stand in his way and hinder his work. I think it is easie to prove that there is a double falshood in this reproach. For first, they do not promote the interest and Kingdom of Antichrist either in regard of discipline, doctrine or worship. Not in regard of discipline; they are far from seeking to bring men into subjection to him as the visible head of the Church, or to exalt his authority above Kings and Princes, and above the Laws of Christ. Nor in doctrine; they teach not Popish opinions. Nor in worship; they are no Patrons of Idolatry and superstition. But secondly, They are so far from being Antichristians, that I am perswaded that they are the greatest and most considerable opposites and adversaries to Antichrist that are in the world. And therefore there is a double falshood in this charge. And I think it very probable that the Jesuites were either the first instruments of Satan in broaching this reproach, or else are very apt to promote it and set it on; that by crying down the Ministers of the Gospel as Antichristian, they may make way for Antichrist to get ground amongst us with the more ease and speed. How easie were it to demonstrate, that Ministers of the same order and the same judgement with those that now by foul-mouthed adversaries are branded for Antichristian, have been principally instrumental under Christ to overthrow Popery, and to prevent it for recovering its former strength? For the eminent instruments in this work were, Luther, Melanchthon, and Bucer, and others of Germany. Calvin, Beza, Iunius, Chamier of France. Zuinglius, Oe…olampadius, Bullinger, Grinaeus, of Switzerland. Whitaker and Reinolds of England, and divers others. Besides the diligent and constant endeavours of Ministers in preaching, clearing, confirming the Truth, and through the Lords blessing, grounding and establishing the people in it against Popish errours and Antichristian corruptions. As for Sectaries, who are so liberal in bestowing such Titles upon the Ministers of the Gospel, have they not occasionally at least given much advantage to Antichrist, and as it were opened a back door at which to let him in again? 1. By seeking to discredit the Ministers of the word and their Ministry. 2. By drawing many people from the Ordinances, and so preparing them to take such impressions as Satan and his instruments are ready to put upon them, and (if opportunity be) to receive the mark of the Beast. 3. By multiplying divisions and factions, and setting up party against party, and thereby taking a ready course to make Religion ridiculous in the eyes of worldly Politicians, filling the minds of the simple with doubting and amazement, as not knowing which way to take. And, 4. Hereupon ministring occasion to the Jesuites and Friers to perswade the people that there will be no certainty, no end of divisions, no remedy against sects and errours, but by uniting themselves to one visible head the Pope, and returning to the bosom of the Mother Church of Rome: yea, it is verily thought that many of the Popes Agents and Emissaries are now very active among us, disguised under the appearance of Sectaries, labouring to encrease contention among us, for the designs of Antichrist. I conceive it is very observable, that those Sectaries which cry down the Preachers and Professours of the truth as Antichristian, have usually come in the rear, and a day after the fight as it were; for when they that are sound in their principles have set upon the work of reformation, and through the good hand of God some hopeful beginings have been made, then have crept in Anabaptists and other Sectaries: So in Germany, Switzerland, Geneva, England. I conceive, the Divel finding that, upon the bre…king forth of light, those old errours and corrupt customes will not be digested; he then stirreth up some to pretend to reformation, disguising himself that way, that he may both hinder the work and blemish it. This it seemeth was his practice about the time of Christs coming in the flesh, to raise up false Christs and deceivers, &c.