Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 1 · Chapter 11 · Floating text 1 – Floating text 4
(a)Luther to, 2 in Gen. c. 18. fol 18.They are (saith Luther) pernitious teachers, who in our time moved by ways I know not what, contend that the law should not be preached in the Church, wouldest thou not preach the Law, where there is truely a people for Law, to wit, men greedy, proud, unclean, usurers, Idolaters.
bLuther writeth against the Antinomian… by nameIn the Antinomian sect (saith Luther) this is a peculiar proposion, if any was an adulterer, a murtherer &c. let him only believe that God is gratious to him,Luther …o 2. in Gen c. 18 f. 119. Luth…r …fu…eth the Ant…nomians under the name of Antinomians, is enemies to the law of God. and that's enough, but what a Church is this in which so horrible a voice doth sound? But we must teach that there be two sort of sinners, some who acknowledge their sin, some who securely please themselves therein. I intreat Saltmarsh, Eaton, Crispe, Den, Towne, Del, Randel, Simson, who are so much against all preparations for Christ, and for sole beleeving, and cry out so much against strict walking with God, to consider this.
cLuther to. 2. in Gen. c. 18. fo. 119.How can the preaching of the Law bee excluded out …f the Church? doe ye not also exclude the fear of God, and a great part of the works of God.
d19. fo. 118.The Antinomians these new prophets contend that men should be sweetly handled, and ought not to be terrified with examples of Gods wrath, but Paul teacheth another thing, 2 Tim. 2.3. when he saith The Scripture is profitable to rebuke, to correction. So Saltmarsh, Crisp, Den, Del, Town, Randel, preach a honey Gospel, and a short cut to heaven, and exclude all gall and vinegar, from the law.
eLuther to. 2. in Gen. c. 19. f. 132Let's not fall to the madnes of Antinomians, who remove the law out of the Church, as if they were all holy that are in the Church the world loves such teachers and say, preach to us pleasant things.
fLuther tom: 2 in Gen: c: 2. fol: 132.Antinomians teach that all sinnes are simple, taken away, and are not to be rebuked, and that because they are pardoned and damnation is removed and sin is nothing so Honey-combe. c. 3. p. 23. Saltm. free grace, 140. Towne asser. gr. 71.72. Beleevers are as cleane from all sinnes as Christ or the glorified Saints, pardoned sin is no sin, God cannot see adulteries to be sinnes in them.
2 Conclusion, gLuther, tom▪ 1. pa: 555. Luther extolleth good works against all Antinomians.Luther saith for justification, the law is unpossible, but its given to show sin to worke wrath, and to make the conscience guilty. But hLuther tom: 3. fol. 109.lay aside the matter of justification (saith he) no man can too highly commend good workes commanded of God and ILuth. ttm. 3: f…l: 165Its necessary that Godly teachers presse as diligently the doctrine of good workes, as of faith. Satan is angry at both and resisteth with all his strength both.
(k) Faith onelyonly is not sufficient and yet only faith justifieth, for if it be true faith, it obtaineth the spirit of love. This Spirit fullfilleth the law, and obtaineth the kingdome of heaven.
lLuth: tom: 1: fol: 449.Except faith be without the least good workes, it justifieth not,mLuth: tom: 1: fol: 522. yea it is not faith, it is impossible that faith can be without assiduous and great good workes.
nLuther to 2 in Gen. c. 15. fol. 57.Faith justifieth not as our worke, but as a worke of God for the promise is a worke of God, not our worke in which we doe or give something to God, but in which we receave something from God and that through his mercy.
(o)Luther to 2 in Gen. Luther teach…eth that only faith justifieth and yet faith is not alone with out good workes.Thou holdest in thine hand seeds of divers kinde, but I aske not what seeds are conjoyned with these or these seeds; but what is the proper vertue of every seed, in this case, shew plainly, what faith it's alone doth in justification, but not with what other vertues it is conjoyned, faith it alone apprehendeth the promise, beleeveth God promising, and puts to its hand, and receaveth something that God promiseth: this is the proper worke of faith only: Love, hope, patience, have objects about the which they worke, and other bonds within which they consist, for they embrace not the promise, but fulfill the commandements:
So Luther in the matter of justification putteth reproach on good workes, just as Paul Phil. 3. maketh all his priviledges, and his very workes of righteousnesse that he doth by the grace of Christ dung and losse in the comparison of imputed righteousnesse.
Luther tom. 2▪ fol. 517.Workes (saith he) cannot be taught, except yee hurt faith, seeing faith and workes in the matter of justification are extreamely contrary;How faith and workes are contrary to Luther. so that the doctrine of works must necessarily be a doctrin of Devils, and a departure from faith.
Pernitiosi Doctores sunt qui hodie nescio quibus occasionibus adducti,(a)Luther to, 2 in Gen. c. 18. fol 18. contendunt legem in ecclesiâ non praedicandam. Tu legem non doceres. ubi verus legis populus est, scilicet, avari, supe…bi, adulteri, usurarii, Idololatrae.bLuther writeth against the Antinomian… by name
In Antinomorum dogmate erat haec propositio, sig…is esset adulter, tantum ut crederet se habitu rum Deum propitium.Luther …o 2. in Gen c. 18 f. 119. Luth…r …fu…eth the Ant…nomians under the name of Antinomians, is enemies to the law of God. Sed qualis quaeso Ecclesia, in quâ tam horribilis vox sonat? faciendum discrimen erat & docendum, quod adulteri s…u peccatores▪ duplices sunt, quidam qui agnoscunt adulterium, se… p…ccatum suum, alii securè indulgent.
Quomodo predicatio legis potest as debet ex Ecclesiâ ejici;cLuther to. 2. in Gen. c. 18. fo. 119. nonne simul, excludis timorem Dei & maximam partem operum Dei.
d19. fo. 118.Luth. tom. 2. in Ge. Antinomi novi isti prophetae contendunt homines tractandos suaviter, nec terrendos irae divinae ex…mplis, sed diversum Paulus dicet, 2 Tim. 2.3. Vbi dicet scripturam utilem ad objurgandum, ad castigandum.
eLuther to. 2. in Gen. c. 19. f. 132Ne in Antinomorum insaniam in…idamus, qui legem ex Ecclesia tollunt quasi vero in ecclesia ommes si…t sancti,fLuther tom: 2 in Gen: c: 2. fol: 132. mundus quidem tales doctores amat, sicut apud Hierem. dicunt loquer… nobi… placentia.
Antino. docent omnia peccata sublata, nec arguenda esse, nec homines terrendos lege, pescatum esseremissum, nibil damnationis, igitur peccatum est nihil, et prorsus sublatum. Lex non tantum non est necessaria ad justificationem,gLuther, tom▪ 1. pa: 555. Luther extolleth good works against all Antinomians. sed plane inutilis et impossibilis sed data est ut peccatum ostendat, iram operetur, hoc est, conscientiam ream fa…it,
hLuther tom: 3. fol. 109.Extra causam iustificationis nemo potest bona opera a Deo praecepta satis magnifice praedicare.
Aeque necessarium est ut pij doctores tam diligenter urgeant doctrinam de bonis operibus,ILuth. ttm. 3: f…l: 165 quám doctrinam de fide: Satan enim utrique sensus est, et acerrimé resistit.
Non sufficit sola fides,lLuth: tom: 1: fol: 449. et tamen sola fides iustificat, quia si vera est, impetrat,mLuth: tom: 1: fol: 522. spiritum charitatis sic legem implet et regnum Dei consequitur, fides nisi sit sine ullis etiam mini mis operibus non iustificat, impossibile est fidem esse sine assiduis et magnis operibus.
nLuther to 2 in Gen. c. 15. fol. 57.Fides justificat non tanquam opus nostrum, sed tanquam Dei opus: promissio enim non est nostrum opus, cum nos Deo facimus aut damus aliquid, sed accipimus aliquid a Deo, idque tamen per ipsius miserecordiam.
(o)Luther to 2 in Gen. Luther teach…eth that only faith justifieth and yet faith is not alone with out good workes.Texes manu varia semina, non autem quero ergo, quae cum quibus conjuncta sint, sed quae cuiusque propria virtus, hic aper…e die, quid faciat sola fides: non cum quibus virtutibus conjuncta fit, sola enim fides apprehendit promissionem, credit promittenti Deo, Deo porrigenti aliquid manum …m…vet et id accipit, hoc proprium solius fidei opus est, charita…, …pes, patientia, habent alias materias, circa quas versa…tur, habent alios limites intra quos consistant, non enim amplectuntur promissionem, sed mandata exequuntur.
Luther tom. 2▪ fol. 517.Opus non potest doceri, nisi laedas fidem: cum fides & opera in re justificationis extreme adversantur ita a fit ut doctrina operum necessario sit doctrina daemoniorum et discessio a fide.How faith and workes are contrary to Luther.
Luther speaketh so of Good workes, only in the matter of justification, But our Antinomians speake so of the whole course of sanctification in order to heaven, and as they are the way to the Kingdome, not the cause of the crowne. as both they follow the person already justified and as they goe before him who is yet to be justified: for Crispe saith vol 1. ser. 4, pag. 89. But withall I must tell you, that all this sanctification of life is not a jot the way of that justified person to heaven.
I perswade my selfe Luther had an eye to Antinomians, when he said, … feared after his death that the doctrine of the true office of the law should be obscured, Luther to 3. fol. 102, admoneo pietati… amatores, praecipue qui aliquando sunt futuri doctores ut diligentèr ex Paulo dis…t intelligere verum et proprium usum legis qui (ut timeo) post t…mpora nostra▪ interim obscurabitur, et prorsus obruetu…. to 4.106 timeo quod ista doctrina (de vero legis usu) nobis extincti… …bscurabitur.
3 Conclusion. Luther saith the New man needeth no law, its the flesh, the old man, the body of sin that is under the Law,
qLuther to 4, fol. 6.The law in a Christian ought not to exceed his bounds, and ought onelyonly to have dominion over the flesh which is subject to it, and remaineth under it. but oh law! wilt thou invade the conscience and exercise dominion there, and accuse the conscience (of a justified beleever none terrified) of sin, and take away the joy of heart, thou dost this beyond thy office.
rLuth. tom. 4▪ f▪ 114.When I behold Christ, I am all holy and pure knowing nothing of the Law (as it curseth and condemneth the beleever) but if I behold my flesh, I finde avarice, lust, wrath▪ pride,rLuth: tom: 4. fol: 114. How according to Luther his mind, the law hath power ouer the flesh and not over the renewed conscience. feare of death, sadnes, horror, hatred, murmuring and impatience against God, in so farre as these are present, Christ is absent, or if he be present, he is weakely present, here there is need, yet of a paedagogoe. who should exercise and vex this strong asse (the flesh) that by this paedagogue sinnes may bee diminished, and a way prepared for Christ.
qLuther to 4, fol. 6.Luther Lex in Christiano non debet excedere limites suos, sed tantum dominum habere in carnem, quae et ei subiecta sit, et sub ea maneat, hoc ubi fit, lex consistit intra suos limites lex, si tu vis ascendere in regnum conscientiae et ibi dominari (loquitur de conscientia hominis justificati sub tentationibus terrefacta) et eam arguere peccati, et gaudi…m cordis tollere, hoc praeter officium tuum facis
rLuth. tom. 4▪ f▪ 114.Si Christum inspicio, totus sanctu… et purus sum, nihil plane sciens de lege. Si vero meam carnem inspicio,rLuth: tom: 4. fol: 114. How according to Luther his mind, the law hath power ouer the flesh and not over the renewed conscience. sentio avaritiam, libidinem, iram superbiam, timorem mortis, tristitiam, pavorem, odium murmurationem, et impatientiam contra Deum; quatenus ista adsunt, catenus abest Christus, aut si adest, infirme adest: hic opus est adhuc paedagogo qui fortem asinum carnem exerceat et vexet ut hac paedagogia minuantur peccat…, et Christo via paretur.
I grant sTowne ass. p. 35.73the Antinomians now▪ as Town tSalt. free. grace. 154.152.Saltmarsh wDen. ser. man of sin p. 9.10.Den, and the old Antinomians xSchluss. cat. heret. l. 3. p. 53.54▪ 55.in Luthers time spoke after the same Grammer and stile, and so did the Libertines in Calvins time say, non ego pecco, sed yCal. adv. lib. c. 18 452,A…inus meus. Its not I that transgresse the law and am under the law, but my asse. But they have a farre other minde then Luther, for the Antinomians (as Schlusfelburgius saith cato heriti. l 3. p. 53, 54.) taught that the flesh only and the unrenewed man was under the law, but the renewed and justified man was under no law, more then if it had beene never given to him, and the law was no rule of life and obedience to a beleever. Luther cryeth against this as most false, and Luther aLuther tom. 2 in Ge. c. 18. fol. 119.saith, those that beleeve in Christ must be daily mortified by daily Law-rebukes, and bc. 19 f. 132.arguenda sunt peccata et proponenda ira dei propter incredulos qui in eccl…sia sunt, imo etiam propter credentes ne adhaerescenti peccato et innatae imbicillitati indulgeant: lex manet cLuther contra Anti. disp. 3. propos. 27. dis. 4 pro. 33.inquit ante evangelium et justificationem, in justificatione et post justificationem.
dLuther tom. 2. fal. 5…9.Luther, verum tunc amplius non sunt opera legis, sed Christi in nobis per fidem operanti…, et viventis per omnia: ideo non possunt sunt Mogis omitti, quam ipsa fides, n…c sunt minus necessaria quam ipsa fides. Caeterum opera (legalit…r perfecta) quae verè sunt legis, ficta et falsa sunt.
dLuther tom. 2. fal. 5…9.Good workes (saith Luther) are not any more the workes of the law, compelling under the paine of damnation, (for he saith in the same place libere et gratis facienda sunt) but workes of Christ working in us by faith, and every way living in us: therefore they can no more be omittted, then faith it selfe, and are no lesse necessary then faith it selfe.
Observe this in reading Luthers works,How good workes conforme to the Law are not necessary. The new man is under the same law as a rule of life which was in the covenant of workes, and though we be changed, the law is the same that he taketh the law, as opposed to justifieing grace, and as it may condemne or justifie, and so as an instrument of the Covenant of works exacting perfect obedience in a legall sence, otherwise neither Luther nor any of our Divines will say good works absolutely perfect and in all things conforme to the Law are necessary to salvation, for it is false, all beleevers are saved by faith in Christ without any such good workes or perfect legall obedience. Then we must hold this to be Luthers minde, that if good workes be commanded to the renewed man, in the law, as well as faith, and be as necessary as faith, then the renewed part is under the law commanding good workes, as well as it is under the command of faith but Luther saith, the former Antinomi. say nothing sins but the flesh, & nothing is under the law, but the flesh▪ & so nothing is under a command and an obleiging rule of law or Gospell to doe good workes and beleeve, but the flesh: a senselesse untruth, For it is the new man by the Spirit of Christ, saith Luther from the word of truth, that doth good workes and beleeveth. So Luther to 4. fol. 499, in Psal. 130. (2) and excellently saith Luther to 1 fol. 436▪ Christiana l…bertas est, quando non …utata leg…, m…ta…tur homines, ut l…x eadem, quae prius libero arbitrio odiosa…uit, The Law is given to the new man … of lif…, and not proper…y to the flesh, but as a sinne▪ condemning law.iam defusa per spiritus sa…ct… charitatem cordibus nostris iucunda fiat. Hence Luther saith two things, that contradicts the Antinomians. 1. The Law is not changed, when the sinner is changed, but that which was hatefull to free will before, is the same law, but now sweet and pleasant to the heart, then if the law be not so much as changed, it is not abolished to the beleever, its made of hatefull pleasant. 2. That Law that is pleasant to the heart, and sweet, it is not given to the flesh and unrenewed part, but especially to the renewed part. 3 The renewed part in the beleever doth either do good workes by the grace of Christ and so keepe the law, though unperfectly, or not doe good workes at all. If the latter be said, the renewed part, is not renewed, but dead and is the very old man, which is a contradiction, but if th… former be said, that it is the new man or renewed part that doth good works in the believer, then the new man either doth th…se good works contrary to the law, which is non-sense, for to be mercifull, sober, just, true, chast, are agreable, not contrary to the law, or the new man doth good workes without the law, and so without the word of either Law or Gospell, this is will-service to God and separateth the Spirit from the word, and is a high way to legittimate, murther, adulteries, paricides, under the veil of the Spirits working, and leading without the word, if the new man worke according to the law, then is the law a rule, and what the new man doth according to a ruling law, he doth it ex debito out of obligation, then must the new man be under this law and obligation as a rule, nor can it be said that the flesh doth good workes for Paul saith in his flesh there dwelleth no good nor can it be said the new man worketh not according to the law, but according to the Gospel▪ because the Gospel as distinguished from the Law, sheweth us cred…nda non fac…nda, what we should beleeve▪ not what we should doe (4) the new man worketh by love, the flesh worketh not by love, but love is the fulfilling of the law Ro. 1….8 9. Ga. 5.14.18.19▪ 24. Ga. 6.2. th…n must the new man be under the debt of love, and so under the law as an obleiged rule, and to this Luther …e…reth witnesse.
(e)Luther to. 4.178. EatonSponte faciunt quod lex requirit, fide enim Spiritum receperunt, qui non si…it eo… esse otiosos si caro resistit, Spiritu ambulent. Sic Christianus implet legem, fide: Christus enim perfectio legis est ad salutem omni credenti: f… ris operibus, et remissione peccatorum intus.
But our Antinomians meane that there is no indwelling sinne in beleevers, they are (f)Hony-com c. 3. pag. 25.as cleane as Christ from all sinne, as (g)Saltm. free grac…. pag. 140.the glorified in heaven; that God can see no sin (h)Hony-com. ch. 5 73, 74.in beleevers,Crispe vol. 2. ser. 4.136, 137 138▪ 152, 153, 154, 157. because there is no sin in them (i)Hony-com, c. 71, 72.he cannot be displeased with them for sinne, because it is not, forgiven sinne is no sin, it (k)Hony-com c. 7.134.hath no being before God, its but a seeming sin,(l)Saltm. free grace. 145. not really and to faith.
3 But Antinomians, as Towne asser. pag 77, 78. Salt. free grace. pag. 140 44, 45. Eaton Hony-com. c. 11.322. teach that all the naturall, civill and religious workes of beleevers, as well as their persones, are made perfect and conforme to Gods law, then Christ cannot bee absent in any measure, nor weakely present, as Luther saith nor have they need of the paedagogie of the law to make way to Christ.
(e)Luther to. 4.178. EatonBeleevers of their own accord doe what the Law r…quireth, for by faith they have receaved the Spirit that suffereth them not to be idle, if the flesh resist, they walke in the Spirit, so a Christian fulfilleth the Law of God by faith,(f)Hony-com c. 3. pag. 25. for Christ is the end of the Law for salvation to every one that beleeveth, he fulfilleth the law without, by good works and remission of sins within.(g)Saltm. free grac…. pag. 140.
2 Luther Meaneth that the flesh the asse in beleevers truly sinneth, and violateth the Law, and bringeth the beleever under condemnation, if God would enter into judgement with them, so as God seeth sinne, adultery in David to be sinne,Crispe vol. 2. ser. 4.136, 137 138▪ 152, 153, 154, 157. denying of Christ in Peter to be sinne, and hateth it and is displeased with it, and (i)Hony-com, c. 71, 72.beleevers have carnem peccatricem a sinning sinne in them Luther Tom. 2. c. 18. fol. 119, pride, avarice,(h)Hony-com. ch. 5 73, 74. murmuring against God, and in so farre as they have these in them,(k)Hony-com c. 7.134. Christ is not in them. To 4. fo. 114.(l)Saltm. free grace. 145.
3 Luther in these words expresly saith the justified man is not perfect, nor are his workes perfect, because the sinne of them is pardoned quatenus ista (avaritia, libido, superbia &c.) adsunt, Christus abest, aut si adest, i…firme adest, hic opus est adhuc paedagogo qui fortem asinum carnem excerceat et vexet, in so farre as there is sinne in the beleever, Christ is absent, or if he be present, he is weakely present, &c. and hath need of the paedagogie of the law.
3 Conclusion, How Luther according to Scripture saith the new man and terrified conscience in the beleever, is simply freed from the law, and the Law is abrogated to him, and hath only power over his flesh.Taking the Law simply as the Law and an instrument of the covenant of workes exacting by Law-compulsion perfect obedience without a Mediator and that under the strictest penalty of eternall wrath for the least breach, as it is opposed to the Gospell, which is a milder King, and taking the conscience not in its latitude, as it is in both the beleever and the unbeleever, but as it is in the beleever renewed, and withall troubled and terrifyed with the sense of sinne, so the Law as Luther saith, is abrogated, and hath no dominion over the renewed man or the renewed conscience to condemne it, but only over the old man and the sinning and lusting flesh to chase the beleever to a more strict closing with Christ, and arguing and convincing him of too reall and true sinning, not of seeming and imaginary offending against a Law, as Antinomians dream, so is Luther mLuther tom. 4. fo. 178.to be taken.