Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 2 · Chapter 6 – Chapter 8
CHAP. VI. How the command of the Law layeth an obleiging …and on us.
BUt 1. we say not that the morall Law bindeth under that reduplication, as given by Moses, for then all Ceremonials should bind us also who are Christians. But that God intended by these ten words delivered by Moses, to obleige all Christians, to the worlds end, to perpetuall obedience, is cleare. 1. Christ, and his Apostles, presse the morall Law upon the Gentiles. Paul commandeth the Romans the aRom▪ 13.8▪ 9, 10▪fulfilling of the Law in love; the Ephesians bEphe. 6.….…the first Commandement (given by Moses, Exod. 20.) with promise. James his hearers cJam. ….8.9.10▪the fulfilling of the royall Law, according to the Scripture, (no Scriptures but the writing of Moses and the Prophets) and that not for the matter only, for so a Sabbath day could not obleige the Gentiles, if the Law-giver did not command it; but from the authority of the Law-giver, for vers. 11. Hee that said (this is the authority of the Law-giver) Doe not commit adultery, said also, Doe not kill; and d…am. 4.12.There is one Law-giver; so the Apostles adde in their Epistles these very things that Moses commanded, to the doctrine of faith, shewing that they are Christs ten Commandements, rather then Moses. 2. Notwithstanding that all Law (Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steale,) should expire in regard of any binding they have from God, just as this, thou shalt be circumcised; when Christ dyed and rose againe: yet there is Scripture for removing of shadowes, Act. 15. Gal. 5. Col. 2. but none for removing the love of God and our neighbour, except in the case of justification▪ Rom. 3. Gal. 3. Act. 15. 3. Paul expressely resolveth the Antinomian question. Rom. 3.31.Doe wee then make void the Law, through faith? God forbid. Yea, we establish the law. And Rom. 6.1. What shall we say then? shall we continue in sinne (that is, in a breach of the Law) that grace may abound? that is, that the riches of pardoning grace in justification may flow largely, God forbid; and Rom. 7.7. is the Law sinne? because it irritateth our corrupt nature, God forbid. For what ever is a sinne to the beleever, argueth subjection to the Law; as Adultery in a beleever, argueth that he is under a commanding Law; to say its a sinne against Christ the Redeemer, maketh all the ten but one: love Christ, and no sinne in the world but unthankefulnesse: but this should be no sinne to a Tartarian to murther; why? he never heard of Christ. Joh. 15.22. and so can be guilty of no unkindnesse to Christ; and for sinne against the morrall Law, if it be abrogated in Christ, as the ceremoniall Law is, Murthering his brother is no more sinne, then if this Tartarian be not circumcised, it can be his sinne to be so. 4. The law of Nature bindeth perpetually, and bindeth the Gentiles, f… 1 Cor. 5.1▪ Rom. 1.19.20. Rom. 2▪ 14.then must also the Morall law bind; for the authority of the Law-giver, for the law of Nature hath all its obligation from God, who wrot it in the heart. When the Heathen were charged by their consciences for great sinnes, they naturally feared vengeance from a Law-giver, who had written these lawes in their hearts; now the Morall law hath all its obliging power from the Law-giver also. 5. The Law, by the operation of the Spirit, is a meane of our conversion. Psa. 19.7. as all the obleiging power that the rest of the Word of God, even the Gospell is usefull for g2 Tim. 3.16doctrine, for reproofe, for correction, for instruction in righteousnesse, to make us perfect to salvation; and the Gospell without the Spirit is a dead letter as well as the Law; and if so, then to sinne against any meane of conversion, must be against the law of God; and so this law which commandeth to heare and obey all that God commandeth us, must obleige us perpetually. 6. Christ saith expresly hMath. 5.18 19▪that he came not to loose any from obedience …, though unperfect to the least jot of the law. The … covenant of works (for so iDeut. 4 13 Hee … unto … his covenant, even ten Commandements. Deut. 19.11, ….13. … King. 18.12.the Scripture calleth it) is now so farre forth abrogated kGal. 3.…0.13. … 3.…9, …0, &c. Gal. 3.10.as that we are freed from the necessity of justification, lHeb. 7.18.19. Heb…. 8.6 7, 8, 9.by the Law, and the curse of it; and thus far goe the Antinomian Arguments, and no further
Antinomians free us mSaltmarsh Free gr. 146.from the Law, as its a beame of Christ in substance and matter, so as wee are not to seeke the light of one beame; now when the Sunne of righteousnesse is risen himselfe; though Master Towne be not so strict.
Hence is it that they offend so much, that any glimmering of light should come to us from the letter of Commandements either of Law or Gospel; that to search Christ in the Scriptures is not safe; and oRise, reigne 35. Er. 74. Th…ol. Ger. 70.71, 7… ▪all covenants in the written and preached. Word take men off Christ.
CHAP. VII. How the Law and the Gospel require the same obedience.
BUt seeing the Law cannot contradict the Gospel, and speaketh nothing of a Surety and Mediator, and so is negatively diverse from the Gospel, yet positively it is not contrary, nor denyeth that there ought to be a Mediator (for so should there be two contrary wils in God, and so it had bin injustice,The Law and Gospel are not positively contrary … to …nother. and against a just law, that God should send his Sonne to die for sinners.) It is the same very obedience commanded in the Law, as a strict covenant of works, to be done by strength from our own nature, and for the authority of the Law-giver, and the love of God, and now enjoyned in a mild covenant of grace, from the strength of the grace of Christ, and now not onelyonly acteth on us by Legall motives, the love of God, the authority of the Law-giver, (which the Gospel excludeth not) but upon the love of a free Redeemer and Ransome-payer: as it may bee the same debt, which a man payeth of his owne proper goods, and of the money borrowed from a rich friend.
1. Perfect obedience, which the Law requireth, and imperfect obedience which the Gospel accepteth (for it requireth perfection as well as the Law doth) are but graduall diffe…ences; as the same summe of gold, though clipped, if accepted by the the creditor as full payment, the rest which is wanting being pardoned, may in grace and value, bee as good as the full payment. It is the Law that commandeth the love of God, under paine of eternall death, for the least faile, and by way of a covenant of works. Now the tenure of a covenant of works is an accident of the Law.
2. A new obligation of obedience varieth not the nature of it; as it is the same morall obedience that God commanded to the heathen, and the Jews, but that it was written and preached to Jewes, addeth more guiltnesse, when they aHos. 3.11. P…. 9.19.20disobey, and these same duties that Moses commanded of righteousnesse, holynesse, and sobriety, Exod. 20. doth the grace of the Gospel injoyne. Tit. 3.11. and the Apostles command as acts of sanctification; and though Moses should not command them by the motives of the grace of Redemption (which yet is false, except when he presseth the Law as a covenant of works) yet Gospel-motives vary not the nature of duties: as a Master may command the same duties to his sonne and his servant, upon different grounds.
The Gospel commandeth all that the …aw ….3. The Gospel abateth nothing of the height of perfection, in commanding what ever the law commandeth in the same perfection; for tis as holy, pure, and spirituall in commanding, we be perfect as our heavenly Father, and holy, as bMat. 5.48. P…. 1.…. Deut …7.26 Gal. ….….he is holy, as the Law is. In acceptation of grace, the Gospel accepteth lesse then the law, but commandeth no lesse, therefore the Gospel granteth pardons, but no dispensations; the Law though it deny not pardons, nor forbid them positively, yet it granteth neither.
CHAP. VIII. Of the promissorie part of the Law; the differences between the two covenants mistaken by Antinomians are opened.
FOr the promissory part of the Law. It promiseth life and reward to no obedience, but to perfect and absolute obedience, if there be the least defect in the least jot; the garland and crowne promised is forfeited; so as there is no reg…ining of it for ever by that bargaine. But the Gospel promiseth to the least sincere obedience, were it but a cup of cold water to a Disciple, a reward of glory. Therefore the difference standeth not as Antinomians dreame, betweene the covenants chiefely in doing, and not doing, as if the Gospel or covenant of grace did not also command doing, in relation to life eternall; yea,1 Tim. 4.…. and with a promise, as well as the Law doth, but in a farre other way: for bMa…h. 19▪ 2…, 29.Godlinesse hath the promises of the life that now is, and that which is to come: and to the followers of Christ, (and though they halt in their walking) and such as forsake all for Christs name, is promised sitting on thrones, and a hundreth fold in this life, and in the life to come, life eternall. But the difference is, 1. That no obedience is accepted in the Gospel without a Mediator, not so in the Law. 2. That the Law is given in its strictest bargaine, to a holy, perfect nature, the Gospel to a lamed, wounded and dead sinner. 3. The Law giveth, by way of debt, not excluding boasting cRom. ….….in some measure, not that Adam could merit an infinite crowne, by a peece finite-work, or could doe beyond obligation, more then we; but because, for holy works, by strict covenant, without the Mediators grace, without pardon, the worker might claime his wages humbly, yet glorying, hee had woon them by natures good deeds, and by works, and for works, not of grace. dRom. 1.….When Paul saith, Rom. 4.2. If Abraham hath whereof to glory, its not before God. He meaneth not, that justification by the works of the Law giveth ground of boasting, or glorying in our selves. For 1. a conditionall proposition can conclude nothing positively. 2. He speaketh of glorying, as chap. 3.27. comparatively. Law-justification is more like glorying, then grace; for Angels cannot boast, Rom. 11.36, …7. the Gospel giveth of free grace. But 4. the …aw could not accept another mans imputed righteousnesse, that is supernaturall; and to beleeve this required grace, and strength of a higher straine then Adam had; it demandeth but … mans owne personall and perfect righteousnesse, and curseth the sinner for the least wrinesse or crookednesse in the first bud, or spring of the inclinations or motions, 5. The Gospel lea…th place to repentance (which the Law doth not) and openeth a doore of hope, to a lost sinner; and the speciall condition is Faith, that a ransome payed by Christ shall buy me a title and right to heaven, of which the Law saith nothing. 6. The Law gives a reward as a due debt, though not merit; the Go…pel giveth a reward against merit.