Gospel Liberty, Table of contents
The Contents of the enſuing SERMONS.
SERMON. I.
The ſcope of the words Page 1
The parts of the Text Page 3
The meaning of the words Page 4
Doct. 1.
The Saints in the New Teſtament not ſo ſtrictly bound in point of lawfulneſſe, as the Saints were in the Old Page 3
This latitude is not in the Morall Law But it is, Page 13
1. In freedome from ceremonies Page 14
2. In the externalls of Gods Worſhip Page 15
Reaſon 1. The Saints under the New Teſtament are Sonnes. Page 17
Reaſon 2. The Saints now are men of ripe yeares. Page 18
Reaſon 3. The Saints now have more of the Spirit. Page 19
Reaſon 4. Gods deſigne in the New Teſtament to ſet up a ſpirituall Kingdome. Page 20
Reaſon 5. The Goſpel being to be preached to different Nations, Chriſt ties them chiefly to the ſubſtance. Page 23
SERMON. II.
Uſe. 1.
Encouragement for ſinners to come to Chriſt Page 26
The wayes of Chriſt eaſie Page 29
1. Becauſe the maine work is done already. Ibid
2. Thoſe things that are yet to be done are few, and eaſie, being compared,
1. With the Jewiſh ſervice of God in the Old Teſtament Page 32
2. With the ſervice of Papiſts Page 33
3. With the ſervice of naturall men Ibid
4. With the ſervice of the Devill. Ibid
Object. The ſervice of the Devill ſeemes ſweet. Page 34
Anſw.
1. It will one day be ſoure Ibid
2. That ſweetneſſe is from diſtemper Ibid
3. It is becauſe men taſt not the ſweetneſſe of Chriſts ſervice. Ibid
Object. Some of Chriſts ſervants have turned back to ſerve the Devill. Page 35
Anſw.
1. They are but few. Ibid
2. They were not true members. Ibid
3. The wayes of Chriſt eaſie, becauſe he will give his Spirit to doe what he requires. Ibid
Believing in Chriſt three things in it Page 30
1. To give credit to what he teacheth. Ibid
2. To accept of life and ſalvation from him. Page 37
3. To ſubmit to his lawes. Page 38
SERMON. III.
Uſe 2.
Reproofe of two ſorts of people Page 39
(1.) Thoſe that erre on the left hand of three ſorts,
1. Thoſe that make the way wider than Chriſt hath Page 40
2. Thoſe that aboliſh the Morall Law Page 42
3. Thoſe that allow outward prophaneſſe Page 43
(2.) Thoſe that erre on the right hand of two ſorts
1. Such as make lawes to tie themſelves Page 46
2. Such as make lawes to binde others. Page 47
Uſe 3.
Exhortation to Duties,
1. To underſtand our Chriſtian liberty Page 51
Ignorance of Chriſtian liberty dangerous Page 52
2. Not to infringe our Chriſtian liberty Page 55
3. Not to abuſe our Chriſtian liberty Page 59
4. To holdfaſt our Chriſtian liberty Page 60
SERMON IIII.
Doct. 2.
Though divers things be lawfull to the Saints under the New Teſtament, yet there are but a few things expedient. Page 61
Three ſorts of things inexpedient Page 62
(1.) Things ſimply evil Ibid
(2.) Things ſimply good, in three caſes,
1. When a greater good comes in Page 63
2. When wee cannot come at the good without doing of evil. Ibid
3. When a greater evil followes Page 64
(3.) Things indifferent Ibid
Expediency, what Page 66
Things expedient muſt bring profit Page 68
1. To advance the glory of God Page 69
2. The good of our brethren three wayes Page 70
1. To increaſe love between us and them Ibid
2. To conduce to the peace of the Saints Page 71
3. It muſt tend to edification Page 73
(3.) To win thoſe without Ibid
(4.) To our owne ſouls Page 74.
SERMON. V.
Conveniencie, or Decency what Page 77
1. In reſpect of a mans perſon Page 78
2. In reſpect of his relation Page 79
3. In reſpect of his profeſsion Page 80
4. In reſpect of ſex Ibid
5. In regard of age Page 82
6. In regard of the ſeaſon Ibid
Chriſtians muſt walk laudably Page 83
Chriſtians muſt walk orderly Page 86
Things done diſorderly
1. When the end is miſſed Page 87
2. When one dutie hinders another Ibid.
Uſe 1. To have an eye to that which is expedient Page 88
Uſe 2
Reproofe of thoſe that eye onelyonly lawful things Page 89
1. It is a ſigne of an hypocrite Page 90
2. Of an Old Teſtament ſpirit Page 91
3. It may damne a man Page 92
Vſe. 3.
The way of the Goſpel a ſtrict way Page 94
Liberty of the Goſpel wherein it is Page 95
SERMON. VI.
Vſe 4.
To be ſtrict in point of expediency Page 98
1. It would end controverſies among Saints Page 99
To take heed of vaine feares in Gods wayes Page 104
2. The maine is done by Chriſt already Ibid
3. To ſtudie ſpirituall things Page 105
4. To get love Page 106
Things to be determined
1. By Magiſtrates Page 107
2. By the Church Page 109
3. By Maſters of Families Ibid
4. By particular perſons Ibid
Cautions for Magiſtrates, and Churches in determining Ibid
1. It muſt be in neceſſarie indifferent things Ibid
2. Things that relate to the Kingdome Page 110
3. Saints to be deals with as rationall men Ibid
4. To take heed of making lawes for the future Ibid
5. Not co impoſe things on mens conſciences Page 111
6. Not to uſe rigour in determining Ibid
Examples of the old Saints be looked to Page 112
Cuſtoms of the ſaints and Churches to be looked to Page 113
Right reaſon to be looked to Page 117
Reaſon of three ſorts Ibid
The law of nature to be looked unto Page 118
SERMON. VII.
Motives to eye that which is expedient Page 123
Motive. 1.
It is the right way to peace Ibid
No reaſon of ſtrife between Presbyterians and Independents Page 125
1. There are Godly men on both ſides Ibid
2. There difference is ſmall Ibid
3. They differ about that which is never like to be Page 126
4. Neither ſide can prove what they would have Page 127
The preſent cortentions from five ſorts of men Page 128
1. Weak Chriſtians Page 129
2. Carnal Presbyterians Ibid
3. Malignants Page 132
4. The godly moderate party Page 133
5. The common multitude Page 134
SERMON. VIII.
Motive 2.
To eye things expedient the way to peace in a mans ſelf Page 138
Guik in Chriſtians whence Page 139
Motive 3.
He that eyes not expediency cannot doe much for God Page 142
1. He preſents Religion to others as an endleſſe thing Page 143
2. As burthenſome Page 145
3. As ridiculous Page 146
4. Hee deprives himſelfe of opportunities of doing good Page 147
5. Hee can doe good but by accident Page 148
6. Hee intends good but to a few Page 149
7. Hee leads others to deſtraction Page 150
Motive. 4.
Without eyeing expediency a man cannot be an excellent Chriſtian Page 152
1. Becauſe an excellent Chriſtian hath the minde of Chriſt Page 153
2. Hee is buſied about high things Page 154
3. He reliſheth ſpirituall things Page 155
4. He hath ſtock enough within Page 156
Motive 5. To looke to our Principles againſt ſuffering times Ibid
Motive 6. To make lawes, where God hath not, offends him Page 158
SERMON, IX.
Stumbling-blocks removed Page 162
Objections anſwered Page 166
Hindrances from walking according to expediency
1. Engagements beyond mens principles Page 171
2. Looking on things with prejudice Page 172
3. Devout jealouſie of truth and Error Page 173
4. Carnall wiſdome Page 176
5. Selfe Page 177
6. Hypocriſie Ibid
Helps to walk expediently.
1. Spirituall wiſdome Ibid
2. Sobriety in two things
1. To ſubject our fancies to the word Page 178
2. To follow notions no farther than they agree with the word Ibid
3. Watchfulneſſe Page 179
4. Love Ibid.