The Law is taken into the hands of Christ and is made a rule for Believers to walk by the Believers Salvation or Damnation doth not depend upon his obedience or disobedience to the Law for he is freed from the Law as a Covenant of Works yet he is not freed from duty and filial obedience but the Law as it is a rule of obedience stands in force and is to be obeyed by all Believers Several reasons to prove it 1 Christ expounds the Law Mat. 5. and cleareth up the strictness and spirituality of the Law more 2 Else the breaking of the Law would be no sin which would be a monstrous opinion 3 The same things that the Laws forbids are set down in the new Testament to bring damnation 1 Cor. 6.9.10 as Idolatry Adultery Thest Covetousness 4. The new Covenant promises the putting of Gods Laws into our mind and writing them in our hearts Heb. 8.10 therefore the Gospelis no enemy to the Law but writes it in our hearts as it was writen in stone and gives us principles to obey it 5 Paul after his conversion looked upon it as a mighty work of Gods Spirit upon him that he delighted in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 7.22 that is that God had given him a heart to delight to do those things the Law called for which shews that Believers are to make the Law as a rule of obedience Thus a Believer is not without Law to God but is under the Law to Christ as Paul saith he was 1 Cor. 9.21 that is as the Law is taken by Christ into his own hands and held forth by him to his people as a rule for their obedience to him so a Believer is under the Law every Command of it and every breach of it is sin even in Believers The Believer is not freed from the Do this of the Law but when the Law saith Do this and live he is freed from that he doth not expect life by his doing those things in the Law for he is justified freely by Grace he liveth not by his doing but by the faith of the Son of God who loved him and gave himself for him And for the threatnings of the Law Not'do this and die the soul that sinneth it shall die this a Believer is freed from for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 Christ hath redeemed them from the curse of the Law by being made a curse for them Gal. 3.13 Quest How may a man know whether he hath a Gospel-work upon his heart or that he is yet under Law as a Covenant of works and hath only legal workings upon him Answ 1. Such as do not think it is a hard thing to come off from the Law as a Covenant of works to trust alone in the righteousness of Christ such may well suspect that there hath been only a legal work upon them for its the hardest thing in the world to rest only upon Christ though it is easily said 2 Such as do not know the Law from the Gospel and the Gospel from the Law in their main Principles and terms there are too many that know not in the least measure no not with a notional knowledge what the difference between the Law and the Gospel is such may well think that they are not yet come off from the Law as a Covenant of works 3 Such as have their hearts rise against Gospel-preachers and Professors as Gal 4.29 As then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now A man that is upon the Law for life hath a strange enmity in his heart against those that look to be justified freely by Grace 4 Such are under the Law as a Covenant of works as cannot bear the vilifying of mans righteousness as to Justification though he heareth the same persons urge it never so vehemently as to Sanctification and walking before God to all well pleasing O if thou canst not freely say that all thy own Righteousness is as menstruous rags and that when thou hast done all thou art but an unprofitable servant then thou maist justly fear thy estate 5 Such as think they have kept the Law themselves like the young man in the Gospel All these things have I kept from my youth 6 Such are under the Law yet as have had legal breakings for sin but never had the least Gospel sorrow for sin who have never in the least mourned for sin because it peirced Christ but only because it pierceth themselves Let all labor for a right understanding of the Law in which take their directions 1 Look upon the Law as requiring perfect obedience so strict as that it will not abate one farthing to a sinner there is no compounding with the Law 2 Count your selves utterly unable to keep the Law 3 Count the forfeiture for breaking of the Law to be no less then eternal damnation 4 Always look upon Christ as having a righteousness answering the Law fully Rom. 10.3.4 Rom. 8.3,4 5 Count your selves under all the wrath and curses of the Law except you be in Christ Gal. 3.10 whatsoever are the intentions of God and the merits of Christ for an elect person yet uncalled he being considered as a child of old Adam he is under the curse he doth not in his own person enjoy the state of freedom which God hath graciously purposed to bestow upon him and the Lord Jesus hath purchased for him though yet it is impossible for the Law to throw the Elect person into hell because God will certainly bestow upon them in his own fit season the Grace that Christ hath purchased for them 6 If you be in Christ reckon not your selves to have to do with the curses and threatnings of the Law but see them all taken away by Christ from you 7 Often seriously remember that many perish everlastingly by their mistaking of the Law and resting in the Law that you may see by the Epistle to the Romans and Galathians where the Apostle shews the danger of resting in the Law and shews how forward men are to do so 8 Never go out in your own strength to obey the Law but fetch strength from the promises of the Gospel to obey the commands of the Law 9 In the reading of Scripture observe what places are most properly Law and what places are especially Gospel and make those which are Law and Duty to come in after free Justification to come in as filial obedience to the Lord. 10 When a soul hath been enabled to yield a good measure of obedience to the Law and Commands of God yet he must rely upon the Lord Jesus by faith as freely and alone justifying him he cannot spare the least part of Christs Righteousness after all the holiness he hath attained to but is still to desire to be found in Christ not having on him his own righteousness but that which is by
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a young plant in Christ he must not be one that is newly converted then surely he must not be one that is not converted at all 3 The Duty of a Pastor requireth it also as it is set down 1 Tim. 3.5 that he is to take care of the Church of God now a natural man hateth the Saints of God and will sooner devour and make havock of the Church of God then take care to preserve and comfort and help it so they are said Heb. 13.17 to watch for the peoples souls And how can they do this that do not watch over their own souls 4 We may consider also what rules the Apostle gives to Titus about this business Tit. 1.8 He saith that they that are called to this office must be Lovers of good men and that none can be but a Saint hereby we know that we are passed from death to life if we love the Brethren and he saith also that he must be holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same word that is used Act. 13.35 concerning Christ and verse 9. he saith he must be one that will hold fast the faithfull word which there is no hopes that wicked men should do when persecution ariseth because of the word 5 Men that are not visibly Saints and called are not to be members of a Church notwithstanding any parts and accomplishments they may have much less should they be Pastors of Churches 6 A carnal Minister ascribes all to his parts and learning in his work and not to the ability that God giveth 1 Pet. 4.11 and so God hath not the glory 7. The Scripture saith that the prayers of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord and a stinch in his Nostrils 8 Though many of them may have good parts and may be seemingly sound in the matters of Religion yet we have no ground to think that they will continue sound because the Scripture saith that because they have received the truth not in the Love and power of it God will send men strong delusions 2 Thess 2. 9 Though Christ sent Judas yet he was never a Pastor of a Church of Saints and he was outwardly a Saint so in the esteem of the Apostles and Christ did it not for our imitation Christ limits us though we must not limit him and there is a particular Reason given of it that the Scriptures might be fulfilled 10 Christs words concerning hearing the Pharises that sit in Moses chair was rather a dispensation then an injunction and its one thing to hear occasionally and another thing to sit down under a mans Ministry and it was only upon some points about the Law not in all things for they taught that Christ was the Prince of Devils and a Deceiver least of all did Christ countenance their Ministry in these words to be good and lawfull for see how Christ inveigheth against those Pharisees Mat. 15. as if he he had been made up of invectives 11 The Apostle 1 Cor. 2.14 having spoken in the verse before of the spiritual man judging all things and he himself is judged of none propounds that question Who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him By him is meant the spiritual man for of him he is speaking not of instructing the Lord but saith he we have the mind of Christ and therefore can instruct them unto edification so then this Argument is taken from their insufficiency for the work that a natural mancannot reach a Saint who is above him 12 So the Apostle 2 Tim. 2.6 speaking of Ministers useth that comparison the husbandman that laboureth must first be parraker of the fruits of the earth How else can he sow So hath a Minister need to be partaker of some experience of the blood of Christ and comforts of the Spirit How else can he preach Christ feelingly and powerfully unto others 13 We see whom God hath used for conversion Those that went under the name of Puritans and Nonconformists in the Bishops times and go now under many more names in the world but it is with those that are his servants that he is present it is to them that he hath Promised to bless what they put their stands unto and to be with them to the end of the world it is not what God can do or sometimes hath done for we must not limit him but whether the Lord hath appointed the preaching of wicked men as an Ordinance of his for conversion of sinners or the building up of Saints 14 In other things that are not of that concernment that this is men will not trust those that have not experience as in Physick though a man hath read several Physick books and is able to define diseases and to talk pretty well yet you will not choose such an one to be your Physician if he want experience much less should you trust that man with your soul that hath only read some Divinity books and so is able to speak something if he have no experience of the power and sweetness of the truths of God himself CHAP. XVII The right use of the Law THE Law we are speaking of is the moral Law the ten Commandments with what comment and exposition is upon it in the Scripture This Law is of excellent use 1 It discovereth to us the holiness of God that he would have his creatures live according to rule and not in sin and Confusion 2 It serveth to discover sin to men Rom. 7.7 and to this end all are to get knowledge of the Law Rom. 7.1 and we are often to examine our hearts and lives by the Law and to know the Law in the spirituality of it that we may see spiritual and secret sins 3 The Law serves to awaken the consciences of natural men with the fear of hell and damnation and to set them more seriously to look after their eternal condition but those that are in Christ they are not to fear hell by the Law because they are freed by Christ from the damning power of it 4 The Law rightly understood will shew a soul an utter impossibility that ever he should get life by own works and righteonsness for the Law requires perfect obedience gives no strength to obey admits of no repentance neither will be satisfied to inflict temporal punishments and afflictions but throws the sinner into hell and lays him up there for ever except the soul hath interest by Faith in the perfect righteousness of Christ which fully answereth the Law 5 To Believers the Law may be a constant help to thankfulness they see the strength of sin 1 Cor. 15.56,57 that is the power that sin hath to damn is from the Law because it is the breach of Gods holy and righteous Law now to see how Christ hath delivered them from all the curses and damning power of the Law this may make them cry out Thanks be to God that hath given us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. 6
the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by Faith CHAP. XVIII The true Humility that is in the Lords People ALL Saints have more or less a humble frame of heart that whatsoever Grace or Gifts God bestoweth upon them they have low thoughts of themselves 1. How a humble frame of heart is shewn towards the Lord. 2. How a humble frame of heart is shewn in our carriage towards other Saints I. Towards the Lord. 1 When after all our duties and performances we look upon our selves but as unprofitable servants and infinitely unworthy that God should deal so graciously with us but we look upon all as free grace without this a man hath no Gospel humility but is a proud Pharisee whose heart is puffed up with his own righteousness and doth not glory only in the Lord. Where there is true humility of heart the Soul saith with Jacob Genesis 32.10 I am not only unworthy of of Christ and Heaven but I am less then the least of all the mercies and faithfulness which the Lord hath shewn to his servant but a man under legal workings only hath a desperate proud heart against God still and is fit to stand upon terms with God that he hath no cause to damn him though he in words confess he might do it 2 This is true humility of heart when a man can loath and abhor himself for sin as David Psalm 51.3,4 Job 42. But when a man can think of old sins and new sins and no way affected it s a sign of a proud unhumbled heart 3 When a soul is in some measure submitted to all Gods dealings to all chastisements and afflictions as David Psalm 39.9 I was dumb and opened not my mouth because thou didst it there is much humility of heart seen in this when we are willing God should do with us our Estates Relations and enjoyments as it seemeth good in his own eyes a proud heart will not bear to be crossed but saith a humble heart Though it be a grievous affliction that is befallen me yet it is from the Lord and I will be dumb and not open my mouth against it because he doth it 4 When a soul goes on to wait for a mercy and beg for a mercy when God delays a mercy and seemeth to slight the soul and yet now for the soul to wait and not to stir from the door of Mercy but beg the Alms more humbly and submissively this is like the woman of Canaan indeed she doth not go away in a snuff let Christ call her dog and she saith Truth Lord I am no better yet Lord give the dog a few crums but hearts that have not been truly humbled will fling up praying and hearing presently if they cannot find Comfort soon like a sturdy Beggar that if the Alms do not come presently goeth away in a rage O but there is many a humble heart waits and prays many a year for a mercy 5 When a soul can submit to God when he takes away a mercy that he had given us but a little before O saith a proud heart when God takes away a mercy If God had never given me it it had been better I could have been content to have been without it but did God give me Estate Children Honour to take them away so presently again O but saith an humble heart I was unworthy to have this mercy at all I have cause to bless God that I have had any sun-shiny weather in my jorney 6 It shews humility of heart when after God hath made great use of a man and God will now lay him aside that yet now we are well content and take great care that Gods work may go on though we be not imployed in it as Moses Num. 27.14,15,16,17 when the Lord told him that he should die and not lead the people into Canaan because of that sin at the water of Meribah he doth not stand upon terms and say After I have done such great service wilt thou be angry for such an offence that I who have had such a great deal of care and trouble with this people should not see the end of the work No No he doth not say a word to excuse his sin or to shew the least discontent that he was laid aside but takes care for the work going on when he is laid aside saith he Lord set a man over the Congregation that may go in before them and go out before them that the Congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a Shepheard a proud heart would have been so offended that he would not have cared what became of the work if he were laid aside So secondly Humility of heart is seen in our carriage towards other Saints As 1 when we look upon our selves as the least of all Saints as Paul saith of himself saith an humble heart Though it may be I can discourse better yet I cannot pray so well as younder poor Saint or I cannot trust God in straits and difficulties so well as he or I have not that Gospel simplicity that he hath or I am not so forward to heavenly discourse as he is or saith an humble heart Younder Saint can submit better in affliction then I or surely he hath not so vain a heart as I or surely he hath not such distractions in duties as I so that an humble heart in one respect or another doth truly look upon himself as the least and unworthyest of all Saints 2 When we can take a reproof from the meanest Saint in the world the meanest for Estate or Gifts whereas a proud heart saith If such a one had told me of my fault I could have born it but for such as you to reprove him he cannot take it well but saith an humbly heart Lord I bless thee that thou openst the mouths of any to deal faithfully with my soul 3 Where there is an humble heart we are desirous to partake of the Light and gifts of others as well as shew our own 4 An humble heart doth not envy others that out go him in Gifts and Grace and success and are more honoured then he is as John did not envy Christ that he out-stripped him John 3.26,27,28 but could cheerfully bear witness unto Christs deserts though he ecclipsed him 5 An humble heart can condescend to the meanest office to be serviceable to poor Saints a proud heart is fit to think it a disparagement to go to the houses of poor Saints and to be seen with such mean people but saith an humble heart It s a great Mercy and favour that I may enjoy Communion with the Lords people or be any way serviceable to them though they be never so mean and poor 6 An humble heart is not so delighted and tickled and puffed up with applause and commendation from others but many times is the more humbled upon it and is more sensible of his own unworthiness All Saints have cause enough to be humble