VI. Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin;° together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. It is likewise of use to the regenerate,

18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Ver. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. James ii. 8. [See in letter before.] Rom. iii. 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. VI. Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Ver. 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Acts xiii. 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

m Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Ver. 22. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. Ver. 25. I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve

the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Ps. cxix. 4. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Ver. 5. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Ver. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 1 Cor. vii. 19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keep ing of the commandments of God. Gal. v. 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. See in the Bible.

n Rom. vii. 7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

James i. 23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: Ver. 24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Ver. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Rom. vii. 9. For I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Ver. 14. For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. Ver. 24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

P Gal. iii. 24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Rom. vii. 24. [See before in letter. Verse 25. in letter m.] Rom. viii. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con

to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law. The promises of it, in like manner, shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works: so as a man's doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law, and not under grace.▾

VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God revealed in the law requireth to be done.

CHAP. XX.-Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience.

I. THE liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the I. TO gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin,Þ from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation; as also in their free desireth life, and loveth many days, all iniquity, and purify unto himself that he may see good? Ver. 13. Keep a peculiar people, zealous of good thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Ver. 14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Ver. 15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Ver. 16. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Ver. 29. For our God is a consuming fire.

VII. Gal. iii. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

x Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Heb. viii. 10. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. With Jer. xxxi. 33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Tit. i. 14. Who gave himself that he might redeem us from

for

I.

us,

works. 1 Thess. i. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

b Gal. i. 4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Col. i. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom. viii. 28. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Ps. cxix. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 1 Cor. xv. 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Ver. 55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy vic

access to God, and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love, and willing mind. All which were common also to believers under the law; but under the new testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish Church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace,h and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.i

II. God alone is lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from tory? Ver. 56. The sting of death is hath made us free, and be not ensin; and the strength of sin is the law. tangled again with the yoke of bonVer. 57. But thanks be to God, which dage. Acts xv. 10. Now therefore giveth us the victory, through our Lord why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon Jesus Christ. Rom. viii. I. There is the neck of the disciples, which neither therefore now no condemnation to our fathers nor we were able to hear? them which are in Christ Jesus, who Ver. 11. But we believe that, through walk not after the flesh, but after the the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we Spirit. shall be saved, even as they.

a Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom. viii. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Ver. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 1 John iv. 18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Gal. iii. 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Ver. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

8 Gal. iv. 1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; Ver. 2. But is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Ver. 3. Even So we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. Ver. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Ver. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Gal. y. 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ

Heb. iv. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Ver. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. x. 19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Ver. 20. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the vail, that is to say, his flesh; Ver. 21. And having an high priest over the house of God; Ver. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

i John vii. 38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Ver. 39. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 2 Cor. iii. 13. And not as Meses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. Ver. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Ver. 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

II. James iv. 12. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to de

the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship.1 So that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also."

III. They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practise any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty; which is, that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.°

stroy: who art thou that judgest we have in Christ Jesus, that they another? Rom. xiv. 4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

might bring us into bondage: Ver. 5. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Gal. v. 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

1 Acts iv. 19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto "Rom. x. 17. So then faith cometh God, judge ye. Acts v.29. Then Peter by hearing, and hearing by the word and the other apostles answered and of God. Rom. xiv. 23. And he that said, We ought to obey God rather doubteth is damned if he eat, because than men. 1 Cor. vii. 23. Ye are bought he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever with a price: be not ye the servants is not of faith is sin. Isa. viii. 20. To of men. Matt. xxiii. 8. But be not ye the law and to the testimony: if they called Rabbi: for one is your Master, speak not according to this word, it even Christ; and all ye are brethren. is because there is no light in them. Ver. 9. And call no man your father Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble upon the earth: for one is your Fa- than those in Thessalonica, in that ther, which is in heaven. Ver. 10. they received the word with all readiNeither be ye called masters: for one ness of mind, and searched the scripis your Master, even Christ. 2 Cor. i. tures daily, whether those things were 24. Not for that we have dominion so. John iv. 22. Ye worship ye know over your faith, but are helpers of not what: we know what we wor your joy: for by faith ye stand. Matt. ship: for salvation is of the Jews. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship Hos. v. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and me, teaching for doctrines the com- broken in judgment, because he wil mandments of men. lingly walked after the commandment. Rev. xiii. 12. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth, and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Ver. 16. And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: Ver. 17. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Jer. viii. 9. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

Col. ii. 20. Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances. Ver. 22. (Which all are to perish with the using,) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Ver. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Gal. i. 10. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal. ii. 4. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which

III. • Gal v. 13. For, brethren, ye