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: t 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

and keep not my commandments; Then will 1 visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Psa. xxxvii. 11. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psa. xix. 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. See Lev. xxvi. 1-14; 2 Cor. vi. 16; Eph. vi. 2; Matt.

v. 5.

Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the aw 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. Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

❝ Rom. vi. 12, 14. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.-For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Heb. xii. 28, 29. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. 1 Pet. iii. 8-12. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unta their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. Psa. xxxiv. 12-16. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

contrary to the grace of the gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; w 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."

CHAPTER XX.

OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.

1. THE liberty which Christ hath purchased for be lievers under the gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law,a and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the

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. See Tit. ii. 11-14.

* 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. See Jer. xxxi. 33.

I. a Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good 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 Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

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. 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. 1 John i. 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ uis Son cleanseth us from all sin.

с

victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation; as also in their free access to God,d and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love, and a willing mind.e 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; 9 and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace,h and in fuller communi

Psa. cxix. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 1 Cor. xv. 54-57. 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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. See Rom. viii. 1.

d Rom. v. 1, 2. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Eph. ii. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph. iii. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Heb. x. 19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

Rom. viii. 14, 15. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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. Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, 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, 14. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.-That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

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. Acts xv. 10. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a voke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Heb. iv. 14, 16. 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

cations 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 the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship. So that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; m and the

profession.-Let us therefore come boidly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. x. 19-22. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God; 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.

John vii. 38, 39. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (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.) Rom. v. 5. And hopeth make not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. See 2 Cor. iii. 13, 17, 18.

II. Rom. xiv. 4, 10. 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.-But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? fo we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. James iv. 12. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another?

'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 God, judge ye. Acts v. 29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Matt. xxviii. 8-10. And they departed quickly from the sepulchro with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. See 1 Cor. vii. 23; 2 Cor. i. 24; Matt. xv. 9.

m Col. ii. 20, 22, 23. 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,-(Which all are to perish with the using ;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have in

requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.n

III. They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practice 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.

deed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor 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, 5. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Gal. iv. 9, 10. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 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.

"Rom. xiv. 23. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Isa. viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. John iv. 22. Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews. 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? 1 Pet. iii. 15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. III. Luke i. 74, 75. That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our iife. Rom. vi. 15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Gal. v. 13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 1 Pet. ii. 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 2 Pet. iii. 15. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also