Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BT70 .B397 1675

and c`aralWorks 43 Puni(hments, and Means prefcribed, and Duties commanded in order to their recovery, when the Law of Innocency condemneth them; efpecially the obeyingof theMiniftry, and Word, and Holy Spirit of Chrift, prefcribing them hiswayof cure as their Phyfician, all this is a Lawof Grace; even theLawof Liberty, and theLaw of the Spirit of Life, which freeth us from the Law ofSin and Death. Chrift's Law confiftethof two parts : ( as is faid ) i. The Law of Nature ( called by many moral ) as commanding the love of God and its attendent Duties, not now to an innocent man, but to a condemned-recovering Sinner, as the healthtowhich his Phyfician doth reftore him. 2. And the remedying Law which is more proper tothe Redeemer called the Lamof Faith ; which appointeth us the terms and means ofour recovery : which is, I. Supernatural as to the Revelation of the matter and rea- fona of it, and the foundation of all in Chrift's Workof Redemption andhisLegiflation : 2. But as to theobligation orefficiency ofmansduty, it is both natural and fupernatural at once : that is, when it is prefup- pofed that Chrift bath done, fuffered and offered to onacceptance, all that is fo afCerted of him in the Gofpel; I. Nature o'ligeth us to be- lieve it (upon evidence ofcredibility) and to accept it, and thank- fully improve it: 2. Chrift as the Fathers Adminiftrator, and our King, hath pofitively commandedus the fame. Were it not for wearying theReader, and my felf, I would herean- fwer all that Suarez faith, (de Legib. li. so. c. 2.) to prove that nopr<e- ceptune pofitivxm morale is added by Chrift : AndI would eafily prove that as force parts of Nature are unalterable, and accordingly natural Duty, fo Come things of Nature are mutable, and fo is that natural Duty which is founded on them : AndChrift hath by fupernatural Perfor- mances and Revelations made fuch changes in the natureof things, as inferreth new atural Obligations. Were the Devilsredeemed, and Grace now offered them , nature would make it their duty to ac- cept it. In fum, it is a fufficient confutationofall Suarez's Reafons, to fay, that they run upon this falfe fuppofition, that Nature and fupernatural Precept may not both oblige man to the fame duty, and that God cannot lay twoObligations onus to the fame aáion. For all that he laboureth, is to prove that fuppofing the Revelation, Naturebindeth us tobelieve all the. Chriftian Articles, to preach, andhear, andpray toGod by Chrift, to love our Redeemer, andbe thankful, &c. and that the Gofpel is thus fitted to lapfed Nature, as the firft Lawwas to innocent Nature. All which Ilike very well, and take it for agreat honour to Chrift and the Gofpel, that it is fo fuited to thenatural neceffity and ftate of fallen and miferable man, and may be called theLawof finful Nature. But Suarez himfelf had before proved that Mofes's Decalogue was both a Decla- ration of what Naturebound men to, and yet alfo thematter of a new Precept of God : And why could he not fee the fame of the Gofpel, it being fo evident, that it containeth Chrift's Commands? And the very fum of our Mini(try is, I. To difciple and baptize all Nations, &c. 2..4nd then to teach thém to obferve all that Chrift commanded. And indeed Suarez confeffeth (p. 816.) That Chrift did by new command- ingadd new Obligations to the duties of Nature, though he deny that Chrift added any pofitive Precept as to the moral matter commandedby the Lawof Nature. And by this inftance youmay fee how near Tome men agree, that,feeni Much todiffer. But as to them that infili on it, that the Gofpel and G 2 Nevi

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