Blake - Houston-Packer Collection BT155 .B53 1653

Chap. 8. and the Covenant of CJrace. 5 5 bath, page 234. Though tte Law (the former htiband) be dead to a beleever, yet a beleever is no widow, much le ffe an harlot; for he is married to Chrifi, and is under the Law of (twig, which is live. ;-< If the Moral Law refpedive to the power of command be dead, then love is dead with it. Matter Powell obferves,that leftu Chrift reduces the ten Commandments into two: Thou fhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,and thou ¡halt love thy neighbour as thy (elf, page I92. If then the Law be dead, this love from the heart is dead, and fo a beleever is either a widow or an harlot. I with Matter Powell to read that rule laid down by Matter Burges, Vin - dicia Legis, page i 2. To do a thing out of obedience to the Law, and Jet by love and delight, do not oppofe one another, with his en- largement of it, and he fhall need to go no farther for refutati, on, nor his Reader for fatisfadion, Men are wont to expel in children and fervants (much more in wives) both love and obe- dience: if this rule hold, they muff quit the one and cleave to the other; either they rnuft take to love without obedience, or . obedience without love. Thefe two which cannot be fevered (if ye love and keep my Commandments) this Divinity makes inconfiftent. Mailer Powell tells us, page 186. T hat God gave laws to man to declare his own Sovereignty,and his creatures duty. And we muff tell him,that to keep up his Sovereignty, and his crea- tures duty he continues his Law. They that take power of com- mand from it, diveft him of his Sovereignty and exempt the creature from duty. I know there are many evafions, if it might be to thuffle off, and evade this doctrine ; If not wholly denying t*e Law, yet weakening the power of it in Gofpel -time. Some more tolerably, and their words rightly underftood, not dance- roufly.. It bindes, fay they, not as in the hand of Mofes but the hands of thrift; Chrift is our Kiang, roe have nothing to do with the promulger; ,lt is not from Mofes, but from (brift that we receive it. Thus many Orthodox writers, and in cafe the authority be yeelded, there is lefhe danger, though the Minifter be waved; yea fame may think the Law thus gaines in its authority, as farre as Chrift is more excellent then Mofes. When the Mailer of the Vineyard faw his fervants neglected, he faid, They Will reverence my Son, Matth. 31. 37. But this opinion in the fenfe, as it is ordinarily received. (though perhaps not fo deivered) works to the danger before mentioned ; So much then of the. Moran Law

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