2 A Box of precious Ointment : Or, I 1 fa Bred and faid unto them, I'Phether it he right in the light of .God, to hearken unto you mere then onto God, itidg ye ; For 14,e cannot fpeakthi things ghich ge have heard and Peen. When the commands of Authority run counter- crofs to the commands of Goa, the commands of God mull be obeyed, though the greatefi Authority under Heaven fbouId be difpleafed and enraged. God never gave the greatea Authority, .in the -world, any Authority to a& contrary to his commands. Dif- obedience to unlawful commands, is-no difobedience. Wo to h m that obeyes the commands of men in oppofition to the commands of God, i Ccr. 9. i6. For though I preach the Gofpel,rhave nothing to glory of ; For neceffity topon me,yea, wo Id unto me if I 'Preach not the Gofpel. Now 'tis infinitely - better to fall under the difpleafure of men, than to fall under the woes of God. The Jews under a pretence of their Au- thority, command the Apoales not to Preach Jelus to the. people ; but the commands of Chria carry it with the Apo- ales againfi all their contrary commands. The Apoilles (who were like to Bottles of new Wine, that mull either vent or bura) knew very well -that-"twas not obedience to mens commands that cold excufe `their difobedience to Gods commands. So in that third of Daniel, the commands of the great God carried it with the three Children againft all the dreadful threatnings, proud boallings, and -Idolatrous commands of King'Netkchadnezzar. Certainly the com- mands of fin are of all commands the vileftcornmands, they are all illegal, fin bath no ground, no reafon to command our fouls; Sin iybut a Ufurper, a Traitor, and therefore h: s' no Authorityover us. All fins commands are purely finful, they are plain and notorious rebellions againft the Laws of Chrill, the life of Chrift and againft the Crown, Honour, and Dignity ofjefus. All fins commands are grievous,bur- thenfome,-and painful commands ; of all yoalts, none fo heavy as that which fin layes upon the (inner; hence fin is compared to a talent of Lead, Zach. 5.7. to thew the weigh- tinefs and burthenfonmers of it ; and hence 'tis that finners are faid to weary themfelves in committing iniquity, ter, 9. ..And hence 'els that wicked men are faid to travel with iniquity
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