' :Part. Comities of the eof and hope of ;victory,the 'two whet - nones osa Sonidrers courage. a Sant, t7. 36. the Epifile to the Romans. 183 other men to ferve fin,while they be un regenerate. The reafon hereof is eguall; that feeing God hath made us now a- live by grace, that once were dead in fins, therefore we are bound very readi- ly to obey him,bywhom we are tranf- lated from the death of fin unto the life of righteoufneffe. T r M. What are we to learn further, by the loft words of this Text? S t L. That when we once come to God,we mutt contend and fight for him against our owne finfull tufts, as before we fought for our lulls againft him. DIALOGUE VIII. Verfe, 14. For fin (hall not bave dominion over you,he- caufe ye are not under the law, but under grace. Ts sorREus. HOw is this Text divided? S I L. The parts of this text be two reafons; one fubordivate to the other,the latter to the former. T i M. What is the drift and purpofe of this Text S i L. To encourage men to ttrive and make refinance against fin,by a rea- fon ofgreat force and weight: this rea- fon is taken from the certaine hope of vi &ory;if we ftrive lawfully againft fin we (hall overcome it in part at lea(t, it fhall not overcome us wholly or finally; for among all other things, thefe two ought molt to prevaile with Chriftians, to make them ftoutly and manfully to fight against fin. Fir(t, that our quary rell or caufe is good; for we hand with Chrift our redeemer, with his word and glory, against finne, both his and our mortal! enemy. Secondly, that of our (rife there will come a good and happy iffue in the end, even the conqueft of fin: therefore we are to quit our (elves like men and to be prong; for if David fought mop valiantly againft Goliah, becaufe he was affured of the vi&ory ; and if worldly fouldiers be animated and whetted on to fight, when they have but a likelihood of vi &ory : how much then ought Ghriliians to (!rive a- gainft fin,being certaine of the vi &ory ? The Apofile in the word of truth affu- ring us that it we fight, finne (hall not have dominion over us;it may and muff remaine in us as a mutiner, but (hall not reigneover us as a conquerer. T i M.What other thing is to be learned from the firjl words ofthis text? S r L. That fin will exercife domini- on and rule, where it is not refitted ; for it is certaine that fin mull either be kept under as a flave,or elfe it will be above as a tyrant to domineere, which is an exceeding great and harmful! matter. For better it were to be a flave unto the moft cruel! tyrant in earth then to be under the dominion of finne ; becaufe earthly tyrants can but hurt and kill the body: but this tyrant fin, if it be fuffe- red to rule and have dominion, will de- ftroy both body and foule for eve ,For the wages of in is death. Rom.6.1aft verte. T t ra. Let me beare now !sow ye prove that finite shall not bave dominion, fo we ffriveagainff it ? Si L. Becaufe we are not under the law,but under grace. TIM. Expound the words, and tel/ ass what is meant by Law ? S iv/. Not the ceremonial!, nor the judicial! law, but the moral! law, which in ten Commandements teacheth our duty to God and our neighbour. That this law is meant, may appeare by these reafons. Fitt?, there is no reafon to (peak of any other law, for it is befides the Apohles purpofe. Secondly, it ap- peareth by the 7.verfe of the 7.Chapter, where an inftance is given out of the moral] Law. Thirdly, it is the moral! Law which by forbidding of finne cloth encreafe finne, and fíirreth us more to goe after fin and fo makes it more hard to be overcome. T i M. What is it, not to be under the Law? Pew no this fomewhat plainey and diffinifl. S' L. Thus much:to be delivered and (et free from it, as the wife is delivered and ter free from her dead or divorced husband: fo Chriftians are no more fubjea to the Law. For h owfoever Gods R children a Part. or our cor- rupt nature is marchent unto that which is forbidden. How Rill fubjcd ro the Law.
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