184 An Expofztion upon Chap.6, How free from it. children after their regeneration,are hill fubje& to the regiment and do&rine of the Law and are [till bound to yeeld o- bedience to it as to the witneffe of Gods will,and the rule of our life; yet belee- ving perlons are freed from it, in fun- dry other refpeas. Firer they are freed from the Law, as touching the curie andmaledi &ion, whereof in the former Chapter. Secondly, as it is a School - matter to compel! and inforce unto du- ty,[ Tim. 1.9. Thirdly, from the rigor of the Law,as itdoth exa& perfe& obe- dience,but gives and brings no helpe to performe any thing towards it. Lafily, they are freed from it as it is the vigor and ftrength of finne, more and more encreafing and furring it upj by forbid- ding and prohibitions; for this is the naughtineffe of our crooked nature, more earnefily to runne upon fuch evils as we are molt refrained from, and in this laf refpe& are we laid in this place not to be under the Law. T I M. What A it that we may learn from hence? S I L. That the godly being freed from the Law, as it is the vigor and ftrength of fin, fin now will bee the more eafie to be mattered, fo they ftrive againft it; even as a women by the lack of her husband is much the weaker, and fooner overcome : fo it is in this cafe, fin without the Law to ftrengthen and fir it up, is as a wife without her hus- band, as in Chapter,7.I,2,3. T I M. Tell set now =bat A meant by grace and what it A to be under grace? S i L. Grace fignifieth the free for- giveneffe of our fins through the merit of Chas death:in this fen( the Apo - ftle ufeth the word Grace in the former three Chapters, wherein he intreateth of Juftiflcation. Secondly, it fignifies the gracious helpe and of iftance, or the work of Gods Spirit,for the mortificati- on and killing of fin ; and fo it is ufed in this Chapter, where he intreateth of San &ification. Now (to be under this grace) is to be in fuch an elate, as to have the fpirit of fan &iflcation to reigne in us,and rule over us,as a husband over his wife, and a King over his fubje &s. T i M What it'll rut`liengather ye from hence, that we are tender Grace? S 1 L. That the faithful! need not feare that finite (hall conquer them if they ftrive againft ir, becaufe the grace that rulerh in their hearts, is ftronger then finite : as if the Apoftle (hculd fay, Be ftrong,quit yourfefves like men and''. fight valiantly, and fuffer not finne to reigne ; for he that is with you, to wit, the Spirit and grace of God, is mightier then your enemy lime that is again(} you, you are both gracioufly pardoned your finne, and gracioufly aïhfted. The Prophet Elizeur when his fervant was in (care upon the fight of the Aramitee army, did thus comfort him, laying; Feare not, for they that are with uc are more then they that are againft to. 2 Kings 6.15,16. In like manner mull true be- leevers encourage themfelves againft finne,to thinke that a ftronger then it, is on their fide; for though finne bee ftronger then nature and naturali frength,yetgrace is (conger then it, DIALOGUE IX. Verts 15, 16. What then ? (ball we firms becaufe we are not under the Law but under Grace? God forbid. Knewye not that to whomfoever ye give your felvet at fervantt to obey, his fervantsye are whom ye obey, whether it be of inne unto deatb,or of obedience un- to rigPteoufneffe? TIMOTHEUS. VVHat dotb thAText contains? S I L. An anfwer of the Apo- ilk Paul unto a cavilling obje&ion, made againft his former do&rine. T Firfl of all tell ur what be mea- netb by [ fanne,] when be faith, What then? Pall we finne 7 verfe 55. S 1 L. By [Sin] is meant here, not one a& of finne, but a continual! courte of finning, and it is as much as if it had been faid;Shall we live or leade our lives in finne, as before verfe 2, or thail we ferve f nne,verfe 6. or (hall we obey fin ? This then is the meaning of the obje&i- on:Shall we give over our fillies licen- cioufly I Part. objeaios,
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