Ver.6. th, e Epáffle to the Romans: 203 i that come of this marriage, be as Chil- dren dead- borne. Laftly, this fhould í4[0 nut': 94a6 pee- move us in an earneft deice and care to i9P' 4 t be divorced from the fi efh, that we may pals over unto Christ, as unto a new husband. For howfoever earnal! fecure (inners do not directly intend deflrueci- on as the end of their courfe, yet Satan intendeth it, and the (inners thenrfelves can reap no other fruit,as chap.6.22,23. tram DIALOotiE IV. Vert 6. But now ye being delivered from the Law (he being dead in whom ye were holden,) that ye fbould ferve in newnef r of fpirit, and not in the oldnef of the letter. Ti MOTHEUS. Hat ¡loth this text Jet forth? S I L. The condition of our new and latter marriage to Chrill, whole Spirit is effeetuall in the faithful! to bring forth fruits to God. TIM. What things confider ye in this fe- cond marriage? S r L. Two things; Firf, the free- dome from the Law, and alto from fin, our former husband. Secondly, fruit- fulnefs in good works, by the Spirit of Christ their fecond husband. Ta sa. What it it to be delivered from the Law, and what meaneth the Apofisle, by him that it dead? S I L. Here is meant deliverance from it, as it is the ftrength and vigour offin, to irritate and enrage it, and not ,s it is the rule of a righteous life : 'alto (by hint that is dead,) is meant fin, which in the regenerate is laid to be dead, though fin Rill live in them: as we ufe to fay of one leck.to death, that he is dead, becaufe he cannot recover; or of one that hath his brain pan broken that he cannot live: fo is fin dead, it can never recover that flrength and power it was wont.to have before new birth. T I ss. Why do ye _rather thinke .the A- po f le meaner fin by that which is dead, thin: the Law? S t L. Becaufe it Both not agree with the nature of the Law to be dead,:itbe- VV i ing a word of life coming from the li- ving God ; but our fins are mortified la..eà.peo. and dead, and then the Law ceafeth to ` °`° /uoc "o1 compel or provoke unto eviil: notwith. chÿ¡f ¡landing this, there is (till ufe of the Law towards men which be mortified, be- caufe mortification is unperfelt, there- fore there is much in every godly perfon to be repented of, and reformed by the Law. T a M. In what fenfe may we be faid to have been held of she Law or fin? S I L. Becaufe our corruption is as a (lrong bond or cord, which holds all the faculties of our foule and body fait tyed and linked to it, as we cannot ftir one inch from it, till we be converted. And albeit regenerate perlons have fin abiding in them, by which they are hin- dred in their courfe, and in tome fort are held (that is,held back with it;) yet they cannot be laid to be held in their fins, as when they were naturall men, becaufefin (that bond that held them) is now broken by the grace of mortifi- cation, whereby the power of native and in-bred corruption, is greatly wea- kened. T I M. Ifybegodf be held offin other -' wifetben naturall men be, fhew as where is the difference? St L. A naturali man,is as one whom the Tyrant keepeth ¡till in his own hand and poffeffion, having the full power o- ver him : a regenerate perfon is as one that hath efcaped the bondage of a Ty,- ra stand yet is flill troubled, and aífanl ted by him. Take another comparifon; A,naturall man, is as one lying in pri- fon, fall bound hand and foot, held ffl in bonds and cliaines, at the pleafureof his keeper , but a regenerate perfon is as one that bath broken out of the pri- fon and is atlibertie, yet frill cumbred and clogged with force peece of his hanging about him. M.Bus bow is it that men unregenerate, doJ freely and voheptary, feting Ï1.n dotb hold and detain themfo violently in his botrdt? S I L. Every naturall roan finneth .fireeiy and willingly; for tin cannot offer;any;forceto the will, whatfoever zhewilldoth,it cloth it freely,ancIwith- out
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