218 An Expofition upon not only to lay downe their Do&rine tòundly & plainly ;but wifely to torefee what accufations may be brought in againft it,and how to remove them;for as they may affure themfelves that Sa- tan will fife all the corners of his wit to devife flanders againft the truth; fo it behooveth them to be prudent , to forecall and prevent it. T r M. What are we to learn out of the jìrft part of Pauls anfever, denying the Hander? Sr L. That no man(efpecially a Mi- nifte )muff Puffer a flander,efpeciallyin the matter of Doétrine,falfly to be fafl- ned upon him, becaufe the difcredit of a Teacher in matter of Do&rine,is the endangering of the foules of the hearer. For, who will give credit unto us, if it should be blown abroad and beleeved, that we had taught poyfonfull and un- found things ? T r it. What is the ale of this point? S i L. Firft, itreproveth fetch as put them up, and paffe by fuck flanders lightly,as the betrayers of the falvation of their flock. Secondly, it reproveth thofe that put them out,and be Authors ofthew,as being the procurers(as much as lyes in them) of other mens deftru- ftion. Thirdly, it admonifheth all, to beware how they father any falle Doc- trine upon the Minifters of Chrifi fee - ing the hurt reacheth to them and o- thers. T r M. What is the frond part of Pauls anfver? S t L. That finne wrought death in him through that which is good(to wit the Law,)the meaning whereof is two- fold. Firft, that his fin, the more the Law forbids it,the more it did rife up a- gainft the Law, and fo wrapt himfèlfe more deeply in death and damnation ;' as an untamed Horfe, the more hee is curbed,the more he rageth.Secondly;the Law (hewed him his fin, and made him feel it, and that by the delete of it, hee was under Gods wrath , adjudged to hel fire;upon the apprehenfion and tafle whereof, his heart was finitten with deadly heavineffe. It fareth with him,as with a' man condemned to dye, and re- Chap.;. fpited two or three daies, he feels death, every hour though he be alive : So Paul being under eternall death through fin, and made by the Law to fee and feel fo nmch, hewas by this means as a flain and dead man; as one that bath the Axe over his neck, and every moment looks for the mortal! blow. T r M. Atmbat time mat it, that fin through the Lam had wrought this death in him, Peeing it is plain by Scripture, that -while he was aPharifee, bee mar far fro* thinking bimfe f in any frch wofull and deadly effate :6ecaujè it it ritneffèd of- him, that he lived umbllmeably , Phil. 3.6. keeping agood confcience. Asia 23.7. profi- ting in the Religion of the Inver, above hie felonies, Gal, r. 14. Infomnch that he ra- ther tooke himfetf to be lull by the keeping of the Lai,then feared death by the breaking of it? therefore fbem me at u hat time it ma:, that the Law wrought in him this feeling of death, by reafonof his tranfgreffiorrs againff it. S r L. This happenedunto him (up- on all prefumptions) even a little afore his converfion , after that Chrift had met him in theway as he went to Da- mafcus, and had begun to humble him by terrible ailions, words, and fights , committing him over for further dire - &ion unto Ananias, A&. 9. 2, 3, 4. By whole Miniflery he was brought and made to fee two things ( amongft many others.) Fir!?, that the good workes which he did before his converfion,they did not proceed from faith and charity, and therefore in the-fight of God, they were no better then fins. Secondly, hee was inftruied to know the meaning of that commandement;which for'biddeth lull; to wit, that all hidden motions and defines of the mind,deferve damna- tion in flri&neffe of Juliet: now being made to perceive this, that his belt righteoufneffe was but iniquity with God, aud that his heart had been ful of evill affeé-tions and motions in the fight of God ; howfoever his life had been without blame in the fight of men:thefe things (I fay) being beleeved and ear - neftly thought of with application to himfelfe,of the threatnings of the Law, againft
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