274 An Expofition upon Chap.8, the ele& fhould have their confcience bruifed and humbled by feare, before they be fet at liberty by grace. Ephe. 6.i, 2,3. Matto. 3.5,6,7.1fiark t.9,ïtr. Efay ei.i. T r M. Tut by what meaner and inf ne- ment, it this fervile feare Wrought in the hearts andconfciences of the eleïl ? S i i. By the Law ofGod, which as it was given in Mount Sinai in a terri- ble manner, by lightning, thundring, fire, &c. So the proper effe& of it in men s confciences,is no other but terror and dread, feare and trembling : there- fore the miniftration of the Law is rear- med by the Apoftle the miniftery of death and condemnation ; becaufe it be- gets the feare and fenfeof there things, being revealed in the Law to mens con- fcience in a lively manner. 2 Cor. 2.Ex- ample hereof we have in Felix, who trembled when Paul preached the Law unto hi nt. A&s 23.25. Secondly,of Paul himfelfe, who was filled with deadly feare in his heart, by the knowledge of the Law,Rom.7.9,io. Tr M. When the Spirit dab by the Law worle feare in the hearts of doe ele£f, by what way doth he it? S e L. By meanes of a pra &ick fyl- logifine after this fort : Every tranfgref for of Gods Law is accurfed, being guil- ty of eternall torments in hell: this pro-, pofition is Gods owne voyce. Deut. 27. 26.Ga1.3.Io. But lain a tranfgrefforof Gods Law, faith the de& (inner : this is the voyce of every mans owne confci- ence, convi&ing him of the breach of the Law fundrywayes.Now the conclu- fìon followes neceffarily:therefore I am a molt accurfed and wretched man,wor- thy of eternall damnation in hell fire : This conclufion is the worke of the ho- ly Spirit, outing every ele& tanner, to apply unto himfelfe the molt horrible threatnings of the Law, whereupon there arifeth in the confcience great fear, horror, ani aftonifhment : for which there is noTalve in the Law, which is able to kill, but not to make alive. T 5 M. But are all the eledi partaker, of this feare, before their converfion, and all in a like degree? S i t; Ail the ele& which come to yeares and difcretion are not converted without this feare, but all have not a like portion of it: for God difpenfèth the meafure of this feare as it pleafeth him, to fome more, to fome leffe : it fa- ring with men in their new birth, as with men in their naturali birth, where font are born more eafìly, fome with more paine: as fome fores are let out with the pricking of a pin, and Tome need much lanching. T 5 M, Tell us what profit and ufe we are to make of this dotirine, touching the degree, that are ufed in the converting of eleti frnners. S Firft, we are taught how mi- ferable we are by nature, we being the children ofGods wrath and 'condem- nation, living alwayes as bondmen in feare of his punifhment, Ephe. 2. 5,2,3. Secondly, we are taught how needful) it is to have Gods Law roundly opened and applied unto us,feeing we have not the fpirit of adoption tillwehavethe fpirit of feare,and this is gotten by the miniftery of the La-w. Thirdly, we arewarned what duties men are to doe upon the hearing and reading theLaw, that they may further their owne converfion, which be theft. Firfl,by,the Law, to get diftin& and found knowledge of finne.Rom. 3. and 7.7. Secondly, rightly to underftand what that curfe is,which the Law threat - neth unto finne and finners. Thirdly,a diligent fcarch andexamination of our felves whether we be not guilty of there very limes, againft which the law de- nounceth the wrath and curfe of God. Fourthly, Legall faith, beleeving that we are breakers of the Law, and do de- ferve the curfeof the Law. Laftiy, upon the application of the Law to our felves, to labour and worke our owne hearts, to get them humbled and broken with feare and terror of Gods judgements: For then, and-not before, the heart is made meet to receive the Spirit of adop- tion. Here are reproved fuch as gather too much hope from the Gofpell, ere the Law have duely feared and taken them downe with griefe and theme. T I M. r.---^
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=