Part 1. CHAPTER XII.

1. All are to try under what Covenant they are. 2. Threatenings under the New Testament are more spiritual 3. Desertions under both are compared. 4. Considerable differences of such as are under the Covenant of Works, and such as are under the Covenant of Grace. 5. Of legal terrors. 6. Of convictions compelled, free, legal, &c.

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Self-searching necessary.

Quest. 1. Whether should not all try under what Covenant they are?

Answ. Self-searching is a reflect act upon the state (and such acts are more spiritual, then direct acts) and therefore it should be the work of all, to try, under what reign they are, whether of the first or second Adam. And whereas Angels cover their faces and their feet with wings, Isa. 6. before God and are full of eyes, as without, so also within Revel. 4:8. We may hence learn, such come nearest to the nature of these pure and heavenly Spirits, who have eyes within to see what they are, and their blackness of face and feet, when they compare themselves either with the Holy God, or his Holy Law.

Reflect acts are more spiritual than direct acts.

2. The Carnal man is a beast, Psal. 49:20. and beasts have no reflect acts upon their own beastly state.

3. The more of a spiritual life is in any the more stirring in communing with their own heart, the Law makes, the more of life that is in the worm when tramped on, the more stirring it makes: deadness and stupidity in not being versed and well-read and skilled in ourselves and our own heart, argues little of the Spirit, and estrangement to a spiritual Covenant, nor can any lay hold on the Covenant of Grace in a night dream.

Threatenings under the New Testament more spiritual, then under the Old.

Quest. Whether are there rarer threatenings of Temporal evils under the New Covenant, then under the Old?

Answ. It cannot be denied, except the threatenings of the Sword, Famine, Pestilence on Jerusalem, and the desolation upon the Jews, Math. 23; Math. 24. but in place of all the diseases of Egypt, Levit. 26. and the long Roll of dreadful judgements and curses temporal, Deut. 28. denounced against the transgressours of the former Covenant, Christ and the Apostles are more sparing in denouncing temporal plagues in the New Testament. Christ sayeth the worm never dieth, the fire never goeth out, the Hypocrite is to be bound hand and foot and casten into utter darkness, Math. 22:12. and the Holy Ghost such shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, 1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:5. the Apostate is near a curse, his end burning, Heb. 8:6. he is to look for judgement and fiery indignation, Heb. 10:27. to some is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever, Jude 7. the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, Rev. 21:8. Because

1. Temporal blessings and curses are more legal, and more easily believed, when the light was dimmer then now, when light is larger, convictions stronger, and men are more apt to believe Everlasting wrath.

2. Its a more Gospel way to bear in the threatening of Everlasting wrath then of Temporal rods.

Desertions under the Old and New Testament compared.

3. Desertions and trials under the Law were more legal and sharp and sad upon David, Hezekiah, Job, Jeremiah, Heman. Psal. 6; Psal. 38; Psal. 77; Psal. 102; Psal. 88; Isa. 38; Jer. 20. But it is to be thought, that in regard the day now hath dawn, the Gospel desertions coeteris paribus for the abundance of light, are more sharp nearer to despair, see 2 Cor. 1:8. We were pressed out of measure above strength, in so much that we despaired even of life, having received the sentence of death. Its a doubt if Paul should be so pressed by a sentence of temporary death. Though there be a larger measure of faith, to bear up the soul under the New Testament: but it would appear there is more of hell now then under that dispensation, and that the Gospel despair of Judas and of these that cry for mountains and hills, to cover them, Luke 23:29, 30. is more intolerable under the Gospel.

The Saints are stronger to suffer under the New Testament than under the Old.

(4.) There is a more numerous company of these who have not loved their lives to the death, and the Martyrs that suffered more exquisite torments for Christ, under the persecuting Emperours and reign of Antichrist, then ever before; the constraining love of Christ, which is stronger than death or hell hath so swallowed up all temporary sufferings, the Spirit hath such influence on the flesh.

A larger number of Godly, of the rude & unlearned, than of the wise and learned according to the flesh.

(5.) When the world seeks wisdom, 1 Cor. 1. and Rabbis of the Jews and learning and arts abound all the world over, as the profound Philosophers of the Gentiles, the wonders of nature prove, yet not many wise are called, 1 Cor. 3:21, 22, 23. and unlettered and ignorant, are, in number, for Godly spiritual knowledge, far beyond the Godly learned; and make that true, Isa. 11:9. The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, and Isa. 30:26. And the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun shall be as the light of seven days, so hath the Lord darkened carnal learning, though of itself the good gift of God, with the shining of spiritual wisdom in the fools of the world, for so are they judged, 1 Cor. 1:27.

Its a Law-state to be under the dominion of sin, the nature of this dominion.

Q. 3. What are the special differences of one under the Covenant of Works, and of one under the Covenant of Grace?

Answ. 1. The dominion and kingly power of sin, to condemn and judge to eternal wrath, and also to command against all shadow of reason, such crying sins, 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Rom. 1:29, 30; Gal. 5:20, 21; Eph. 4:17, 18, 19; Col 3:5; 1 Tim. 1:9; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15, 16. without exception makes an universal slave; for as far as the lusts of sin go, as far goes the dominion of sin, and this is to be under the Law, Rom. 6:14. (2.) There is subjection to the Law when men are agents in resigning and giving themselves over, or offer themselves as sacrifices at the altar, or servants that tender their service to their masters, Rom. 6:16. to sin, which hath strength from the Law to condemn, 1 Cor. 15:56. and to be a captive is not intended, but comes on by occasional force, Rom. 7. such are patients as it were. But 3. Then they are sin’s servants, when there is a Law of sin and a Covenant, as there is between a master and a servant,

The difference between the wrestling and protesting of a natural conscience against the flesh, and between the flesh & the Spirit.

And 2. full consent, and men give themselves, and willingly commit and deliver themselves (the word spoken of Christ’s willingness to offer himself for us, Eph. 5:25. and to God the Judge, 1. Pet. 2:23.) to commit filthiness ἐν πλεονεξίᾳ in abundance, with greediness, Eph. 4:19. when the renewed part enters not a spiritual protestation on the contrary, see Rom. 7:19. the carnal protestation entered by natural reason is not the protestation of the renewed will and affections against the will and affections, but will against will makes a division of the practical act, and division weakens, the half is less than the whole, especially when half and half are contrary, half fire and half water makes the burning less, half light, half darkness makes twilight, its not perfect day light, yea and it not only lesseneth, but weakeneth, yea and alters the kind of the moral act, no reason can admit that when a merchant casts his goods in the sea for fear of shipwreck, that he does an act of prodigality or wastrie [waste]: It wants delight and full consent. Herod’s killing of John Baptist, though he did it with sorrow, yet was no compelled nor divided action between renewed affection and unrenewed affection. And so it was no protestation in favour of the Law of God, for he was not grieved, because murdering of the man of God was against the honour of God, but because not murdering of him was against his supposed credit, he should appear before men perjured, and to kill was a torment of conscience, it was then a protestation in favour of his own credit and conscience natural. Hence the formal objects of action and action, show the clear difference between the combat between sense and reason, or between a natural conscience and the flesh, (for a natural conscience cannot plead for, and protest in favour of the spiritual Law of God) and the combat between the flesh and the Spirit.

Compelled convictions argue a Law-Spirit.

2. The second special difference is in the Law convictions and the Gospel convictions, convictions under the Gospel, are stronger and more solid, for they have more of sanctified reason: 2. Will. 3. Inclination of heart and affection: A believer accuseth himself and joins actively with the Spirit to convince himself, and heightens his own guiltiness, Psal. 51:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Dan. 9:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20. but a Law conviction comes upon Devils and they tremble, John 2:19. and upon such as are under the Law, and are unsent for, by resultance from a natural conscience, as heat from fire, light from the Sun: Compelled convictions speak a Law-state.

It is easier to be sound than to be Godly.

2. It is easier to be sound and Orthodox, then to be Godly, Satan in a manner soundly believes there is one God, Jam. 2:19. and that Christ is the Son of God, Luke 4:34. and so doeth the carnal Jew teach that it is not lawful to steal, to commit adultery, Rom. 2:21, 22. But in the Old and New Testament, Devils never accuse themselves of sin, but tempt to it, and challenge the Law and God. Gen. 3:4, 5. of unjustice, never themselves; Devils are most properly under the Covenant of Works, and by no command is the Gospel Preached to them, and next to them are such as are found in the letter of the Gospel, but never convinced of sin: Such are most under the Law, as have least Law-work and Law-condemnation upon their Spirits, these that are under the Law most, as touching their state, are most under the letter, least under the Spirit, as touching any penal awaking.

Legal terrours convert none.

To be under Law-bondage is, a more punishment to Devils and men under a Law state, for legal terrors are upon Devils, Math. 8:29; Jam. 2:19. and Cain Gen. 4:14. punishment as such neither maketh, nor denominateth any gracious, it is but accidental to prepare any for Christ, many tormented with the Law have believed such a case to be the pain of the second birth, when it was but a mere Law-fever, and have returned to their vomit and become more loose and profane.

Legal terrours may be mistaken and conceived to be the childbirth of Regeneration.

1. Because the Law as the Law can convert none. 2. Wrestling with Law-bondage without any Gospel-Grace is but a contradicting of God, and his justice; and God recompenceth opposing and blaspheming of him in hell, with more sinful looseness. 3. Law-light under legal terrors shines more clearly, and the guiltiness in not making use of rods of that nature is so much the more grievous. Ye that have been scalded and burnt in this furnace, and are come back from hell, are taught by sense to believe there is a hell, and though hell torment can convert no man, yet it renders men more unexcusable: Humbling, wakening, and sanctifying Law-bondage is more than a work of the Law when it brings forth confessing, praying, believing, humble submitting to God, in Job, David, Hezekiah, Heman, and what a Physician is Christ who can heal us with burning and coals of hell.

Literal and legal conviction on the mind, and Gospel conviction on the affection.

3. A man under a Law-work may give a legal and dead assent, to both the truth and goodness of the promises liberally conceived, as temporaries doe, and Simon Magus wonders, but Saul, Acts 9. the Jailor trembles, Acts 16. but that is in regard of the conviction not of the mind only, but of the conviction of affection and the yielding to what shall I do? But Foelix trembleth, but only in regard of literal conviction on the mind, but neither he nor Magus comes to what shall I do? they differ as the burning light of a fire, which both casts light and with it shining heat also, and the light that precious stones cast in the night, which is both little and hath no heat. Fiery and piercing convictions are good, there is a dead conviction of the letter that doth not profit.

Natural and supernatural convictions, the danger of the latter, if they be fiery, and not tempered with grace.

4. There is a strong Law-conviction that vengeance followeth the scaldings of Sodomy, and the killing of parents, because natural instinct kindles and fires the soul with Law-apprehensions, when the mind hath engraven sharpness to discern undeniable principles, but the conscience is more dull in apprehending that spiritual vengeance followeth such spiritual sins as unbelief, because until there be some supernatural revelation, we are dead to the Gospel truths, and Gospel sins, but when a common Grace heightens the soul to a supernatural assent, that Christ is a Teacher sent of God, Joh. 7:28; Joh. 3:2. the conviction is more strong: But because it is more supernatural, and instead of kindly affection of love which it wants, it is mixed with hatred and anger and so degenerates into fiery indignation against the Holy Ghost, as Joh. 15:24. compared with Math. 12:15, 26:31. cleareth.

Bare conviction is no Godly principle.

5. Conviction which is no more but conviction, is no godly principle, nor makes any heart change, yea it goes dangerously on to wonder and despise, except it send down coals of fire to the affections.

A sweetness in the hardest command, because it is the holy will of God, in a child under grace.

6. He who is under the Covenant of Grace finds a threefold sweetness in obedience. 1. An inbred sweetness in the command. 2. In the strength by which he acts. 3. An inbred sweetness in a communion with God. No man is any other way under the Law, then under a yoke, what is only written seems the oldness of the letter, Rom. 7. and is dead of itself, and lays on a burden, but gives no back to bear. He that is under Grace finds sweetness of delight in a positive Law though the thing commanded be as hard to flesh and blood as to be crucified, Joh. 10:18. yet it obtains a sweetness of holiness from God’s will, Psal. 40:8. I delight to do thy will, O God, (even to be made a curse and crucified) Thy Law is within my heart, and he would but fulfill all righteousness, even that which seems to be the outside of the Gospel, to be sprinkled with water, Math. 3:15. and this Christ would do as under the Covenant of Grace.

A sweetness of communion with God an abundant hire for a duty to a child under Grace.

2. The stirrings and breathings of the Spirit makes the work sweet, hearing brings burning of heart, Luke 24:32. willing gladness, Acts 2:41. and some sweetness of stirred bowels comes from the Lord’s putting in his hand through the Key-hole of the door of the heart, Cant. 5:4. where as to an natural man under the Law, to lift up a Prayer is to carry a millstone on his back, every syllable of a word is a stone weight which he cannot bear. 3. Were there no more in praying, but a communion with God, how sweet is it? when Christ prayeth, the fashion of his countenance is changed, Luke 9:29. There is a heaven in the bosom of Prayer, though there were never a granting of the suit, sure there is a sin in making heaven a hire, and in making duty a relative thing, a horse for a journey, a ship for a voyage to fetch home gold, where as there is heaven in praising God before the Throne, such as is both work and wages, and so in spiritual duties here.

How an inward principle of a new nature stands (as it were) for a command, and yet the Word and Spirit must not be separated.

7. Suppose there were no letter of a command, because there is suitableness between the Law engraven in the heart, and the spiritual matter commanded, a child of Grace under Grace sets about duties, so that (in a manner) there is no need to say to David, Get thee to Jerusalem and to the house of God, for he sayeth, Psal. 122:1. I was glad when they said, let us go to the house of the Lord. As there needs no command that the Father love the child, nor is there need to exhort the Sea to ebb and flow, or the Sun to shine: nor are many arguments useful to press the mother to give suck to the child, nature stands for a Law here, the strength of the engraven Law in the heart, overpowereth the letter. So the new nature, the indwelling anointing, as a new instinct putteth the child of Grace to act. But here we are to beware, that we separate not the Word and the Spirit, the Father of Spirits loves to work with his own tools, and sow with his own seed the Word of God, these three agree in one 1. The Spirit acting. 2. The habit of Grace acted upon by the Spirit, who blows away the ashes, and 3. The word of exhortation: nor do we extoll dead letters and lifeless forms, as Libertines say, for we take in with the letter the quickening sense and convincing meaning of the Word, and its considerable that the Spirit draws sweetly after him, the nature, faculties of will, mind and affections, and they need no other allurement but the Word, the Spirit, and the new nature: But when they barbarously slew their children and made them pass through the fire, they must put out of their ears and hearts the crying and howling of the murdered Babies, with the noise of the beating of drums; nature serves the Devil often weeping, and Satan deadens nature, Grace so mortifies as the consent of delegation goes alone, Psal. 1:2; Psal. 119:72, 97.