saint's only rule, he must, as a just God, deal with the believer according to his sins, and reward him according to his iniquity; for that law will by no means clear the guilty, nor will truth and justice allow of passing by the transgression even of the remnant of God's heritage. But, if the good-will of the Father, in the mystery of faith, be the Son's rule, he can, in mercy, correct them in measure, and not leave them wholly unpunished. By this will the Father of Spirits can with truth and justice chasten them for their profit, that they may be partakers of his holiness: and these chastisements are called proofs of their sonship; and he never will take his mercy from them; nor will he ever impute sin to them in a legal way; nor shall these purged ones have any more conscience of sins in this way. The Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, deals thus with his children. But Justice, by the legal rule, will never do so; nor shall a jot or tittle of that law ever fail. The former is the voice of the Father in the promises to the heirs of promise; the latter is the voice of Justice to the slave: What the Law saith, it saith to them that are under it.

This author's rule made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better did. By this author we have seen what vain jangling does. Here is nothing said to the purpose, nor any thing affirmed; neither the Law established, nor the Gospel. The mystery of faith is debased, as being neither law nor rule; and the killing letter exalted above all. The rod of

Christ's strength, out of Zion, rules no more in the midst of Jerusalem: the rod is still in the hand of

Blessed be

Moses; and Mr. Evans props up his arm, that our spiritual Joshua may defeat Amalek. God for his testimony bound, his law sealed, in the heart: and to pure records of that law and testimony, let us go, and they who speak not according to that word of life have no light in them; and we shall find our great apostle, who knew what he said, and whereof he affirmed, giving the believer his only rule of life in a few words.

rule.

First, He purges out all such legality from the

And,

Secondly, Describes the real saint. Thirdly, Sets his rule before him. Fourthly, Affirms that mercy and peace shall be upon him. Which no advocate for the law could ever do.

First, He purges out all legality: "As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh [instead of the spirit], they constrain you to be circumcised [to reconcile the world to religion], only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ [or be called Antinomians]. For neither they themselves, who are circumcised, keep the law [nor can they, unless the Spirit of God be in their hearts]; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh," Gal vi 12, 13, as having made you reformed and conformable proselytes, instead of converted saints. By circumcision, they aimed at bringing the Galatians

"Circum

in debtors to fulfil the whole law. cision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping the commandments of God,” for life is what they meant. He next describes the

real saint.

Secondly, "For, in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." This new creature is one renewed in knowledge, and created anew in Christ Jesus: which creation stands in justification by imputation, and in regeneration by the Holy Ghost; as it is written, "Created anew in Christ Jesus," "after the image of him, that created him, in righteousness and true holiness." These three things, Knowledge, Justification, and Sanctification, are such as avail a man, and entitle him to heaven. It is life eternal to know God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. He that believes is justified freely from all things, and shall never come into condemnation; and they who are partakers of the Holy Ghost have got a Comforter that shall abide with them for ever: and this law of the Spirit is a fountain of life; a well of living water, springing up into everlasting life. This is the man that is in Christ, and is a new creature; and these are the things which avail, though circumcision does not. By what law is this man justified, or made righteous? I answer, By the law of faith. By what law is he made a partaker of true holiness? By the law of Moses? Nay; God ministereth not the Spirit by the works of the

law, but by the hearing of faith. Paul, who advanced these things, knew what he said, and whereof he affimed, though our author does

not.

Thirdly, What is the rule of this new man in Christ? Paul says, "In Christ Jesus, circumcision availeth nothing, nor uncircumcision, but faith, that worketh by love." Thus the law of faith is the renewed man's rule; nor did this apostle ever set any other before him. The ministers of circumcision, it is true, had sent some of them to the old rule for personal holiness and good works, or to make a fair shew in the flesh; and the Galatians thought to be made perfect by the flesh. However, they went, as Israel did against the Amalekites, without God. The Saviour went not with them to that rule: he staid behind with his Gospel; and wrought miracles, and ministered the Spirit by the hearing of faith.

Fourthly, Paul shews the safety of this new creature in Christ, who is blessed with this faith that worketh by love: "As many as walk according to this rule, mercy on them, and peace, and upon the Israel of God." The sure mercies of David, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, be upon every new creature in Christ; who walks not by sight, but by faith; who treads in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham; a faith that worketh by love to God, and to all who love him in sincerity and truth.

His pretending, therefore, to boast of the

6

'blood of Christ, as having ensured to him the pardon of his sins, when he can have none since 'he first believed, upon his principles, to be par'doned; is a piece of impiety on the one hand, or hypocrisy on the other, which wants a name to 'describe it, there is so much complicated guilt 'and impiety involved in it.'

Take heed, Sir, that you do not involve yourself in the worst of guilt and impiety, by thus debasing the law of faith. You have asked, If the law be not a rule of life, what standard can there be of sin and holiness, vice and virtue? And now, if the law be not a rule of life, a believer can have no sin to pardon. These are such awful questions, attended with such vile reflections, as I never read before. I will bring them to the touchstone. "Alaw shall proceed from me,” saith Christ, “and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people." Is this law, which is the Lord's judgment, which shall rest, or remain, for a light, no standard? and is sin against this, no transgression? I think such are the worst of rebels: "they are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the way thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof," Job xxiv. 13. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil," John iii. 19. If the spiritual man sins, he sins against light and knowledge; against the testimony bound, the law sealed, on his heart; and grieves the Spirit by which he is sealed: he sins