drous works by the faith of him. They did not go from place to place to lampoon ministers of the gospel for Antinomians; nor did they cry out,

The law is the only rule of life, the only rule of action. You must look with one eye to Christ, and with the other to the law.' Is there any thing in their writings like this? Indeed the false apostles and ministers of Satan run after them, crying out, "Except ye be circumcised, and keep the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved:" but then the apostles inform us that the devil sent them, and they caution us against such. They tell us to affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works; which things are good and profitable unto men: but to avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings, about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. "A man that is an heretic, after the first or second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

Man was not made for the law, but the law was made for man: nor was it "made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient; for the ungodly, and for sinners; for unholy and profane; for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers; for manslayers; for whoremongers; for them that defile themselves with mankind; for men-stealers, [such as deal in the African slavetrade]; for liars; for perjured persons; and if there be any other thing [which they hold] that is con

trary to sound doctrine," 1 Tim. i. 9, 10. If any of those gentlemen, that condemn my doctrine to you, answer any of the above characters, the law is made for them; and they have no right to run from it, unless God should draw them to Christ.. However, God has delivered me from the law; and I trust grace will ever keep me from such things as these. God purifies my heart, and enables me to live by faith; and I have shewed you my faith by my works. I believe that "the law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and all men presseth into it." And this kingdom stands not in the letter of the law, nor in word; but in power, in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. And, if it consist of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, how can it be licentiousness? If they would have me act as some of them do, talk of the holy law, and live in sin, I am determined not to come into their secret. If they acknowledge that the grace of God teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and makes them zealous of good works, I agree with them; and, if they are for the performance of good works, I will vie with the best; let me be weighed in an even balance. But to set Moses's law perpetually before the eyes of all ranks of believers is neither preaching the gospel nor establishing the law: and, while they are enforcing legal obedience to Moses, they act in direct disobedience to Christ; whose command is, Go, preach the gospel to every

creature.

"When thou teachest another, teachest thou not thyself also?" Or dost thou teach against stealing, and live in sacrilege? Make the law of Moses the only rule of life to others, while thou castest the gospel of the grace of God behind thy back? They who preach the law unlawfully, and charge the grace of the gospel with licentiousness, rob Christ of his honour in the church, and injure his followers, by slandering their loyalty, and abusing their liberty.

We know Christ was made of a woman, and made under the law; and under that yoke lived, and served in the capacity of a servant; and the last act of his servitude was obedience unto death. But, when the sentence and curse of the law were executed on him as our surety, our debt was paid, and we were redeemed by him: "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace," Ephes. ii. 15. "Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances, that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." If it be objected that the ceremonial law is meant; I answer, The ceremonial law was the Jews' gospel; it was that which pointed the guilty to the great atonement. But it is the moral law that contains the sentence, the other the sacrifice. Sin is the transgression of the moral law, and the law is the strength of sin. When Christ died it was "to redeem them that were under the

law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." When Christ rose from the dead he was under the law no more for our justification he rose, that all those who are led by the Spirit might not be under the law, Gal. v. 18.

How can such souls be without law to God, when he writes his law in their hearts, and puts it in their minds? They are of the law of faith, and are under that law to Christ, which is his easy yoke. They are new creatures, and love the law after the inner man. Faith worketh by love; and love in the Spirit is the new commandment, and is a fulfilling of the old one; for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, namely, Love. Love is the great thing, and weighty matter of the law: it observes all, it implies all, it fulfils all; it is the new commandment delivered unto us, in keeping which there is great reward. Many turned from this holy commandment in Peter's days: and Paul tells us that the end of the commandment is charity; from which some swerved, and made shipwreck of faith and conscience, in his days; and turned aside to vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. Unrenewed men cannot love the law nor the lawgiver; and this is plain from their hating those who are good. I believe faith and conscience always go together: if a man puts away concerning faith, his life and conversation soon become vain. Those who are vain in their imaginations have their foolish heart dark

ened; and, by professing themselves to be wise, they become fools. And they act the foolish part who send believers to the law of Moses for rules of action, when they cannot speak a good word, nor think a good thought, without the Spirit and grace of Christ.

Set the Lord always before thy face, and thou shalt find him at thy right-hand, so that thou shalt not be greatly moved. The law is not of faith, but of works; and they who are of the works of the law are under the curse. Besides, pointing a believer to the law is turning his mind from the object of faith, by the faith of whom we are to live. And canst thou be exercising faith on the Son of God whilst thou art looking to Moses's law? Faith must have her object in view while she acts; and that man is kept in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on the Lord. Habakkuk's faith led him first to the object of faith; and, when his faith was fixed, he was led to call upon him; and then expects his answer. "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower; and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved." Faith and patience now keep their standing: Faith has sent her petition, and Hope expects an answer. Thus " we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for? But, if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it;" as the prophet here doth. Thus Faith moves her suit, Hope expects