Use 1. Of Instruction. How uncharitably and falsly many men charge it generally upon our godly Ministers, that they are nothing but Justitiaries, and Legall Preachers? For, do not all sound and godly Ministers hold forth this Christ, this righteousnesse, this way of justification? Do not all our Protestant authours maintain this truth, as that which discerneth us from Heathens, Jewes, Papists, and others in the world? May not these things be heard in our Sermons daily?

Use 2. It is not every kind of denying the Law, and setting up of Christ and Grace, is presently Antinomianisme. Luther, writing upon Genesis, handling that sin of Adam, in eating of the forbidden fruit, speaketh of a Fanatique, as he calls him, that denyed Adam could sinne, because the Law is not given to the righteous. Now, saith Bellarmine, this is an argument satis aptè deductum ex principiis Lutheranorum, because they deny the Law to a righteous man. Here you see he chargeth Antinomianisme upon Luther; but of these things more hereafter.

Use 3. To take heed of using the Law for our justification. It’s an unwarranted way; you cannot finde comfort there: Therefore let Christ be made the matter of your righteousnesse and comfort more then he hath been. You know, the posts that were not sprinkled with bloud, were sure to be destroyed; and so are all those persons and duties, that have not Christ upon them. Christ is the propitiation, and the Hebrew word […], used for covering, and propitiating of sinne, is Genes. 6. used of the pitch or plaister, whereby the wood of the Ark was so fastened, that no water could get in: and it doth well resemble the atonement made by Christ, whereby we are so covered, that the waters of Gods wrath cannot enter upon us. And do not think, to beleeve in Christ, a contemptible and unlikely way; for, it is not, because of the dignitie of faith, but by Christ. You see the Hyssop (or whatsoever it was) which did sprinkle the bloud, was a contemptible herb, yet the instrument to represent great deliverance.

Footnotes

1. The abuse of the Law no derogation to it. ↩

2. 1. The Law is abused, when converted to unprofitable disputes.
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3. 2. When, in the handling of it, respect is had to worldly ends.
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4. 3. When men deny it.
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5. 4. When they misinterpret it.
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6. 5. When they oppose it to Christ.
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7. 6. When they expect justification by it.
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8. 1. Justification by the Law overthrowes the nature of grace.
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9. 2. Opposeth the fulnesse of Christ.
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10. 3. Destroyes the true doctrine of Justification.
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11. 4. Overthrows justifying faith.
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12. 5. Discourageth the broken-hearted sinner.
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13. 6. Brings men into themselves.
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14. 7. Overthrowes the doctrine of imputed righteousnesse.
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15. 8. Keeps a man slavish in all his duties.
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16. 9. Joyns a mans own graces to Christs mediation.
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17. 10. Overthrowes hope.
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18. 11. Robs God of his glory.
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19. 12. Makes more in sin to damne, then in Christ to save.
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20. 13. Overthrowes the doctrine of sanctification.
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21. 14. Takes away the doctrine of the Law.
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22. 15. Overthroweth the consideration of man while he is justified.
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