And that, till divine teaching pow'rful draw, Hence many, taught the wholesome terms of art, Yet holiest creatures in clay tents that lodge, How wond'rous are the tracks of divine grace! How searchless are his ways, how vast th' abyss! Let haughty reason stoop, and fear to leap; In vain proud reason swells beyond its bound; An ocean wherein all our thoughts are drown'd. CHAPTER V. ARGUMENTS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS TO GOSPEL MINISTERS TO AVOID A LEGAL STRAIN OF doctrine, anD ENDEAVOR THE SINNER'S MATCH WITH CHRIST BY GOSPEL MEANS. SECTION I. A LEGAL SPIRIT THE ROOT OF DAMNABLE ERRORS. YE heralds great, that blow in name of God A legal spirit may be justly nam'd The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd. Hence Pop'ry, so connatʼral since the fall, Makes legal works like saviours merit all; Yea, more than merit on their shoulder loads, To supererogate like demi-gods. Hence proud Socinians seat their reason high, 'Bove ev'ry precious gospel mystery, Its divine Author stab, and without fear With these run Arian monsters in a line, Hence dare Arminians too, with brazen face, Great ignorance of law and gospel too. Hence Neonomians spring, as sundry call The new law-makers, to redress our fall. Is chang'd, as their Baxterian Bible saith. They build their tott'ring house with hay and straw; Yet hide, like Rachel's idols in the stuff, Yea, hence springs Antinomian vile refuse, SECTION II. A LEGAL STRAIN OF DOCTRINE DISCOVERED AND DISCARDED. No wonder Paul the legal spirit curse, That daring would another gospel tell.* Which crime is charg'd on these that dare dispense The self-same gospel in another sense. Christ is not preach'd in truth, but in disguise, If his bright glory half absconded lies. * Gal. i. 7, 8. |