CHAP. VII.
IN the former Chap. hee exhorts those that are justified by Faith, to Holiness; and because they who most follow after Holiness, are most sensible, and lament the power of sin dwelling in them, not yet extinguished: There∣fore for the sake of these ariseth the fourth Confirmati∣on of the Doctrine of Free Iustification by Faith in Christ, in that it yeelds consolation to the afflicted con∣sciences of the Saints, by reason of their imperfect o∣bedience to the Law, and the reliques of sin that dwell in them.
There are three parts of the Chapter; in the first, that they who are justified should take comfort against their imperf••ct obedience to the Law, hee handles the free∣dome of justified persons from the Covenant of Works, and their interest in the Covenant of Grace, which is the first place of Consolation, to ver. 7. The second contains an Apology for the Holiness of the Law, two objections against the Law being answered, to verse 14. In the third, is contained the second place of Con∣solation, wherein from the Doctrine of Iustification by Fait•• in Christ, the Apostle propounds the wrestling which hee had with the remnants of sin, and the victory which hee gained, that by his example and experience, troubled consciences might take comfort.
The first Part.
Vers. 1. Know yee not, Brethren, (for I speak to them that know the Law) how that the Law hath domi∣nion over a man, as long as hee liveth.
2. For the Woman which hath an Husband, is bound by the Law to her Husband, so long as hee liveth: but if the Husband bee dead, shee is loosed from the Law of her Husband.
3. So then, if while her Husband liveth, shee bee mar∣ried to another man, shee shall bee called an adul∣teress: but if her Husband bee dead, shee is free from that Law, so that shee is no adulteress, though shee bee married to another man.
As to the first part, taking a comparison from Marri∣age, hee shews that the Justified which are delivered from the conjugal Covenant of the Law, and Espoused by a new Covenant of Grace, to a new Husband Christ, should bring forth the fruits of holiness, in new obedi∣ence to the Law, to the glory of our new Husband, Christ.
In the three first verses hee propounds the protasis of the comparison, after this manner: As no Law hath do∣minion over the dead (as yee know) but only over them that are alive, ver. 1. and particularly the Law of Marri∣age is dissolved, the one being dead, so that the Wife, (the Husband being dead) without adultery may marry another, ver. 2, & 3. so you, &c. as it shall appear by and by.
Vers. 4. Wherefore my Brethren, yee also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ, that yee should bee married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that wee should bring forth fruit unto God.
The Apodosis of the comparison, to this manner; So you that were espoused formerly to the Law by a Covenant of Works, Christ being dead for you, that hee might satisfie the Law, Justice, and the Cove∣nant of Works in our name, you are judicially dead to the Law, in the body of Christ (for the Law, or Co∣venant of Works hath slain Christ, and you in him) and by consequence you are delivered from the matrimo∣nial Covenant of the Law; so that without the breach of Justice you may enter into a new Covenant of Grace, with Christ, being raised from the dead. To this end hee shews, that the purpose of marriage being disannul∣led, betwixt the Law of Works and us, not that wee should live as wee list, but being raised from a state of death, by the Resurrection of Christ, that wee should bee espoused to another Husband, viz. to him which is rai∣sed from the dead, i. e. to Christ, who rose from the dead, and hath raised us with himself to newness of life, and hath espoused us to himself, according to the Covenant of Grace, that being married unto Christ, wee might bring forth fruits of obedience to the glory of God.
There are five Arguments of consolation to the Justi∣fied, who bewail the imperfection of their own obedi∣ence.
Become dead] Argum. 1. You are freed from the Co∣venant of Works, which admits no obedience besides what is perfect, and every way compleat: Therefore all you that are Justified have consolation, which bewail the imperfection of your new obedience.
Of another] Argum 2. You are now married to ano∣ther Husband, viz. to Christ, who is raised from the dead, who when hee could answer the imperfections of your obedience, and (according to the Covenant of Grace) render your begun obedience acceptable unto God, hee took it upon himself: You have this consolation that mourn over the imperfections of your new obedi∣ence.
Fruit] Argum. 3. Ye•• are married unto Christ, which is raised from the dead, that you may not abide unfruit∣ful, but may bring forth fruit to the glory of God: There∣fore take yee comfort, who bewail your imperfect obe∣dience.
Vers. 5. For when wee were in the flesh, the motions of sins which were by the Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Argum. 4. Confirming the former, from the change of our condition, while wee were unregenerate (and by consequence under a Law-Covenant) evil affections by the holy Law of God were stirred up, and put forth themselves powerfully in our members, and all our fa∣culties both of soul and body, to the production of the deadly fruit of actual sin: Therefore it will follow, when wee are now regenerated, and under the Covenant of Grace, holy desires stirred up by the New Covenant, powerfully shew forth themselves in our members, to the bringing forth the fruit of good works unto God, that wee might not abide unfruitful. Which is no small consolation; for if wee by Faith would lay hold upon the Covenant of Grace, and would stir up our souls by the promises thereof applyed unto us, there is no doubt but wee should more plentifully bring forth good works; That is it which Christ saith, Joh. 15.5. I am the vine, yee are the branches, hee that abides in mee, and I in him, hee brings forth much fruit: for without mee you can do no∣thing.
Vers. 6. But now wee are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein wee were held, that wee should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the old∣ness of the letter.
Argum. 5. Opening and confirming the former, from the end of our changed condition, Now, to wit, after Ju∣stification, through the Grace of Christ wee are freed from the Law-Covenant (that Covenant being dead in which wee were held, or wee being dead in Christ, in whom wee were contained judicially) to that very end, that wee should serve God, by the power of the Holy Ghost, bestowing new strength upon us, by bringing forth new and spiritual fruit, not superficial and hypocri∣tical, which the letter of the old legal Covenant (now