Free grace, or, The flowings of Christs blood free to sinners being an experiment of Jesus Christ upon one who hath been in the bondage of a troubled conscience ... / by John Saltmarsh.

XXXVI. Legal and Gospel-Command∣ments and Duties.

GOspel-Commandments and Legal Commandments, do not commandin the same power, in the same manner, or to the same end; The Law commands us to

obey, to love, to fear, to be holy, that God may be our God, & we his people; the Go∣spel commands us to obey, & love, because we are the people of such a God; The Law commands us in the power of God as a Law∣giver, and Tutor, or Minister; the Gospel in the power of a Father; the Law commands by promises and threatnings, blessings and cursings; the Gospel perswades rather then commands, and rather by promises; and ex∣horts rather then bids, and reasons us to duty rather then enforces, and rather draws us then drives us; and by setting forth pro∣mises, and priviledges, and prerogatives, and works done on Gods part, and Christs part for us, and in love, rather argues us into do∣ing & working, & loving reflections again; and Christ is chiefly propounded, both for holinesse and obedience, for mortification and newnesse of life: So as the Gospel commands us rather by patern then precept, and by imi∣tation then command, Heb. 12.1, 2, 3.

Nor to the same End. The end of the Law was to bondage, fear, tutorship, re∣vealing of sin, outward obedience and con∣formity: The end of Gospel-laws is to love, newnesse of spirit, praise and thanks∣giving for righteousnesse, and life received,

and testimony to our righteousnesse received in Christ. Having these promises, let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit, Rom. And thus, Christs yoke is easie, and his burden light, and his Commandments are not grievous; for they are Commandments that carry life and power, & quicken to that duty they command, like the Sun who warmeth us in the very shining upon us; and we work, and walk and live under the Go∣spel, as being saved already, and redeemed, and bringing, forth the power of this re∣demption and salvation, though the spirit of adoption, freely working to the praise of that free-grace, and freely obeying for such free redemption, and doing every thing in love, because of the love shed abroad in our hearts; and neither taking in judgements, nor hell, or damnation; nay, nor Heaven, nor glory, to force on the work, or quicken the duty; but doing all from the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, except when corruption or temptation hinders the free∣nesse and spiritualnesse in the duty.