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.

XLIX. When the spirit of adoption works not freely.

WHen they put something of satis∣faction towards God, upon any thing they do, upon any performance, or obedience, as if God were prevailed with by any thing of their own.

When they take in Christ for a Mediator but by the way, not resting wholly on him, and in him; but as it were to make up all sure with God, they look rather on the by upon his intercession.

When they are in bondage to some out∣ward circumstances of worship, as time, or place, or persons, that they cannot pray but at such hours, or in such places, &c.

When they do things meerly as commanded

from the power of an outward command∣ment or precept in the Word, that brings forth but a legal, or at best but a mixt obedi∣ence, and service of something a finer hypo∣crisie.

When they do because of some Vow, or Covenant they have made, &c. it is more properly the service of the old Testament, and part of their bondage; for wanting the power and fulnesse of the Spirit of adoption to work them to obedience freely from with∣in, they were under the power of outward principles to put them on from without.

When they come to God in any act of worship, as prayer, &c. as to a Creator ra∣ther then a Father; and as a God rather then a God in Christ, they put themselves under such an infinite glory, purity, and justice, as they can neither have accesse with Faith nor boldnesse.

When they take any outward thing to move them, rather then apply to Christ for strength, life, and spirit; for the more any motion or obedience is caused from things without, the more forced and unnatural is all such obedience, and the lesse from a spiri∣tual power within.

When they measure their forgivenesse by

their sin and sanctification, and can beleeve no more then they have peace for; and that peace upon something of their own per∣formed, and not from beleeving on him who hath performed all. God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound minde, 2 Tim. 1.8. or of a minde not corrupted with any of these.