§. Sect. 5 The last speci∣all priuiledge is Christian liberty.
The last speciall priuiledge peculiar vnto the godly, which the Spirit bringeth, is Christian liberty, whereby being freed out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies, we serue the Lord in holinesse and righteousnesse without feare, and so attaine vnto the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God, see∣ing his seruice is perfect freedome; and haue power and dominion ouer all the creatures, so as wee may vse them to all purposes, both for necessity and comfort, hauing full right and interest in them by our adoption. The which priuiledge also is a fruit of the Spirit, according to that of the Apostle, Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. And is deriued vnto vs, when as the holy Ghost, by a liuely faith applyeth vnto vs the ver∣tue and efficacy of Christ Iesus his death and satisfaction, whereby this li∣berty was first purchased for vs; in which respect, our Sauiour also challen∣geth vnto himselfe this power and prerogatiue of setting vs at liberty, as being our alone Redeemer, who hath deliuered vs out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies; If (saith he) the Sonne shall make you free, you shalbe free indeed. We were subiect to the wrath of God, but our Sauiour hath freed vs from it, and by satisfying his Iustice, hath reconciled vs vnto him. We were vnder the curse of the Law, but hee hath freed vs, by being made a curse for vs. Wee were the wretched slaues of Satan, and in the state of death and condemnation: but hee by his death hath destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the deuill, that he might deliuer them, who through the feare of death, were all their life time subiect to bondage. Wee were seruants to the world, and the vassals of the earthly Mammon; but Christ hath ouercome the world, both for himselfe and all his Elect, and so set vs at liberty out of this thraldome. Wee were the seruants of sinne, which made vs slaues to all other enemies, and obeyed it in the wicked lusts thereof: for as our Sauiour saith, Hee that committeth sinne, is the seruant of sinne; For his seruants wee are whom wee obey, whether of sinne vnto death, or of obedience vnto righteousnesse. And though with the Iewes wee were ready to boast of our freedome, and (as it were) out of our store, to promise liberty vnto others, like those of whom the A∣postle Peter speaketh, yet were wee (like them) our selues, seruants of corruption. For of whom a man is ouercome, of the same hee is brought in bondage. Finally, wee were slaues to our owne sinfull lusts, vile affecti∣ons, and turbulent passions, as wrath, pride, ambition, couetousnesse, and voluptuousnesse, which were the most cruell Lords that euer ty∣rannized ouer any, seeing they kept such a narrow watch ouer vs, that they gaue vs not so much as a breathing time of liberty, but forced vs to drudge night and day, not only in the sight of others, but when wee were retyred into the most secret corners, because they held in misera∣ble bondage our soules, as well as our bodies, our iudgements, wills, and affections, so as wee liked and pleased our selues in our thraldome, and had no desire to come out of it. But our Sauiour hath freed vs from these enemies also, by mortifying our sinnes, and crucifying our corruptions, by vertue of his death, applyed vnto vs by his holy Spirit. And lastly, we