1 left in the hands of its commission.* On the day after the breaking up of that assembly, the twelve brethren who had subscribed the representation, were called before the com * Having given in a former note the act of assembly, justice requires that we now give the representation and petition given in against it, which was as follows:-To the Right Reverend, &c. the Representation and Petition of us under-subscribing, Ministers of the Gospel, Humbly Sheweth, THAT whereas it is the unquestionable duty of all the members, ministers, and assemblies of this church, to endeavour in their several capacities the preser vation of the purity of doctrine contained in the holy scriptures, and in our Confession of Faith and Catechisms, agreeable thereunto, that the same may be faithfully submitted to succeeding generations: We find ourselves obliged in conscience, with all due deference, to lay some things relative to that and some matters which are grievous to us, before the venerable Assembly, whose province it is, in a special manner, to maintain the truths of the gospel, and to take care that every thing in the house of the God of heaven be moulded in a conformity to his will, and the pattern he hath shewed us in his holy word. We are fully persuaded, That although the grace of God which bringeth salvation, teacheth us, " that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" yet there is such a propensity in the corrupt nature of man to licentiousness and profanity, that he is apt to turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness; whence have proceeded these monstrous opinions of some,-that the law is not a rule of life to believers, that holiness is not necessary to salvation,-and the like; all which our hearts do abhor, as egregious blasphemy against our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, making him the minister of sin: And, therefore, we cannot but own it to be commendable zeal in the members, ministers, and Assemblies of this Church, to endeavour the stifling of such monstrous brats in the birth, whensoever they do really begin to appear. But withal, on the other hand, we are no less persuaded, that in point of seek. ing righteousness and salvation, there is such a bias in the same corrupt nature towards the old way of the first covenant, that men seek the same naturally not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law: the which bias of the heart of man, in opposition to the gospel-doctrine, known only by a ner revelation after the fall, being more subtile, and not so easily discerned as the other, which is opposite to the law, the knowledge of which was impressed cr man's mind in creation; there is an evident necessity of guarding equally, at least, against the latter as against the former, lest the purity of gospel-doctrine suffer, and man frustrate the grace of God, seeking righteousness by the law. And since we do apprehend, that the late General Assembly of this Church has not sufficiently adverted to the danger on that side, but that by their act, entitled, "Act concerning a book, entitled, the Marrow of Modern Divinity," dated at Edinburgh, May 20th, 1720, gospel truth has suffered, and it is likely will suffer more in the rising and succeeding generations, unless a remedy be mission, when several speeches were made on both sides, and the representers being removed, the commission appointed a new committee to consider the affair. This committee timely provided; we beg leave, with all humility and deference, to lay before this venerable Assembly, some (of the many) things, which in the said act are stumbling to us, and many others in this church. And, First, It is surprising, and exceedingly grievous unto us, that by the said act, the following position is condemned; namely, " That as the law is the covenant of works, believers are altogether and wholly set free from it; set free, both from the commanding and condemning power of the covenant of works " We acknowledge and profess, we look upon our freedom, as believers in Christ, from the covenant of works, or the law as that covenant, to be the chief branch of that precious liberty, wherewith Christ hath made us free, and in which the eternal salvation of our souls is wrapt up. We know no commands of the covenant of works, but that command of perfect obedience, under the pain of the curse. And if the law, as to believers, be divested of its promise of life, and threatening of death, (which superadded to its commands made it a covenant of works,) as it really is, since they are not under it to be thereby justified or condemned, we cannot comprehend how it continues any longer to be a covenant of works to them, or such as to have a commanding power over them, that covenant-form of it being done away in Christ, with respect to believers. And to suppose that a man cannot be under the law as a rule of life, unless he be under the covenant of works, which the act above specified plainly imports, is contrary to our Confession of Faith, chap. xix. sect. 6. and Larger Catechism, question anent " the use of the moral law to the regenerate," which bear, "That although believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, yet it is of use to them as a rule of life, or as the rule of their obedience." Secondly, Of the same dismal tendency we apprehend to be, the declaring of that distinction of the law as it is the law of works, and as it is the law of Christ, as the author applies it, pages 198, 199. to be altogether groundless. We find the author doth there apply this distinction, so as to shew that believers are not under the law, as it is the law of works, though under the law, as it is the law of Christ. And he tells us in express words, page 6. That the law of works is as much as to say, the covenant of works; the which covenant (saith he) the Lord made with all mankind, in Adam, before his fall. To what purpose, then, can this distinction thus applied be rejected, and declared altogether groundless, but to stake down believers under the covenant of works, as in the former head, and contrary to the great design of the gospel-contrivance, to direct them to an obedience upon which they may boast, since by the law of works boasting is not excluded? It were much to be desired, that another method had been taken to expose the Antinomian paradoxes, viz. "That a believer doth not commit sin,-the Lord can see no sin in a believer,” and the like, than by condemning the distinction of the law above mentioned as applied by the author, to assert, in effect, that believers sin against the law, 1 left in the hands of its commission.* On the day after the breaking up of that assembly, the twelve brethren who had subscribed the representation, were called before the com * Having given in a former note the act of assembly, justice requires that we now give the representation and petition given in against it, which was as follows:-To the Right Reverend, &c. the Representation and Petition of us under-subscribing, Ministers of the Gospel, Humbly Sheweth, THAT whereas it is the unquestionable duty of all the members, ministers, and assemblies of this church, to endeavour in their several capacities the preser vation of the purity of doctrine contained in the holy scriptures, and in our Confession of Faith and Catechisms, agreeable thereunto, that the same may be faithfully submitted to succeeding generations: We find ourselves obliged in conscience, with all due deference, to lay some things relative to that and some matters which are grievous to us, before the venerable Assembly, whose province it is, in a special manner, to maintain the truths of the gospel, and to take care that every thing in the house of the God of heaven be moulded in a conformity to his will, and the pattern he hath shewed us in his holy word. We are fully persuaded, That although the grace of God which bringeth salvation, teacheth us, " that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" yet there is such a propensity in the corrupt nature of man to licentiousness and profanity, that he is apt to turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness; whence have proceeded these monstrous opinions of some,-that the law is not a rule of life to believers, that holiness is not necessary to salvation,—and the like; all which our hearts do abhor, as egregious blasphemy against our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, making him the minister of sin: And, therefore, we cannot but own it to be commendable zeal in the members, ministers, and Assemblies of this Church, to endeavour the stifling of such monstrous brats in the birth, whensoever they do really begin to appear. But withal, on the other hand, we are no less persuaded, that in point of seeking righteousness and salvation, there is such a bias in the same corrupt nature towards the old way of the first covenant, that men seek the same naturally not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law: the which bias of the heart of man, in opposition to the gospel-doctrine, known only by a ner revelation after the fall, being more subtile, and not so easily discerned as the other, which is opposite to the law, the knowledge of which was impressed cr man's mind in creation; there is an evident necessity of guarding equally, st least, against the latter as against the former, lest the purity of gospel-doctrine suffer, and man frustrate the grace of God, seeking righteousness by the law. And since we do apprehend, that the late General Assembly of this Church has not sufficiently adverted to the danger on that side, but that by their act, entitled, "Act concerning a book, entitled, the Marrow of Modern Divinity," dated at Edinburgh, May 20th, 1720, gospel truth has suffered, and it is likely will suffer more in the rising and succeeding generations, unless a remedy be mission, when several speeches were made on both sides, and the representers being removed, the commission appointed a new committee to consider the affair. This committee timely provided; we beg leave, with all humility and deference, to lay before this venerable Assembly, some (of the many) things, which in the said act are stumbling to us, and many others in this church. And, First, It is surprising, and exceedingly grievous unto us, that by the said act, the following position is condemned; namely, "That as the law is the covenant of works, believers are altogether and wholly set free from it; set free, both from the commanding and condemning power of the covenant of works" We acknowledge and profess, we look upon our freedom, as believers in Christ, from the covenant of works, or the law as that covenant, to be the chief branch of that precious liberty, wherewith Christ hath made us free, and in which the eternal salvation of our souls is wrapt up. We know no commands of the covenant of works, but that command of perfect obedience, under the pain of the curse. And if the law, as to believers, be divested of its promise of life, and threatening of death, (which superadded to its commands made it a covenant of works,) as it really is, since they are not under it to be thereby justified or condemned, we cannot comprehend how it continues any longer to be a covenant of works to them, or such as to have a commanding power over them, that covenant-form of it being done away in Christ, with respect to believers. And to suppose that a man cannot be under the law as a rule of life, unless he be under the covenant of works, which the act above specified plainly imports, is contrary to our Confession of Faith, chap. xix. sect. 6. and Larger Catechism, question anent "the use of the moral law to the regenerate,” which bear, “ That although believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, yet it is of use to them as a rule of life, or as the rule of their obedience." Secondly, Of the same dismal tendency we apprehend to be, the declaring of that distinction of the law as it is the law of works, and as it is the law of Christ, as the author applies it, pages 198, 199. to be altogether groundless. We find the author doth there apply this distinction, so as to shew that believers are not under the law, as it is the law of works, though under the law, as it is the law of Christ. And he tells us in express words, page 6. That the law of works is as much as to say, the covenant of works; the which covenant (saith he) the Lord made with all mankind, in Adam, before his fall. To what purpose, then, can this distinction thus applied be rejected, and declared altogether groundless, but to stake down believers under the covenant of works, as in the former head, and contrary to the great design of the gospel-contrivance, to direct them to an obedience upon which they may boast, since by the law of works boasting is not excluded? It were much to be desired, that another method had been taken to expose the Antinomian paradoxes, viz. "That a believer doth not commit sin,—the Lord can see no sin in a believer," and the like, than by condemning the distinction of the law above mentioned as applied by the author, to assert, in effect, that believers sin against the law, left in the hands of its commission.* On the day after the breaking up of that assembly, the twelve brethren who had subscribed the representation, were called before the com * Having given in a former note the act of assembly, justice requires that we now give the representation and petition given in against it, which was as follows:-To the Right Reverend, &c. the Representation and Petition of us under-subscribing, Ministers of the Gospel, Humbly Sheweth, THAT whereas it is the unquestionable duty of all the members, ministers, and assemblies of this church, to endeavour in their several capacities the preser vation of the purity of doctrine contained in the holy scriptures, and in our Confession of Faith and Catechisms, agreeable thereunto, that the same may be faithfully submitted to succeeding generations: We find ourselves obliged in conscience, with all due deference, to lay some things relative to that and some matters which are grievous to us, before the venerable Assembly, whose province it is, in a special manner, to maintain the truths of the gospel, and to take care that every thing in the house of the God of heaven be moulded in a conformity to his will, and the pattern he hath shewed us in his holy word. We are fully persuaded, That although the grace of God which bringeth salvation, teacheth us," that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" yet there is such a propensity in the corrupt nature of man to licentiousness and profanity, that he is apt to turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness; whence have proceeded these monstrous opinions of some,—that the law is not a rule of life to believers, that holiness is not necessary to salvation, and the like; all which our hearts do abhor, as egregious blasphemy against our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, making him the minister of sin: And, therefore, we cannot but own it to be commendable zeal in the members, ministers, and Assemblies of this Church, to endeavour the stifling of such monstrous brats in the birth, whensoever they do really begin to appear. But withal, on the other hand, we are no less persuaded, that in point of seeking righteousness and salvation, there is such a bias in the same corrupt nature towards the old way of the first covenant, that men seek the same naturally not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law: the which bias of the heart of man, in opposition to the gospel-doctrine, known only by a new revelation after the fall, being more subtile, and not so easily discerned as the other, which is opposite to the law, the knowledge of which was impressed cr man's mind in creation; there is an evident necessity of guarding equally, at least, against the latter as against the former, lest the purity of gospel-doctrine suffer, and man frustrate the grace of God, seeking righteousness by the law. And since we do apprehend, that the late General Assembly of this Church has not sufficiently adverted to the danger on that side, but that by their act, entitled, "Act concerning a book, entitled, the Marrow of Modern Divinity,” dated at Edinburgh, May 20th, 1720, gospel truth has suffered, and it is likely will suffer more in the rising and succeeding generations, unless a remedy be |