How did Abraham know that it was God that bid him offer his son, being a breach of the sixth commandment?
For you see this scripture fulfilled this day and therefore I desire you as you tender the Lord and the church and commonwealth to consider and look what you do.
But now having seen him which is invisible I fear not what man can do unto me.
But after he was pleased to reveal himself to me I did presently, like Abraham, run to Hagar. And after that he did let me see the atheism of my own heart, for which I begged of the Lord that it might not remain in my heart.
As I understand it, laws, commands, rules and edicts are for those who have not the light which makres plain the pathway.
One may preach a covenant of grace more clearly than another... But when they preach a covenant of works for salvation, that is not truth.
The Lord knows that I could not open scripture; he must by his prophetical office open it unto me. So after that being unsatisfied in the thing, the Lord was pleased to bring this scripture out of the Hebrews.
Will it please you to answer me this and to give me a rule for then I will willingly submit to any truth.
If any come to my house to be instructed in the ways of God what rule have I to put them away? Do you think it not lawful for me to teach women and why do you call me to teach the court?
I conceive there lies a clear rule in Titus that the elder women should instruct the younger and then I must have a time wherein I must do it.
Must not I then entertain the saints because I must keep my conscience.
If you look upon the rule in Titus it is a rule to me. If you convince me that it is no rule I shall yield.
I do here speak it before the court. I look that the Lord should deliver me by his providence.
I have been guilty of wrong thinking.
They thought that I did conceive there was a difference between them and Mr. Cotton... I might say they might preach a covenant of works as did the apostles, but to preach a covenant of works and to be under a covenant of works is another business.