Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 10 · Verse 4
VERSE 4. For Chriſt is the end of the Law for righteouſneſſe to eueryevery one that beleeueth.
THe Iewes are zealous of the righteouſneſſe of the Lavv, yet are ignorant of Gods righteouſnes, and ſubmit not vntounto it: for God gaue the Law, not to make vsus righteous, but to make vsus ſeeke Chriſt, the end of the Lavv, that wee might be righteous in him.
Here Paul brings an Argument, to ſhew that Iuſtification by faith, eſtabliſheth the righteouſneſſe of the Law. That which aimeth at, and attaineth the end of the Law, deſtroyeth it not: But faith attaineth the end of it, which is Chriſt. Therefore. And as hee which runneth not to the end of the race, miſſeth the prize; ſo the Iewes miſſe of Iuſtification, becauſe they hauehave not Chriſt, the end of the Law.
In this verſe are two things; 1. A Propoſition. 2. The amplification.
The Propoſition. Chriſt is the end of the Lavv, both Ceremoniall and Morall. The Iewes ſought to be righteous by the obſeruation of both theſe.
The end, The end of a thing is either Mathematicall or Morall. The Mathematicall end, is the vtmoſt part of a thing in which the length or continuance is determined; as a point is the end of a line, Death the end of life, the day of Iudgement, the end of this vvorld.
The Morall end of a thing, is the ſcope and perfection of it.
Now Chriſt is the end of the Law both waies. The Mathematicall end, both of the Ceremoniall and Morall, but diuerſly. Of the Ceremoniall, by a direct ſignification of the Morall, by an accidentall direction. The Ceremonies ſignified Chriſt, and ended at him. The Morall Law alſo, after a ſort, leades to Chriſt. Properly, the Morall Law leades ſinners to the Curſe, but by account to Chriſt, as the diſeaſe leades to the medicine or Phyſician.
He is alſo the morall end of both. For hee is the body of thoſe Ceremonies and ſhadowes, and hee perfectly fulfilled the Decalogue for vsus, and that three waies; 1. In his pure conception. 2. In his godly life. 3. In his holy and obedient ſufferings, and all for vsus: for whatſoeuer the Law required that we ſhould Bee, Doe, or Suffer, hee hath performed in our behalfe. Therefore one wittily ſaith, Aretius.that Chriſt is Telos, the end, or Tribute; and we by his payment, Ateleis, tribute-free; vve are diſcharged by him before God. Chriſt is both theſe ends; but principally the laſt is heere vnderſtood.
The Amplification is by a double determination: 1. For vvhat. 2. For vvhom. 1. For righteouſnes to be done, or imputed. This firſt, and more principally alſo, for the other. 2. For whom; Deſcribed 1. by quality, for Beleeuers. 2. By generality, EueryEvery Beleeuer.
Q. Is Faith and Chriſts righteouſnes of the Law?
A. In ſubſtance the righteouſneſſe of the Law and the Goſpell are all one. For none can be iuſtified by any other righteouſnes, then that which the Law requireth. They differ onelyonly in the manner of performance, the Law exacting it to be done by our ſelues, the Goſpell offering it done by Chriſt, to be apprehended by faith. Iuſtifying faith is not directly of the Law; for the Law knoweth no Grace, but indirectly it is as the Law commands, obedience to God.
doctrine God hath giuen the Law in writing, to bring men to Chriſt, that beleeuing in him, they might be iuſtified by his righteouſneſſe, Gal. 3.24.
Ʋſe 1.Humane lawes are branches of the Morall law: therefore not aboliſhed by Chriſt: and that is an vniuſt lawe, whoſe end is not Chriſt.
Ʋſe 2.For righteouſneſſe to the beleeuer, not to the worker: we are not iuſtified by doing, but by beleeuing.
Vſe 3.All beleeuers admitted to Iuſtification, none excluded: for faith is a ſupernaturall grace, of which all are equally capable, if God beſtow it.
Ʋſe 4.A beleeuer is happy, for he hath Chriſt, and ſo, the righteouſneſſe which the Lawe exacts: He hath the perfection of the Lawe which beleeueth in Chriſt. Talis eſt ille, qui in Chriſtum credidit, die qua credidit, qualis ille qui vniuerſam legem impleuit. Com. Hieron. ad Script.Yea, ſuch a one is eueryevery beleeuer in the day that he beleeues, as he ſhould be if hee could as perfectly keep the Lawe, as the very Angels. Satan would diſcourage poore ſinners from the ſcant meaſure of their ſanctification: But if thou beleeueſt, be comforted; for thou haſt liuery and ſeyſin of all the promiſes of the Lawe in the firſt moment of thy faith: It cannot hurt thee, it curſes onelyonly vnbeleeuers, and bad liuers, hauing a full blow at them to their condemnation.
Seeke faith and the increaſe of it more then gold, for it is much more precious, inriching the conſcience with peace, comfort and confidence, euen in the houre of death: Many lament outward wants, but few the want of faith.
Vſe 5.The Lawe is a heauenly thing, and many wonders are contained in it, of which wee ſhall comfortably vnderſtand, if we ſtudie it aright. Study it not as the Iewes or Papiſts doe, to be iuſtified by it; but to bring thee to Chriſt, and then to walk in all obedience with thankfulneſſe: If thou doeſt thus, thou hitteſt the nayle on the head. If the Lawe driue vsus not to Chriſt, as the ſtorme the birds to the Row, and the ſhip to the hauen, all other intents and ſtudies are of no value.
EueryEvery precept muſt teach vsus our weakneſſe, eueryevery promiſe muſt ſet our teeth on edge, and eueryevery curſe as the laſh of a whip, make vsus cry peccaui, and bring vsus down vponupon our knees, with, Ieſu thou ſonne of Dauid, hauehave mercy, as the blind man cried in the Goſpell.
And when thou art come to Chriſt, thou muſt not caſt away the Lawe, but vſe it ſtill, to make thee more to cling vntounto Chriſt, and as a rule of righteous liuing: Chriſt is the end of the Lawe, not the killing, but fulfilling end; Finis non interficiens, ſed perſiciens. Aug.not to end, but to vrge thy obedience. When the Marchant is come aboord his ſhip by boat, he drownes not his boat, but hoyſes it vp into his ſhip; he may hauehave vſe of it another time: or as a Noble-man neglects not his Schoolemaſter when he is come to his lands, but preferres him: So certainly, if the Lawe (though ſharpe) hath brought thee to Chriſt, thou canſt not but louelove it for this office; if thou doeſt not, thou haſt not Chriſt. Yea, it will be the delight of a man to be then doing, when Chriſt is with him, as Peter then willingly and with ſucceſſe caſt out his net. Without Chriſt the Lawe is an vncomfortable ſtudy: but with him, nothing more delightfull.