Principles of Faith and Good Conscience, Chapter 28
CAP. XXVIII.
Of the ſecond end and uſe of the Morall Law.
Q. WEE have ſeene the firſt maine uſe of the Morall Law: What is the ſecond?
A. To be a perpetuall rule of obedience and holineſſe.Second Uſe of the Morall Law. [and it is therefore called the Morall Law.] Mat. 19.17. Rom. 2.25. Rom. 7.12. Heb. 8.10. 1 Tim. 1.5, 8. Jam. 2.10, 11. The Law ſhewes us what is good, and what is bad.
Q. Our obedience is but in part here: What be the properties of that obedience which God will accept of his ſervants?
True obedience, what.A. 1. It muſt be a free, a loving, ſubmitting of the b inward and outward man to the c whole will of God, with an intention d and deſire to pleaſe and approve our ſelves to him in every thing we doe. [This is the nature of true obedience; a the ground and rule of obedience, is the will of God; b the creature obeying, is the inward and outward man; c the manner is free, without compulſion; d the end and aime of all, is to pleaſe God, not men, or our ſelves; and by theſe properties true obedience is differenced from meer civill honeſty, & reſtraining grace in hypocrites] a Mat. 15.9. Eſa 1.12. b Rom. 6.13, 17. c Pſal. 40.8. & 119.6, 80. Mat. 5.20. Jam. 2.10. d H. ſ. 7.14. Zach. 7.5, 6 Rom. 14.6. Joh. 5.30. John 7.18. Eſay 10.7. Mat. 6.6.
Q. Is there any worthineſſe in our works to procure to us Gods favour?
A. None at all; our beſt works done before we be regenerate, are utterly corrupt, and cannot pleaſe God. [The evill tree cannot bring forth good fruit.] Joh. 3.6. Rom. 8.8. Mat. 7.18. Phil. 3.8.
Q. But what ſay you of the workes we performe after regeneration?
A. Though God in mercy, for Chriſts ſake, doe accept of our endeavours to pleaſe him, yet our very beſt workes are ſtained with many imperfections. [And therefore have need of forgiveneſſe, &c.] Luk. 17.10. Rom. 7.21. Eſa. 64.6. Tit. 3.5. Mat. 20.10, 14. When the Scripture ſpeaks of rewarding our workes, Mat. 10.42. and Mat. 6.6. It is a reward of Grace, not of Debt; Neh. 13.22. Remember me, and ſpare me. The rewards of God muſt needs be full of Grace, ſeeing he promiſeth to reward Begging and praying: and a cup of cold water, which is of little worth.
Q. It ſeems then that God doth receive us into his favour, without any conſideration of our works, of his meer mercy in Chriſt alone, imputing his righteouſneſſe unto us, and not our frailties.
A. It is moſt true; for we are ſaved by faith in Chriſt, without the works of the Law. Rom. 3.28. Rom. 11.6.
Q. But doth juſtification by faith make men deſpiſers of good duties contained in Gods Law?
A. By no means; for faith is the very life and root of all good works. [And the reaſon, why many doe not performe works of obedience, is, becauſe they have not faith] Heb. 11.7, 8, 17, 25, 27. Iam. 2.22. Luk. 17.3, 5. Eſay 7.4, 12. 1 Pet. 3.5. The more faith,Faith anſwers all objections, it removeth carnall reaſoning, and ſo brings the heart to obey in all things. the more obedience. Gal. 5.6.
Q. The Law being the rule of obedience, we ought to be carefull to know it, and to lead our lives by it.
A. Yes: For both he that knows it not, and he that obeyes it not, ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes. Luk. 12.47, 48.
Q. How many Commandments be there?
A. Ten: Ten words. Deut. 4.13.
Q. What ſorts of duties doth the Law of God containe?
A. Two ſorts. 1. Duties that immediatly concern Gods Glory and Worſhip, in the foure firſt precepts. 2. And duties that more immediately reſpect our Neighbours good, in the ſix laſt. Mar. 12.29, 30, 31, 33. Mat. 22.37, 40. Thus are the Ten Commandments divided.
Q. What motives are there to ſtir us up to the keeping of this Law in all the points of it?
A. Two. 1. Becauſe God is the Lawgiver; God ſpake every one of thoſe words; and where God hath a voyce to ſpeake, we ought to have an eare to heare, and an heart to obey: God ſets his ſtamp upon them all. Iam. 4.12. Heb. 2.2. Rom: 7.12. The law is holy, juſt and good.
Q. Why ſecondly muſt we carry an awfull regard to this Law?
A. Becauſe he is Jehovah, our God, our maker, our deliverer, and therefore may juſtly challenge obedience at his creatures hands. [Love and feare ought to keep us in obedience] Mal. 1.6. Eſ. 5.4. Deut. 10.12. Jer. 2.9, 13, 19. Mic. 6.3. Eſay 43.23, 24. Deut. 7.6, 11. Deut. 26.17, 19. [the ſtrongeſt and ſweeteſt bond of obedience is that relation between God and us.]