A Plain Discourse on Vain Thoughts, Doctrine 1 · Part 4
THE Vanity of this Thought appears from what follows,
1. IT is moſt true, That Christ by His perfect Obedience to the Law of GOD for Believers, has freed them from the Law as it is a Covenant of Life. To be under the Law as a Covenant of Life is this viz. If a Man keep the Law perfectly then He ſhall Live, if He breaks it by the leaſt Sin that He ſhall Die. For the Covenant of Works it Do this and Live, Gal. 3.12. Do not, and Dye Gen. 2.17. Now thus a Chriſtian is not under the Law. Believers are not bound to yield perfect, perſonal Obedience to the Law of GOD in order to the obtaining Eternal Life. And th… reaſon hereof is, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt as thei… Surety has perfectly obeyed the Law for them He has yielded an abſolutely perfect and ſinleſ… Obedience to the Law of GOD in their ſtead and therefore GOD does not now require it o… them as neceſſary unto their Salvation. GOD accepts of Chriſt's perfect Obedience for them and ſo does not exact perfect Obedience from them, in their own Perſons, as the condition of Eternal Life. In this ſenſe it is ſaid that Believers are not under the Law. Rom. 6.14. For ye are not under the Law. i. e. as a Covenant of Works. If they were under the Law as ſuch a Covenant, it would be impoſſible for them to be Saved. For they cannot poſſibly fulfil the Terms of that Covenant, which requires Obedience in the higheſt degree of Perfection.
2. THO' Chriſtians are freed from the Law as a Covenant of Works; yet they are under the Law as a Rule of Life. GOD's Holy Law always was, is and will be a Rule of Life and Obedience to Men, even in Heaven it ſelf. Matth. 6.10. Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. 'Tis the Duty of all to ſquare their Lives according to this Rule. Believers themſelves, tho' Chriſt has fulfilled the Law for them as a Covenant of Works, are yet bound to walk by the Law as a rule. They are called upon to lead Holy, Righteous, Sober Lives; to be full of Good Works. Now, nothing is Holy, Juſt and Good, but what is conformed to the Holy, Juſt and Good Law of GOD. The Law then is a Rule to them which they ſhould be careful to obſerve in all things. Nay, were not Believers under the Law of GOD as a Rule of their Lives, it were not poſſible for them to Sin; for Sin is a Tranſgreſſion of the Law. If it be not a Law to them, they cannot be Guilty of any Criminal Breach of it; but their Sins are many, Jam. ….2.
3. JESUS CHRIST in keeping the … deſigned Himſelf to be a Pattern of Obedience to Believers. So far was He from exempting them from all Obedience to the Law, that He intended to ſet them an Example of Holy Obedience which they ſhould Labour to follow. He … not keep the Law meerly to give Satisfaction … it for them; but alſo for their imitation, tha… they therein might be followers of Him. Chriſtians therefore Ought to walk as he walked, 1 Jo…. 2.6. And our Lord often calls upon His Diſciples to Follow Him, and Learn of Him, and Do … He did. The Goſpel is full of ſuch Command… Chriſt's Obedience then does engage Believe… unto Obedience, and not diſmiſs them therefrom His example annexed to the Rule, is a furthe… Obligation upon them, unto all Holy Obedience▪
WE ſee then that 'tis a Vain Thought, Th… Chriſt's Obedience to the Law for us, does … off the Bonds of Obedience from us. Let u… then ſuch a Thought as this be cheriſhed in … hearts: But on the other hand, let Chriſts perfect Obedience for us, be uſed by us as an inducement unto the moſt willing and ready Obedienc… to GOD. Let us think thus with our ſelv… and ſay, Has the Great and Glorious GOD whom I had offended by my Sins, appoin… His Son to ſave me, by ſatisfying the La… for me? Has He ſent Him into the Wor… to fulfill that Righteouſneſs for me, which … had made my ſelf utterly unable to accompliſh? Has He accepted of the moſt perfe… Obedience of His Son for me; ſo as upon the Account thereof to receive me into His Favour and to make over Eternal Life unto me? Has He done theſe things for me, and ſhall I not Love, and Serve and Honour Him to the utmoſt of my Power? Surely I will walk before Him in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs all the Days of my Life; and will rejoice in the hope of Heaven, where I ſhall perfectly Obey Him, and Glorify Him in the higheſt degree for ever.