A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 148 (Question 40)
SERMON CXLVIII.
QUESTION XL.
WHAT did GOD at firſt reveal to Man as the Rule of his Obedience?
ANSWER.
THE Rule which GOD at firſt revealed … Man for his Obedience was the Moral law.
WE have under the former taken on Account of Man's Duty in general; both that there is a Duty which he owes to God, and what it is, viz. Obedience to his revealed Will. And this preſumes that there is ſome Revelation, that God hath made of his Will to Man, by which he may know, what is his Duty, and how he is to diſcharge is. Now the very Nature of this Obedience, ſuppoſeth a Rule, and points us to enquire after it; for except we are acquainted with that, we ſhall be at a loſs to know what is Man's Duty, not ſhall we rightly underſtand what is the Miſery that he is under by the Apoſtacy. There are three Propoſitions lying before us, the clearing up whereof will give undight into this Affair; viz
1. That God did at firſt give to Man, a Rule for h… Obedience.
2. That …his Rule was the M… L…w.
3. That by giv…ng him this Rule, be did reveal is him, what was his Duty.
I. THAT God did at firſt give to Man a Rule for his Obedience. Man no ſooner came out of Gods Hand by Creation, but he had a Directory afforded him, which p…i…ted him how he was to live and pleaſe G…d. That Man had ſuch a Law given him from the firſt will appear, becauſe Man could not have otherwiſe ſerved to the end of his Creation. So that both the Wiſdom of G…d, the Nature of Ma…, and the End he was made for, require it. A…d this will be more diſt…ctly evident by the following Concluſions,
1. THAT Man was made to glorify God Actively. God made all things for his own Glory, Prev. 16. …. For he muſt needs he his own laſt End, in all …is Works of Efficiency As all proceeded from him, ſo all m…ſt return to him again. Rom. 11.32. For of him, and through him, and to h…m are all things. But all things were not alike capable of paying him this Tribute, by reaſon of the diverſe Natures and Powers put into them. Some things therefore could only paſſively glorify …im, being my…ours of his Perfections, in which they were to be read, Pſal. 19.1, 2 The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firman…nt ſheveth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth ſpeech, and night unto night ſheweth knowledge. But having placed Man in a ſuperiour order of Being, he expected of him an active Service. Hence that, Iſai. 43.21. This people have I ſ…r…ed for my ſelf, they ſhall ſhew f…eth my praiſe. Pſal. 145.10.
2. THAT Man might glorify God actively, he was to do it as a Cauſe by Counſel. It is certain, that God can be actively glorified, by no other but a Reaſonable Creature, which having an Underſtanding to judge, and a Will to chuſe or refuſe, doth deliberately & voluntarily give unto him the Glory that is due to him; and conſequently, in no other Actions doth he ſo glorify him, but ſuch as proceed from this Principle. Pſal. 47.7. For God is the king of all the earth, ſing ye praiſes with underſtanding.
3. THAT Man as a Cauſe by Counſel then only glorifies God, when he conforms himſelf to his Will. It is not Man's meerly uſing of his Underſtanding and Will as a Reaſonable Creature, that brings Glory to God actively. Nay, becauſe theſe are depraved by Sin ſince the Fall, he too often diſhonours God by ſo doing. It is only by a free and willing complying with God's revealed Will, that we can honour him. 1 Pet. 4.2. That he ſhould no longer live the reſt of his time in the fleſh, to the luſts of men, but to the will of God.
4. THAT be may ſo conform, … is … that he know this it …ll of God. It is true, … ſecond Beings do in all their Operations, … fil the Will or Pleaſure of God. But … paſſive Obedience, it is not neceſſary that they know it, but it ſufficeth, that God know … own purpoſe concer…ing them, and go… them by a Law which he hath in his De… laid out to himſelf, under the powerful influence whereof he holds them; …or … th… g… on breadth … it. Eph. 1.11. … the caſe is otherwiſe in reſpect of Man … his active conformity. It is not ſufficient th… he doth the thing that God wills, but he … do it upon choice, and as it is God's Will, that he may therein pleaſe him; which i… is impoſſible for him to do, except …e bea… quainted with it. And therefore the … of this Knowledge, is inevitably deſ…inct… … Man. Hol. 4.6. My people are destroyed … book of viſi….
5. THAT he may ſo know it, be muſt … Rule given him by …ch be ma… diſor…er …. The Obligation ly…ng on Man to conform to God…s Will. …cceſſarily ſuppoſeth, that there is th…ſe and wrong, and that the Man may as …e… miſs as go right. Now there can be … way for him deliberately to take the right, and avoid the wrong, but by having a Rule before him, according to which, to ma…, … judgment of things; for it is of the … of a Rule to put a difference between th… which is ſtrait, and that which is … Hence that, Mich. 6.8. He hath ſecond … O man, what is good; and what d…th the Lo…d… quire of thee, but to d… juſtly, and to …ove … and to …alk humbly with thy God?
6. HENCE of Men had been any time … this Rule, he had been ſo long at a loſ…, … his …ty. For with …ut this, he could not … known how to take one right ſtep in p…ſ…t of his great End: He would therefore have been without one main part of his Fer… for the Service he was made for, and God would ſo long unavoidably have loſt his Glory by him, as he was a Man; which was altogether inconſiſtent with the Divine W… dom.
7. IT was of infinite Concernment, th… … ſhould practice this Conformity, becauſe his … pin…ſs or Miſery were to …an upon it. …des the common Government of God, under which Man was placed equally with other Crea…es there was a ſpecial Government, in which only intelligent Beings were concer…, in which God would lead them to an Everlaſting ſtate of Happineſs or Miſery, which was to terminate according to his Carriage in reſpect to the rule of Obedience given him, with theſe Sanctions. Becauſe therefore Man was made to be under this Government, he had the … of conformity to the Law of it, given … ſoon as he was made, elſe the Sanctions … it could not have taken hold of him.
II. THAT this Rule was the Morel L…. For a more diſtinct laying of this open. we… Inquire,
1. It but …e are to underſtand … the … Law?
2. Whether … are under the … Law?
3. Whether the F…d … of this O… …, or it …
4. I… what Uſ… the … Law is … Man?
1 WHAT we … underſtand by the …al Law?
Anſ. I ſhall not here i…quire into the P…s of it, which will afterwards …me to be c… …ered … B…ly … ſider is as diſti…ct from … Laws whatſoever. W… may be … this Deſcription; The …al L… … the R…given to Man and … Nature, … …e was …red by God, to … ſerve is G…ds Glory as …. In the opening of which Deſ…, we ma… obſerve, h…h whereas it … with, and wherein a…d ſe…s from …ther …? To make way to …, we may ta…e …, that there are other Laws, both D… … and Humane: The … are generally … into …re…-…al, Jad…, & Mo… Humane Laws, are ſuch Ord… as re… by M…n, who not …. I ſhall not treat of …eſe … put …, but take notice of them, in layi…g … this one. Here then we may ob…e…e … things in the D… g…ve….
1. IT … a R…le. And here… it agrees with … what…ever. For the very e…d of …, is to regulate Men and Things And … is that which ſo d…th, other tha… a …? There are two Pr… Uſe of a R…le. … whereof belong to th…s Law. v…z. to … our Act…s. by ſhewi…g wa…t … and what is wrong. O… which act not … gives it that commendation. Pſal 110. … is a lamp unto my feet, and a … my path. And to make Tri… of our … by, that we may k…ow whether we … well or ill…. And there…ore that is … of the Word of God, Heb. 1 1…. … of God is …u…k, and p…werful, … then …ay two edged ſword, pi… … ſander of J…al… ſpirit, … of … and …, and is … the … of the heart. And for both of …, the moral Law is abundantly fur…, … that it reacheth to all the Actions …, To…ne and Hand. And for that … is hath that title of Perfection given, …. 19.7.
2. IT is a Divine Rule. i.e. it proceeds … as the Author of it, and it derives … other Original. For which reaſon … the Attribute of Lawgiver aſſigned …, as his Prerogitive, Iſal. 33.22. And … to him. Jam. 4.12. There is one law … who is able to ſave, and to deſtroy And … thoſe Epethers muſt acceſſitily belo…g … Rom. 7.12. Wherefore the law is …oly, … commandment holy, and juſt, and good. … not elſe be agreable to the Nature of … from whom it proceedeth. And herein i… …es with the ceremonial and judi…l …, which proceeded from him alo…e, a…d … therefore ſtamped with his Authority, I am the Lord. And herein … … mane Laws, when ha…e the… … immed…ately from Men. It is true, as Cur… Powers are authorized by God, ſo there … a Subm…ſſion due to them and their O…d…ces, for C…nſ…ence ſe…e. Rom. 13.5. i.e. … we acknowledge G…d's An…y … them: For Conſcience is truly ſubject u…to none but God. And here we must fiſ…t … of Humane Laws: S…e are a thing elſe but the Laws of G…, … …ral D…ries, re…rced with a Go…d S…ction added t… them. Theſe, Men owe Obed…ence to Conſ…ouſly, becauſe they are indeed God's Laws; and for the ſame reaſon we ought to ſubmit to the C…vil S…cti…s of them, ſo far as they agree with the Word of God, becauſe herein they are pr…perly the M…iſters of God: But it their S…ctions …ido moral Equiry, though there is a paſſive Subjecti…n due, yet we are not in Conſcience obliged to approve them, becauſe God doth not. Same are Prudentials, concerning things in themſe… in…ſſerent; which are ſtinted & limited, with Humane Sanctides added, for the common be…e…i… of the Subject: Theſe, ſo far as they are expedient and convenient, agree with the ge…eral Rules of the Law of God, a…d ought for that reaſ…n to be complied withal But they add …o new Obligation on the Conſcience; as they proceed from Men, … doth the meet neglect of theſe Laws amount to Sin; except Con…m…t be added to it. Neither yet, can the Obl…gation on Conſcience to obey them, as they are for the common Good abide, any longer tha… the reaſon of them doth. Others are wicked Laws; and there are many ſuch tha… pr…ceed from humance Lawgivers, Pſal. …4.10. Shall the thr… of inquity ha…e ſell…m…p … thee, which fr…th miſ…ſ by a law! N…w … ſo far from being bound to pay act … Obedience to ſuch Laws, that we ſhall … aga…ſt G…d it we ſo do: And hence, when called we are to refuſe it, and run the greateſt …za…ds. So they, Den. 3.16, 17. And the Apoſtles in that Prohibition, Act. 4.19, 20. and 5 29
3. IT is an Un…hang… Rule. And herein it d…ffers both from ceremo…ial & judicial Laws, when were of a ſhorter date. They were but temporary, & were to have an end There were Sacraments in the ſtate of Innocence; but they ſoon ceaſed. There were many …ſitive Laws given af…er the Apoſtaſy; and at length there was a Body of them given to the Church of Iſrael: but is theſe were of a … Original, not being from the beginning, ſo they were to expir…, when the ſtate of the Church to which they were ſuited, was to come to an e…d, Heb. …, &c. AnD be tells us, chap 7.12. F…r the Prieſthood being changed, there is ma…e of neceſſity a change of the law. Whereas the moral Law took place as ſoon as Mand wa… made, and continues to the end, without a…y alteration. The ſame that it was, when given to Adam in Integrity, the ſame it was when re…ewed on Mount … and is ſtill the ſame in the days of the Goſpel. Hence that in, Pſal. 119.152. Concerning thy teſtimonies, I have known of old, that thou haſt founded them for ever. And Chriſt aſſures us, in Mat. 5.18. For verily I ſay unto you. Till heaven and earth paſs, one jo… or one tittle ſhall in no …ſe paſs from the Law, till all be fulfilled.
4. IT was a Rule given to Man. There are two ſorts of Creatures, that come under the ſpecial Government of God, Angels and Men, both of which were under a Law or Rule of active O…dience. But tho' we may ſuppoſe this Rule to agree to both in the main Atticles of it, yet there was neceſſarily a difference between that given to one and the other in many Points. becauſe of their different Natures. Angels were Spirits purely, but Men were imbodied Spirits, and not only their Souls, but Bodies too, were under the direction and gover…ment of that Law, 1 Cor. 6.20. For ye are …ought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your ſpirit, which are God's. God hid not treat with them j…intly, but ſeparately. Hence that, Joh 28.28. And unto man be ſaid, Behold, the feer of the Lord, that is …ſdom, and to d…part from evil is underſtanding.
5. IT was accommodated to Man's Nature, as created by God. How far it is diſſonant to Man's Nature as deprated by Sin, is another mattes: Bur conſider him in his primitive State, and it was every way ſuited for him. And for this reaſon it is ſaid to be Good, Mich. 6.8. And indeed, it could not have been a right Rule if it had not been ſuch. If it had been above his Nature, he could not have reached it; and if it had been below it, he could not have been made happy by conformity to it. Now there are two things, wherein this ſuitableneſs of it appears,
(1.) IT was adopted to the Powers that were put into him, and conferred upon him. He had an Underſtanding, W… Affections, and theſe were furniſhed with the Image of God, or a moral rectitude, conſiſting in Knowledge, Righteouſneſs, and Holineſs. Now theſe ſanctified Powers in him, could not but approve, choſe, and love the Law. That fallen Man in his natural ſtate doth not ſo, is becauſe be hath loſt that rectitude which was on his Faculties, and they are become depraved: But Godly Men, ſo far as they are renewed, have it reſtored to hem again. Pſal. 119.128, 30 97. Therefore I eſteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and hate every falſe …ay. I have choſen the way of truth: thy ju…gments have I laid before me. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Yea, the very relicks of the Law in the Conſciences of Men, do acknowledge the equi…y of this Law, and how unreaſonable it is to break them. Rom. 1.32. and 2.14.
(2.) IT is a ſuitable Medium to his great End. Man was made for an E…d, viz. to glorify God; and in ſubordination thereto, to ſeek and obtain Bleſſed eſs. Now where there is an End propounded, there muſt be a way to obtain it; and that which directs to this way, is the Rule; and when it is a proper way to it, it is then accommodated to the Deſign. Such was the moral Law. And for this reaſon it is called the moral Law, becauſe it is fitted for the regulating of Man in all the Actions of his W…l, both Elicite and Imperate. And by his Obedience to it, he ſhould have attained Everlaſting Felicity. Jam. 1.25. Man had a natural craving after Happineſs, and this was a way to have brought him to it. He… alſo it differs from the ceremonial and j… cial Laws. The former was only acco… dated for fallen Man, while he was in expectation of a Redeemer to come, to help … Faith in the mean while: The other … only adapted to the preſent ſtate of the … Church during their Minority.
6. IT …bliged Man, to ſerve to the Glory … God as his laſt End. This was the proper End of the moral Law. We have already obſerved, that Man was to glorify God act…vely, … which he muſt have a Rule, elſe he will be ever at a loſs. Now as the whole Man is … be conſecrated to this Glorifying of God, and that in all our Life, and every Action of it, 1 …or. 10.30. So the moral Law is as …, to comprehend the whole of this. It is … vid's Obſervation, Pſal. 119.96. I have … en and of all perſection: but thy … as exceeding broad. It tells us how we … order our Thoughts, our Words, and … Actions. It points to the Matter, Manner… End of our Duty. It regulates us in our C… riages towards God, and towards Men: … us Rules how to manage our ſelves in … Relation that Providence ſets …s in. … we need not be at a loſs at any time, … thing that we are concerned i….
2. WHETHER all Mankinds are … Obligation of Obedience to this Law?
Anſ THIS may be brieſly it ſolved in … Particulars,
1. THE Law is to be conſidered, either … is a Covenant, or only a Rule. This di…action muſt be allowed, or elſe we ſhall not be … to reconcile many Texts in Scripture. … the Law is then conſidered as a Cove…, when we look upon it as delivered … Sanctions, by vertue whereof it became … Foundation of relative Juſtice, in which … would proceed with Man in the Ad… tion of his ſpecial Government: So … … derſtood, in Gal. 3.10. For as many … of the works of the law are under the curſt: … is written, Curſed is every one that … n…t in all things written in the book of the … to do them. Whereas, ſeperate from the … ſideration of thoſe Sanctions, it cont… … it all thoſe Precepts, which are to direct … in his Life and Converſation, and ſo … on only as a Rule. And ſo it is frequently uſed in the Pſalms.
2 THAT Man is to be conſidered, either … before, or ſince the Fall. There is a vaſt … rence between the ſtate of Integrity, … ſtate of Apoſtaſy. Man's primitive … a ſtate of Perfection, Eccl. 7.29 God made … upright. There was a moral rectitude in all his Powers. He was and Inſtrument in Tune. But by the Fall, he hath loſt thoſe moral Principles which were in him by vertue of the Sanctification of his Nature, and is become …lly corrupt, Rom. 3.12.
3. MAN ſince the Fall is to be conſidered, …er in his natural, or his regenerate ſtate. As long as he abides in his natural ſtate, he is under the reigning power of Sin, and an utter impotency to that which is truly good: Whereas there is another better ſtate introduced by Chriſt, and wrought by the Spirit of God in Regeneration, into which Men are brought by the Grace of God. And the Con…tion of fallen Man is wonderfully altered …by. As appears from Eph 1.5, 8. Now we are to reſolve the Caſe before us with a d… reſpect to theſe things. Here then,
(1.) THAT Plan in his ſtate of Integrity, was … the Law as a Covenant, which comprehend… … Mankind. It is certain, that wren God …e the Law to Man at firſt in Paradiſe, he … it with its Sanctions, he annexed to it … the Promiſes and Threatnings, whereby i…come a proper I…ſtrument of Government. The Threatning is expreſt in Gen. 2.17. In … day thou eat…st thereof, thou ſhall ſurely die. And the Promiſe is to be gathered from other Places in the Word of God; according …, Rom. 10.5. For Moſes d…ſerthe… the r…ouſneſs which is of the law, that the man … doth th…ſe things, ſhall live by them. Now that this Covenant was plighted with Adam, … a private, but a publick Perſon, repre…ing all Mankind that were to derive from … is evident, and hath formerly been made good, when we were on that Subject; and is pl… from, Rom. 5 12. Wherefore as by one … entred into the world, and death by ſin: … ſo death paſſed upon all men, for that all … ſinned.
(2.) THAT Man in his natural Eſtate abides … the Law as a Covenant. This is plain … the forecited, Gal. 3.10. For how elſe ſhould the Curſe of the Law take hold of him? The Law as a Rule ſaith, this thou ſhalt …, and this thou ſhalt not do. And as a Covenant it ſaith, if thou do ſo, thou ſhalt live, i… …wiſe thou ſhalt die. And hence the … Man hath no other Rule to try his … to Life or Death but this. His Duty of …dience abides, and he is ſtill liable to Pe… for defect in it.
(3.) THAT regenerate Man is under a New …, in which the Law ſtill abides as a Rule. …, he being under the Covenant of …, is no longer under the Law as a Covenant: Which is evident, from Rom. 6.14. … ſhall not have dominion over you: for ye … under the law but under grace. But th… the Law ſtill abides to him a Rule of his Life is evident, becauſe it is reinforced in the Goſpel, and put into the Articles of this C…t, which makes Sanctification one of the Benefits of Chriſt's Redemption, and enj…y as us H…lineſs a…d righteouſneſs. … … ing to Tit. 2.11, 12. For the grace of G…d t…at bringeth ſalvati…n, hath appeared to all … Teaching as, that denying ung…dlineſ… & worthy luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righte…ſ… and … in this preſent w…ld. And is inforced from Evangelical Conſiderations. 1 C…r. 6.20. A…d on this account it is called, both an old and a new Commandment, 1 Joh. 2.8, 9.
3. WHETHER the Fall hath not taken off this Obligation, or it abides ſtill on fallen Man?
Anſ. THIS might be reſolved from what hath been already ſaid: But to prevent Miſtakes let me here add,
1. THAT the Fall hath not taken off from Man, the Obligation to Obedience to the Law, as a Rule. This abides, and will ſo do, as long as Man abides under the ſpecial Government of God: As will appear from theſe Reaſons,
(1.) BECAUSE the Law was the Rule of Relative Ju…tice in that Government. As Man owed himſelf to the Service of God, ſo God gave him this Law to direct him in that Service; and he cannot diſcharge himſelf from this Duty. Man is by the Fall a Rebel againſt his lawful Sovereign; but the Rebel owes Duty and Al…egiance notwithſtanding; and it is his Fault that he denies it. That therefore is a Truth always, Job. 28.28. And unto man he ſaid, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wiſdom, and to depart from evil, is underſtanding.
(2.) BECAUSE the Law it ſelf is an Unchangeable Rule. It was not a temporary Diſpenſation, as the ceremonial and judicial were, but ſtanding; it was never to be altered. And hence, whatſoever change the Man paſſeth under, that ſtill abides: As hath been already made evident.
(3.) BECAUSE the Law is properly ſuited for the gl…ri…ying of God, by the Reaſonable Creature. God did not only in Sovereignty, but Wiſdom too, give the Law at firſt. It was adapted to Man's Nature. And for that reaſon it is called by Divines the Law of Nature; as will hereafter be obſerved. For which reaſon the natural Conſcience ſubſcribes to the Equity and Goodneſs of it.
2. THOUGH the Apoſtaſy hath not diſ…harged Man from the Law as a Covenant, yet we are warily to take it up. Many are miſtaken in their reſentments of this, and it is not a little hurtful to them. Here then, let two things be obſerved,
(1.) THAT the Fall hath utterly cut Man off from ever obtaining Life by the Law, as a C…venant. There was a Promiſe of Life in that Covenant made to perfect Obedience, and ſo Man a…eſt ſ…ood as a Probationer for Life by it: But that is utterly ceaſed. That Covenant ſtill ſaith, that if Man had ſo obeyed, he ſhould have lived, but becauſe he obeyed not, but diſob…ved, it hath brought him under the other Sanction, which holds him faſt, and ſtands in the way to hinder this Life. So that they err, who think, that if fallen Man could now perform perfect Obedience to the moral Law, he ſhould live. For tho' he cannot, and ſo it is a vain ſupp…ſition, yet if he could, he is under Arreſt already, he is dead in Law, how the… ſhould he live? Hence that, Gal, 3.21. Is the law then againſt the promiſes of God? God forbid: f…r of th…re had been a law given, which … have give life, verily righteouſneſs ſhould have been by the law.
(2.) HENCE th… Law, a… a Covenant, h…lls the Sinner … the Curſe of …s, and neither can his Ign…r…r… … I…p… excuſe him from the Condemnation of it. The Law ſaith, Ezek. 18 4. The ſo…t …ain, it ſhall …. Such is every fa…len M… by Nature, and in Act. This Se…e…ce muſt needs ab…de, till it hath taken place. Hence Chriſt ſaith, Mat. 5.18. For worthy I ſay … you, … & earth paſs, one …ore or one ti… e…phal in no wiſe paſs from the law, till all be …u…i…ed. S… hath made the man a Priſoner of juſtice, and he muſt paſs a Trial; where it f…und gai…y, he muſt needs die for it. It is vain for him to plead Ignorance of the Law; for Man was created with a perfect Knowledge of it, and loſt it by his own Default. Beſides, that there are the remains of the Law on Men's Conſciences, which they either …t…tle, or reſiſt, and impriſon the Truth in a righteouſneſs, Rom. 1.18. And this will leave them inexcuſable. And it will be as vain to pretend Inability: for tho' Man hath loſt his ſtrength, and that is a Truth concerning every Man is his lapſed eſtate, Joſh. 24.19. And J… ſaid unto the people, Ye cannot ſerve the Lord; for he is an holy God: he is a jealous God, he will not forgive your tranſgreſſions nor your ſins. Yet Man by his own folly, hath diſabled himſelf, who once was every way furniſhed for Obedie…ce. And it would be a ſtrange way for a Servant to make up Accompts with his Maſter, to tell him he hath emb…zzel'd his Stock.
USE. FROM what hath been hitherto ſaid, let me only here obſerve, Him miſerable Man hath …endred himſelf by the Apoſtaſy. Did God give the Law to Man as the Rule of his Obedience, and was it the only way to keep himſelf in God's Favour, and obtain true Felicity? Certainly then the Fall hath brought us under unconceivable Infelicity, in that we are thus fallen ſhort of the Glory of God, and have laid our ſelves open to his Indignation Let us then bemoan this our Unhappineſs, and reſtleſly ſeek after the one Way of Delivery which the rich Grace of God hath open'd to us in the Goſpel.
[DECEMBER 17. 1700.]