A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 149 (Question 40 cont.)
SERMON CXLIX.
4. TO what uſe the moral Law is …ill ſerviceable to fallen Man? Anſ. THAT we may take this up aright, we may look upon fallen Man under diverſe Conſiderations: in every of which there is an anſwerable Uſefulneſs of the moral Law.
1. MAN is to be conſidered, either as in a ſtate fo Nature, or in a ſtate of Go….
2. NATURAL Men are to be conſidered, either as being without the Goſpel, or under … Di…enſ…ien of it.
3. MAN in a ſtate of Grace is to be conſidered, either as in the Way to, or as arri… … the Kingdom fo Glory. Add to theſe,
4. THE Moral Law, under which Man is, … be conſidered, either as a Rule only, or as a Covenant a…ſo.
AND now we may take up the Reſ…l… of this Caſe under every of theſe Conſiderations. And here obſerve,
1. ALL Man in a State of Nature … der the Law at a Covenant, as well as a … By a S…ate of Nature we are to under… that Condition which they were not i… the Apoſtaſy of the firſt Adam in which … all Men abide, till they are delivered … it, by being planted in the ſecond Adam, and that is done in effectual Vocation. And this is …ee concerning all ſuch, what… … ther … …ges they are under, whether in the Da… … Pagan …gnorance, or … the … who of Goſpel … And that … under the Law, not only as a Rule. … C…venant too is evident becauſe …cy are …e… in their Unbelief; co… ing whom it is ſaid, Mark 16 16. He … it vain and as b…ptized, ſhall be ſaved; … that believeth not, ſhall be damned. Yes, Jo… 2.18. He that believeth in him, is not … ed: but he that believeth not, is conde… ready, becauſe he hath not believed in the … of the … b…g…ten Son of God. Which is interpreted, ver 36. He that believeth on the … hath everlaſting life: and he that believeth … on the Son, ſhall not ſee life: but the … of God abideth on him. This therefore is … ciared to be the common Condition … of the Jew and the Gentile, Rom. 1.9.11.
2. AS for natural Men that are … the G…ſpel, the Law is ſerviceable to them … accounts at theſe.
(1.) TO keep them in …, & pr…p … to Duty. That there are the remains of the Law in the Hearts of ſuch, is certain. … Apoſtle proves it, Rom. 2.14. And this … only as they have in them rational C… ons of Right and Wrong, Duty and … alſo as they ſuggeſt to Men the D… of finning, and the Wrath which they … themſelves to thereby, whence they … accuſe or excuſe them, ver. 15. And … are proper Motives to put Men upon … ing the one and purſuing the other; and doubtleſs by this Means God curbs in Matth exorbitant Luſts, which would elſe …, all Bounds, as ſometimes they do, in Men … ſerted by God.
(2.) FOR the maintenance & preſer… of civil Secieties from Ruin. Man is made … … ciable Creature, and this End corrupt … obtained but by a civil Order, and the … ing of Righteouſneſs. Man's Life. C…, Eſtate, good Name and Property muſt be … ſerved, and how is this do…, but by i… ing … Ale…llean … …ſion of theſe …wrord… of Jeſſ … making them …pore them, … a Curb on their … And God … upholds … G…ver m… … and ra…eth … among … wh… ſerve him in it; but … which the Wicked …ſ… of Men had … e're this reduced the world to a Cha…s.
(3.) TO erred in the ordering of the civil Go…r… I Mankind. With … civil Govern…, … w…ld … nothing but Contuſion, …ges: 2…. In theſe days there was … …: every max del that … was … in … eyes. Me… ex… live as … with …, or w…ll with them … they be rig… … m…ds … Man's Co… … to be oppreſſ be a Law, but there have … Governments among meet Paga… which … and …y excellent Laws, in reſpect of …ſneſs toward Men, under which they … greatly flouriſhed, and been a ſhame to … as had the Word of God: S…c, aſters 16. … whence had they this but from the Re… of the Law of God in them, and the … Giſts … the Spiti… enabling Men to …e the remand g… Light in them to … meaſures
(4.) TO …ſe them to entertain the Goſpel. … be f…er…d to them. God had a … to extend his Salvation to the Gen…, in the fulneſs of time, by ſending the … of a Chriſt to them …viting them to …ce him, which was accompliſhed after …'s Reſurrection. N…w, that they … have ſomething in them to work upon … Creatures, and that by which … night be perſuarded of their Need, God …heſe Principles … them. And for this … we find that the Apoſtles when they … to them built their Doctrines on theſe …ples, as will particularly appear in … 5.14. Row. 1 & 2.
3. WITH reſ… reſpect t… natural M…n that are under the Goſpel Diſpenſations. Beſides what they have in common with others in the … Benefits, the Law is made …ble to prepare them to receive … and embrace the Terms of the new …; and this ſeems to have been the … of the giving the Law at Mount Sinai, … …mated in, Gal. 3.25, 24. But before …, we were kept under the low, ſhut up … the ſouth, which ſhould afterwards be revealed, … the law was our School maſter, to bring … Chriſt, this we might be juſtified by faith. … in that is was given for gracious …, ver. 19. And therefore in the hand …diator; and in this way only could …o promove the Goſpel Deſign. And … it ſerves,
(1.) TO convince Men of Sin; which is the … to Converſion. For though the … of the Spirit is infuſed by him imme…, yet the drawing it forth is mediate; … only ſo, but the Preparation for it is …, for Man repents and believes as he is a …ble. Creature, upon Perſuaſion, though the effi… of … Here there …e the S… … Joh. 16.8. And th…n … be … the …, and … of judgment. And this …e … by the … plication of the Law …re Conſcience … Rom. 3.22. By the … is the … …ge of Jin. And good reaſon, for Crap. 4.14. Becauſe the Law …keth wrath: for …ere … is, there is …r tranſgreſſion. And this is by … the Law before him 25. a …le. and ſtuning. It to him; he tells him, that he Law ſaith, this thou ſhalt do, and that thou ſhalt not do, but thus haft thou done and theſe things haft thou omitted, and by this he knows it to be Sin. For, 1 John 3.4. Whoſoever committeth ſin, tranſgreſſeth alſo the law: for ſin is the tranſgreſſion of the law.
(2.) TO diſcover is them their w…ful Miſery by Sin. And without this, the former will little avail; for fallen Man is ſo in love with Sin, that nothing but fear of Wrath will deter him from it; the Spirit therefore by the Law, ſhews the Man what is like, to be the iſſue of theſe Sins, and that is nothing leſs tha…. Damnation; and this he doth by repreſenting it as a Covenant; he tells him that the Law ſaith. Ezek. 18.4. The ſial that ſinneth in ſhall die. Rom. 6.23. For the wages of ſin is death. That all the Curſes written in the Book of God are out againſt Sinners for their Sin. And hereby he makes them afraid of the Wrath of God; as. Iſa. 33.14.
(3.) TO ſlay them as to exſedation of Help by. any Righteouſneſs or Strength of their event. The …mer Convictions do uſually put Men, upon Endeavours to relieve themſelves, by reforming their Lives, in abſtaining from, their former ſinful Courſes, and taking up of neglected Duties, and they are apt to ratty there, and …mf … themſelves, therein; and hereby they fortify againſt the God pel Offers, for a Man cannot c…me to Chriſt, till he forſakes himſelf; for this alſo he uſeth the Law, by giving the man a deepen inſight into the ſpiritual Nature of it; and now he ſees, that it is another manner of Thing to keep the Law, than he before dreamed of; and this ſhews him his utter impotency, which he till then was ignorant of, which cuts him off from ſelf-ſufficiency, and ſo kills his vain Confidences in himſelf; ſo it was with Paul, Rom. 7.9. For I was alive with ut the law once but …hen the commandment came, ſin revived, and I died.
(4.) TO awaken in them, an Apprehenſion of their abſolute need of Help from abroad. And this is done, by applying the Law home to their Conſciences under the forectied Conſiderations. He ſh…ws them that the Promiſe of Life, is limited only to perfect Obedience to the Law, and that the Curſe of Death is out againſt Sinners for the leaſt flaw in their Obedience, Gal. 3.10. He aſſures them of the rigour of the Law in theſe reſpects & that it will not have the leaſt in either of them, but exact the full thereof, Mat. 5.18. And heſewithal, lets them ſee, that they come ſhort in both; that they cannot do the things required in it, but miſs it in their beſt; that they cannot by themſelves pay the Arrears, but they will break them forever. And now the reſult of this is, that except ſome other Hand afford them ſuccour, to reſcue them out of this Diſtreſs, they muſt periſh unavoidably and Eternally.
(5.) TO make the glad ridings of Chriſt & salvation by him welcome. And this is the genuine reſultancy of all the former. No man cares for Chriſt, as long as he can maintain in himſelf any hopes that he may do well enough without him. But when once the Man finds himſelf periſhing, now an Hand ſtretched out from on high to help him, is welcome. And therefore Chriſt is commended as an helper for ſuch. Pſal 72.12, 13. For he ſhall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor alſo and him that hath no helper. He ſhall ſpare the poor and needy, and ſhall ſave the ſouls of the needy. And this ſenſe is wrought in the Man by the Law, by which he is made to know himſelf poor, and in debt, boyond the ſuccour of any created Power.
4. AS to thoſe that are under Grace, the Law is us …re a Covenant of Works to them. It was ſo to them before, and as ſuch it was made helpful to bring them over to Chriſt, and ſo put them under Grace. But now, it loſeth its claim over them as ſuch. And the reaſon is, becauſe there is an inconſiſtency between theſe two. The Covenant of Grace was introduced as a remedial Covenant, to deliver Sinners from the Law in regard of the Curſe, which it held them under as a Covenant. And for this end, Chriſt, who opened the Way of this Covenant, engaged in, and accompliſhed the Redemption which he undertook. As Gal. 3.13.4.4, 5. So that now, neither is the Promiſe of that Covenant our Encouragement to Obedience, for that was only to that which was perfect, which our beſt is not; nor are the Threatnings of that Covenant our Terrors from Sinning, becauſe we are diſcharged from them, and thoſe Terrors belonged to the Spirit of Bondage, which Believers do not receive again; tho' not at preſent utterly free from the remorſes of, Rom. 8.15. Though ſtill there are the Promiſes & Threatnings of the New Covenant, in the Evangelical Diſpenſation of it, which are ſuited to the preſent ſtate of the Children of God: But that is true, Rom. 6.14. For ſin ſhall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
5. THAT thoſe who are in the New Covenant, and as yet, but in the way to the Kingdom, are under the Law, as a Rule of their Life. Though it is not a Covenant of Life to them, having Life ſecured to their perſonal Obedience, yet it is a Rule according to which God expects that they ſhould order their Life and Converſation. This is denied by ſome, practically abuſed by others, and not rightly underſtood by many. And may therefore be made clear and evident in the following Concluſions,
1. THAT God's People have a Life & … verſation to lead in this World. Man is … ing, and conſequently an active Being, … he is of a rational Nature, and hath th… upon a Power in him of conſulting and … ſing his way. Men have ſomething to do … this Life, and they cannot fit ſtill, but will be ſome way engaged. Every Man hath … End in his eye, and will contrive and pur… ſome Means for his obtaining of it, to which he will direct the courſe of his Life; Y… the powers of Action were put into the C… ture for their being exerted in it. So … every man, will certainly be ſome way … ployed.
2. THAT it is not at the Liberty of … People to live as they liſt, nor ought they to … as other Men. Man was put under the … al Government of God at firſt, not can he … out of it, ſo as not to be under the la… Command of it, but God muſt therein … his Glory ſo far, which he will not. H… the Goſpel Liberty doth not open to then … door of Licenciouſneſs, or give them leave … follow their own Suggeſtions. For tho' G… in them, inclines them to love and ſerve … yet they have Corruption which with … the Will of God, and draws after the … gratifying of the Luſts of the Fleſh, & … leads them captive, Rom 7.23. And what … would it do, were they left at their un… ted Liberty? And God forbids them … in the ſame Courſes which others, viz. … generate Men do, Eph. 4.17, 18. This … therefore, and teſtify in the Lord, that ye … forth walk not as other Gentiles walk, is … nity of their mind, Having the underſtand… darkned, being alienated from the life of … through the ignorance that is in them becauſe the blindneſs of their heart. And Chap. 5.7. … Hence that advice, 1 Pet. 4.3, 4. For the … paſt of our life may ſuffice us to have wrought … will of the Gentiles, wherein ye walked in Enviouſneſs, luſts, exceſs of wine, revillings, … quetings, and abominable idolatries: Wh… they think it ſtrange that you run not with… to the ſame exceſs of riot, ſpeaking evil …
3. THERE muſt therefore be a Rule lor… Direction in leading ſuch a Life. Where … are not leſt at Liberty, there is a Limi…, and therefore there muſt he ſomething … the Bounds to them, that may tell them, this you ought to do, and this you ought not to do; and this muſt be contained i… … Convenant, which is contrived to be a Men … of bringing ſinful Men to Salvation. The Goſpel therefore contains, not only the … Tidings of Peace, but alſo the Way of …. For it there be a Way, it muſt belong … that oeconomy in which Man's well being i… laid out. Hence that is expreſt as … advantage of it, Luke 1.79. To guids our … the way of peace.
4. THE Children of God are therefore … ſied, that they may be fisted for Compliance … this Rule. There is the Sanctification … Spirit, which is one of the Benefits of … … Covenant, to which all God's Elect are appointed, 2 Theſ. 2.13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, be… of the Lord, becauſe God hath from the beginning choſen you to ſalvation, through ſanctification of the ſpirit, and belief of the truth. And what elſe is this Sanctification, … the …ewing of the Image of God in Man, which is proper Furniture to in him for the Service of God, according to his revealed Will? Now the uſefulneſs of all Powers, of herber natural of ſupernatural in the Creature, is in the applying of them to the deſign of them hem, and that is by their acting regularly. So that the end of Sanctification would be l…t, if there were not a Rule to direct it … exerciſes.
5. THOUGH Sanctification diſpoſe them to …ply with is, yet it is not itſelf the Rule. They err who confound the Principle and the …, and make them the ſame, whereas they are two diſtinct things. It is one thing to be … for Work, and another to be directed i… the Proſecution of it. They therefore … ſay, that there is no need of a Law or … to be given to a Believer, becauſe his … itſelf will be a ſufficient Rule to him, … greatly err. David was of another mind, elſe he would not have prayed, as, Pſal. 119.….33. &c.
6. THIS Rule is not made known to every …, by in mediate Inſpiration, but is laid down if the Goſpel. It is true the Spirit of God, … in and with the means, giveth Illumination, by which we diſcern the ſpiritual … of this Rule. For, 1 Cor. 2.14. But the … man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſs unto him: … can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned. But the Rule itſelf is … down in the Goſpel, and is there to be …. And we are adviſed to ſearch for it, Rom. 12.2. And be not conformed to this … this be ye transformed by the renewing of … mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. A… … this are the Scriptures recommended, 2 … 3.16, 17. All ſcripture is given by … of God, and is profitable for doctrine, … reproof, for correction in righteouſneſs: That the m…n of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhment good works.
7. IT is the moral Law which is reinforced in the Goſpel, as a Rule for the Children of God to other their Lives by. Not to mention how … this is inculcated in the Old Teſtament, which were ſufficient. He that is converſant in the Writings of the New Teſtament ſhall … it is every Article of Precept thereof, … and preſſed upon the Children of God, as is manifeſt in the Hortatory parts of the …: Yea, what need had our Saviour to … indicated the moral Law from the … and abuſive Interpretation of the … and Phariſees, as he doth, in Mat. 5, &c. is it had not been of uſe in Goſpel times as a …, and therefore ought to be rightly underſtood?
8. THE Law is holy, juſt and good, and ſo adapted to regulate their Lives as becomes Men. Grace doth not make them ceaſe to be Men; and ſo to owe to God a Service as Men; and to this the Law was ſuited at firſt, and continues to be ſo, notwithſtanding Man's Sin. Hence that encomium, Rom. 7.12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and juſt, and good. (1.) IT is ſuited to direct Man how to pleaſe God, becauſe it is holy. It is therefore called his acceptable Will, Rom. 12.2. Holineſs in a Creature, is properly a ſeparation to the Service and Glory of God, and the Law is ſuch, becauſe it tells us how we may live & pleaſe him, 1 Theſ. 4.1. (2.) IT is ſitted to teach us how to entry right towards Man, for it is juſt. And it is ſaid to be ſo, with reſpect to the Duties of the Second Table, when uſed diſtributively with Holineſs. And there is nothing wherein we can have to do with Men, but it gives order about in the beſt manner, to the very conviction of Men's Reaſon and Conſciences. (3.) IT is ſuited to ſhew Men how beſt in proſit themſelves, for it is good. Hence that, Mit. 6.8. It is the beſt Rule to direct Men in their Carriage, ſo as to comply with right Reaſon; as might be inſtanced in particular. And all theſe three are put together, Tit. 2.12. Teaching us, that denying ungodlineſs & worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, & godly in this preſent world.
9. HENCE as a Rule, it is every way ſerviceable to the People of God. As a Covenant they have reaſon to dread it, for they cannot ſtand by it, Pſal. 143.2. But as a Rule, they cannot do without it. And there are theſe things more eſpecially, wherein they have conſtant uſe of it. (1.) TO instruct them in the way of Sobriety, Righteouſneſs, and Holineſs. Under theſe is comprehended all moral Duty. And we obſerved but now, that all theſe are the teachings of the Goſpel, in Tit. 2.11, 12. A Man cannot live as a Chriſtian ought without theſe Rules. And they all belong to the moral Law. And that Heathen have reſentments thereof, is plain from the relicks of it in them. (2.) TO diſcover to them the Wiles of Sin and Satan. The deceitfulneſs of Sin in us, and the cunning of Satan our grand Adverſary, are always offering to trapan us into ſome Sin or other. And we are not to be ignorant of their cunning, 2 Cor. 2.11. Now the way to detect them, and ſo to eſcape the fallacy of them, is to bring them to this Law. So we are directed, Iſai. 8.12. And the Pſalmiſt acknowledgeth, Pſal. 19.11. Moreover by them is thy ſervant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (3.) TO prove their Actions by, in reſpect of the Matter of them. As to the gracious and acceptable manner of performing them, the moral Law doth not of it ſelf inform fallen Man about that, but it purely belongs to the Goſpel Revelation, but as to the Matter of Duty and Son; this belongs to the Law to make diſcovery of to us; and that not only to direct us how to ch…ſe our Actions aright, as Pſal. 119.105. but alſo to prove them, and judge of them. And by bringing out ſelves to that, we may judge on this account: According to the ſ…ſ…ted. Rom. 3.20. (4.) TO convince them of the imperfection and inſufficiency of their own Righteouſneſs for their Juſtification. The Law muſt juſtify us, if we be juſtification their muſt have nothing to charge us with …. We muſt therefore have a Righteouſneſs … offer, … mine…urate with it. But the Law itſelf will tell us, that this cannot be our own perſonal. By this David was brought to that acknowledgement, Pſal. 13.3. … that, Lord, … mark a…iqu…tes: O Lord, who ſhall ſtand? And the Apoſtle plumply aſſerts, in Rom. 3.20. Therefore by the deeds of the law, there ſhall no fleſh be justified in his ſight. (5.) TO help forward their daily Repentance. Repentance belongs to the exerciſe of Sanctification, and is to be purſued by Believers, as long as they live. In it we are to mourn for Sin, fly from it, and ſeek the Pardon of it; and this is to be done every day, Mat. 6.12. Now the ground of this, is from the remaining Sin that moleſts us. And how ſhall we find Mitter for it, but from the Law, which will ever offer us Ground for it? (6) TO help us rightly to carry it under the Judgments of God that we are viſited withal. Theſe Judments are God's Corrections, and they are for Sin, Pſal. 39.11. And the Children of God are often under ſuch Chaſtiſements, and it becomes them to be patient under, and receive inſtruction by them. And how ſhall they get & maintain ſuch a frame, but by juſtifying God, and taking blame to themſelves. And this muſt be, by comparing themſelves with the holy Law, which will ſhew them their Tranſgreſſions. (7.) TO make Chriſt more precious to them. It is a Character of a true Believer, 1 Pet. ….7. Unto you therfore which believe, he is precious. And hence that which ſerveth to enhance his Worth, is to conſider and affect our ſelves with the great Kindneſs of his to us; and nothing will more diſcover it to us than the Law, by which we diſcover what Sin had made us, and what had become of us, but for him. Hence that, Luk. 7.47. Wherefore I ſay unto thee, her ſins which are many are forgiven, for ſhell loved much: but in whom little is forgiven, the ſame loveth little.
6. AS to thoſe who are arrived at the Kingdom of Glory, let me only make theſe three Remarks,
1. THAT this Law, is no longer a Rule of ſpecial Government to hem. It was adapted as ſuch, for God's People, as long as they are in the Way, and will be made uſe of in the Great Judgment that is coming, being without doubt one of the Books which is then to be laid open, Rev. 20.12. It is their Probation time now, and by their Obedience to God's Law, they are to approve their Fidelity, to him: But when they go to Heaven, they paſs to receive their Rewards, which we are aſſured will be according as they have carried themſelves in this Life, 2 Cor 5.10.
2. IT will be a Rule for them to judge of their Perfection by. Such is the ſtate of the Glorified. Hence that, Heb. 12.28. Wherefore are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may ſerve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Now a ſtate of Perfection referring to Man conſiſts in his compleat conformity to the Rule of Perfection which was given him; a defect wherein, was his Imperfection in this Life, Now therefore ſhall all Sin be done away, and Holineſs compleated, and by knowing the breadth of the Law, and the entire affirmation of all their Powers to it, they will … ſatisfied.
3. PROBABLY it will influence their Expre… ſo for as is conſiſtent with their ſtate of Glory. We have but dark apprehenſions of that See… at preſent. However, to love God, and love his Neighbour, were ſuited to Man's Nature, which tho' perfected, yet will not be changed into another: And tho' ſome Duties will ceaſe, becauſe they will then be like the Angels; put their Love will be perfected, and that will be in the perfection of the Grace which was here begun, and ſhall act upon the ſame Objects, tho' in another and more glorious manner.
USE. LET theſe Conſiderations ſerve to ſimulate us to love, price, ſtudy, and practice the Law of God. Let every one that would approve himſelf to be a Chriſtian indeed, endeavour to be able to ſay with David, Pſal. 119 97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Let our Love make as delight to be always converſant with and contemplating of it. And let our Contemplation lead us to more conſtant endeavours to confirm our Life and Converſation to the Precepts of it, and avoiding of whatſoever is contrary to it. Only that our Obedience may be acceptable to God, and profitable for us, let us renounce Reliance on our own ſtrength … worthineſs, and ſeek all our Help from Chriſt by Faith in him; and reſolve all our Hope into him, both to have our Imperfections covered, and Sincerity rewarded: So ſhall we have great Peace in keeping the Law.
[JANUARY 14. 1700.]