A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 150 (Question 40 cont.)
SERMON CL.
III. THAT by giving him this Rule, God did reveal to Man what was his Duty. For the clearing of this two Inquiries may be made, viz. 1. After what Manner God revealed this Law to Man at firſt? 2. How far this Law comprized in it Man's Duty, or the whole Rule of his Obedience?
1. AFTER what Manner God revealed his la… at firſt?
A…ſ. WE may trace this in the following Concluſions,
1. THAT the Law … the Rule of Relative J…t, which God fixed between Him and Man. God, wh… is the Creator, is alſo the rightful Go…ernour of his Creatu…es: And he in Wiſdom governs them according to the Nature he … into them. Man was made a reaſonable …ture, and God would treat him in a rati…l way: And for that end put him under ſpecial Government, to which he accommoda…d a …le; and this was the moral Law. …ce that J…b 28.28. And this was, for the diſplay of his Juſtice, which can in no … way be manite…ed on a Creature, but according to ſome Rule of Proceeding: And … his Proceeding with it according to the … of that, He appears to be juſt And we …y tall this relative, becauſe it was that on which this Relation between God and Man … founded.
2. THAT it was neceſſary that Man ſhould a firſt know his Rule. And that upon a double Account,
(1.) THAT he might comply with it as a Cauſe by Counſel He was not only to be regulated by the inſtinct of it, but to be caught and in…ted by it in his Duty. It was not only God's Rule, by which he would govern Man, … alſo Man's Rule, by which he was to order himſelf in his whole Converſation in this …ld. It was a Reaſonable Service that was …fore of him, Rom. 12.12, 1. He muſt …fore perform it with Reaſon. And he … to be voluntary in it, and to do it on …i…e. Hence that, Pſal. 119.30. I have … the …ay of truth: thy judgments have I … before me. And this he could not do except he had known what his Rule was.
(2.) THAT he might be capable of being treat. … with in a way of juſtice, according to his b…ing or breaking of is. Though God in So…ty may diſpoſe of his Creature as he … meet, and do it no wrong; yer to make it happy or miſerable in a way of Reward or P…ly, neceſſarily ſuppoſeth a Rule of Pro…. And this Rule was once made knows and that he either actually knows it, … that it is his own fault if he be ignorant. N…t can it be a declaration of Juſtice to puniſh any for the breach of a Law never pro…lgated.
3. THAT he might thus know it, it was ne…ſ…y that God ſhould ſom way reveal or make it known to him. A thing my be more ways than one revealed to a Man: And we here underſtand it in the largeſt ſenſe. And here l…t … obſerve.
(1.) THAT the Law was the Contrivance of God's ſupreme Will. True, it is the product of his infinite Wiſdom, and was adapted for the Government of Man, being ſuited to his Nature, and was therefore holy, juſt, & good, Rom. 7.12. But the Will of God was the Su… Authority from which it proceeded. Hence ſo called, Rom 12.2. And ſee. 1 Fer. 4.3. God's Requiring it is Man's Warrant for his Doing it, and the higheſt Reaſon of his Obedience. God therefore counts it ſufficient Obligation to ſubſcribe every Precept with, I am the Lord.
(2.) HENCE Man could not know it, but by his ſome way ſignifying it to him. Man muſt know it to be his Duty and conſequently that it was God's Will, on which his Duty depends, and that he knows this, God muſt make it known to him: For it is not his ſecret Will that is our Rule, Deut. 29.29. Hence we have that, Mic. 6.8.
4. THAT God did at firſt imprint this Law on the Heart of Man immediately, in his Creation. And for ou… right taking this up, let us obſerve,
(1.) THAT in the Law. …s given at firſt, we are to conſider both the Precepts and Sanctions. God gave the Law unto Man at his Creation, … a Covenant: And that it might be ſuch an I…trument, it had theſe two parts in it, viz. Preceptive, which contained all that of Duty that God required of Man; and Obligatory, which conſiſted in a Promiſe made to Obedience, and a Threatening age…nſt Diſobedience, by which it was ſuited for the Adminiſtration of Juſtice; Both of which the Word of God gives a full account of.
(2) THAT this Law was ſuited to the nature of Man, which was therefore capable of the l… preſſions of it in his Creation in both of th…ſe reſpects. That it was thus ſuited, may be read in the Law it ſelf, and comparing it with Man's Capacity: but needs no other proof; then to confider that God is a wiſe Lawgiver, and both knew what was the Nature that he gave to Man, and what was convenient to direct him how he might ſerve to the Glory of his Maker, which muſt needs be his laſt End. And that Man's Nature was capable of receiving theſe Impreſſions, is evident if we confider. [1] THAT God put into Man a natural Conſcience, as he was to be a Subject of the Law. That every Man hath a Conſcience in him, is witneſſſed by his own Conſcience, for he experienceth ſuch a thing; as will appear in that which follows. God therefore put it into him; and it was for ſome End & Uſe. And that this was to render him better fit to be a Subject of the moral Law, ariſeth from the Nature of it; as will be ſeen. Hence, [2.] THAT this Conſcience was every way ſuited to receive the forementioned Impreſſions.
For,
1. CONSCIENCE properly belongs to the practical Underſtanding, and is therefore f…ted to conduct a Man in acting according to Rule. Whether Conſcience be an Habit, or only an Act, I diſpute not; but that it is not a Faculty or Power diſtinct from the Underſtanding, I think may be made good, if we conſider the Nature of Underſtanding and Uſefulneſs of it in Man, which is not only to inform him in the Theory of things, but alſo to guide him in practice; and f…r this it is endued with a power of Judgement, by which it ca… inquire into the Nature of Things, and compare them, and diſcern the connections and Conſequents of them, and accordingly comcommend or diſcommend them to the Will. Now, when it thus exerts it ſelf with reſpect to the Law of God, and makes a Judgment of it, and of our Relation and Carnage towards it, then it is called Conſe…ence. Hence that, R…. 2.14, 15.
2. HENCE Conſ…ce is a Subject re…pa…t of the Rule into it. And i deed, it were not otherwiſe fi…ed for its proper Fu…ct on: For the Judgment it is to make is, whether this be Right or Wrong, a Duty or a S…, commanded or forbidden; which cannot be do…e but by bringing and apply…g it to the Rule, which is the meature of Obedience and Diſobedience. F… we are told, 1 Joh. ….2. … … ſ…ver com…tteth fin, …exſ…th …ot…y …: for ſin is the tranſgreſ…; … I… muſt therefore be …quainted with the Law in order to its paſſing ſuch a Judgment: nor c… it do it any …art…er then it knows the Rule, and is able thus to apply it. Hence an erro…ous Conſcience, ever makes a falſe Judgment about thoſe things wherein it is erro…cous. It muſt therefore be capable of receiving the Rule into it, or elſe it would not be truly Conſcience.
3. THAT God ſtamped this Rule on Man's Conſcience at the firſt, together w…th the Sa… us of is, and thereby ſuited him to be a Subject of his ſpe… Government. It is enough to evince the Truth of this, to confider that Ma… was ordained to be a Subject of this Government, which he could not have been capable of without it. But befides, it is apparent in out firſt Parents immediately atter their Fall, Ge…. …, 8, 9. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the c…ol of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themſelves from the preſence of the Lord God amongſt the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and ſaid, if here art tho…? And whence was this but from the impreſſion the Law had on their Conſciences. The relicks alſo of the Law that are found in the Hearts of meet Heathen, thus acting, are a further witneſs of this. As, Rom. 2.14, 15. For when the Gentiles which have … the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, theſe having not the law, are a law unto themſelves: It …ch ſhew the works of the law written on their hearts, their conſcience alſo bearing witneſs, and their thoughts the mean while accuſing, …r e'ſe excu…ng …e another. And it is further confirmed, in that it is promiſed as a great B…fit of the New Covenant, that God will anew write his Law upon the Hearts of his People, which had been ſo defaced by the Apoſtaſy, Jer. 31 35. But this ſhall be the covenant that I will make with the bouſe of Iſrael, After thoſe days, ſaith the Lord, I will …ut my law in their inward parts, and write them in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people.
4. The lange of God, on, Ba…s Underſtanding, not only gave …am a perfect F…dge of the Law, but alſo …n Apper… if a, & … i… it … …y, jut, and g…. The la…age o… land, concreated in Man conſiſted in the Sanction of all his F…calties & P…ers, are of which was his Underſtanding; and the Ope… of it … that was, not only the giving him a clear Light to know what was commanded, and what forbidden, a…d a what Terms … …d w…k God, but mainly, in the …ight Judgment that he had of the Rule, and a… con…ent which it gave to it, as every w… p… per and co…rea…ent for Man. This there… we find Paul when re…ewed again, fully aff… unto, Rom, 7.12. And he de…es it … a fruit of the Transformation which is … by Regeneration, R…, 12.2. On the a… theref…re of this n…ſt impreſſion of the … Law on the Conſcience of Ma…, as well a… the remaining light in fallen Man, it is uſually called the Law of Nature. And …e…e this Queſt on may in few words be dif…, 1.7.
Queſt. WHETHER the Law of Nature … ſa…e with the …al La…?
Arſ LET us here obſerve theſe Things,
1. THE Law of Nature may be … caber as it was given to Man at firſt, a… … the Re…ks of is in the C…ſ…e…s of … Men. W…en God firſt wrote it on … Heart, it was perfect and compleat in all th… Rules that belonged to Man in a ſtated of … grity, and ſubordination to the Go… … of God. Whereas the remains of it in fi… Men are broken fragments and imp… fallen Man being undering …ounce and …
2. THE …ral La… is to be co…ſi…ered, … as it is par…t… Metal, or as it … ſ… P…ſ…ve annexed to it. And from thoſe d…ctions, we may take up the follwing Concluſions.
1. THAT the Law of Nature, and the … L…w are the ſa…e for the Su…ſtance. If we … of the Matter o… Duty required in them, … is to ſubſtantial difference between th…, … the Law given to Adam was perfectly … to direct him as a moral Agent: Yet, it … a Law of Life; and therefore bath … wanting to it as ſuch. The T… C…, which are the Sam of the Law moral … be confidered in the next, were all is the Law of Nature.
2. WHATSOEVER P…ſitive Precep… …t… en…xed to the moral Law in the now …, …re generally contained in the Law of N…, There are ſome Precepts laid down … …e Word of God, whoſe Reaſon is Mo…, and ver the particular Determination of th… … Poſitive: Such as the limitation of the … bath to a Seventh Day, and to this S… before, and another after Chriſt's Coming in out Fleſh; but it is not tor that Reaſon to be counted Ceremonial, but Moral; tho' the ſ… ing of it thus were arbitrary, and depended on a further Revelation.
3. THAT the war … given …t … at N…z… …a… aftered …t…ve the You …ex…e … in …ſed of …sword… is …d …. In the …ſt Edition of it is was to be the Law of a Covenant of Works to which Man was either to ſtand or … …ad Happineſs promiſed to O…ed…, and Miſery threate…d to Diſobedient; but in the …on …d…i… it was given in the hard of a M…di…o… a…d for gracious Pu…, Gal. 3.1… therefore the ſer…th …? It was …ded becauſe of …, …es, … the ſ… ſhould … the …wiſe … ma…e, and it was …ed by …g…s in the had of a median. It was therefore to be a … to i…g … Chriſt. vez. 2…. It … to c…ariace God's People of their Sin and …ory, and …y to make them to …k our to Chriſt for their Saiva …a, who … epically rep…ſered to them by the ce… Law wa… …oll, wed.
1. HOW for this L… …r…ed in is Man's … or the whole Fa… of his Obedience?
…. FOR a through Underſtand…ng of this, we are to … the S…ate of Man in …ty, and under the Apoſta…y. And here.
1. IN general, concerning both of theſe … Two things may be remarked.
1. THERE was a …a…orv…x for particular … …e…es in … …ew, which were and …ly a…pr…n…ed in M…'s …ar…l Conſci …, but yet a ge…eral … aga…n it …uc…, when …, was … …a…ned. All the p…ſi … cerem…al & jodicial reter h…er, and all …tions Evangelical. For though the Law of Nature did not expreſly cim… them, not could the meer Light of … have know, them nor had they been …ics if not particularly promulgated, yet the Obedience to them is Moral. i e. requi… by the command of the moral Law, in … by the firſt Comm…d. Hence that, but 12.32. What th…g ſ…er! command you, … is …o it: thou ſha… … …ld thereto, nor …ſh from it. And particulatly by the … Commands, to which they are nextly wh… induced.
2. THAT come but G…d …ld make any ſuch … is obl…ge the C…ſ…nces of Men. He buth therefore absolutely forbidden either to …, or diminiſh from what he is pleaſed to …, in the forecited. Deut. 12.32. And … that Curſe denounced againſt thoſe that … dare ſo to do. Rev. 22.18. For I …ſ…ify … every man that hear…;th the …r …ſie of this … …f any man add unto …o…ſe things. God ſhall … him the plag…es that are written in this … And there is reaſon for it, becauſe …s Conſcience, as ſuch, is liable to no other Judgment but that of God.
2. In particular; re…erring to theſe ſeve…y.
1. CONCERNING Man in a ſlave of Integrity. Theſe two things may be obſerved,
1. THERE was as wor…d Duty lying upon … that State, but what was centained in this Lo…. Elſe it had been imperfect, and conſequently not a Law of Life, not a fir Inſtrument, to advance the End of ſpecial G… …er…ment, which was to conduct Man to a… everlasting State of Happineſs or Miſery, according as he kept or brake ther La…. That Law ſaid, do and …e, Rom. 10.5. It therefore had all in it, that was neceſſary to Life in a Rule, and conſequently no moral D…ty w…ating to it.
2. THAT hence, Man by … perfect C…ſer…ty to th…t Low, ſ…ald have the …ed his End and Happineſs. This neceſſarily ſollows from the for…er, and becauſe the Promise of the firſt Cove…ant, under which he then was, refer…ed to no other as the C…ndition with which it was connected. There were in…eed, Sacraments …nexed to that Co…enant, for the confirmation of the Sanctions of it; which being revealed, they could not violate, but by a Transgression of one at leaſt of the Commands of that Law.
2. CONSIDERING Man in …s St…e of Apoſtasſy. There are thoſe things to be obſerved,
1. THAT the Law will be the great Rule of the Judgment as the …ſ… Day. In that Day there are Books to be opened, and Men are to be judged out of them, and this is one of thoſe Books. There muſt be a Rule of Judgment, and th… muſt be the Law of Government under which Men are in this World. Hence that, 2 Cor. 5.10. The Caſe of all will be tried according to the moral Law, whether the Condition of Life required in that Law be anſwered, and that will turn the caſe. True, the Goſpel hath brought in a Suretiship, In which Chriſt is accepted to anſwer the demands of Juſtice for all that are in him by Faith; which will be then enquired into and will iſſue the Matter on the ſide of all true Believers; but the Reaſon will be, becauſe the Law is ſatisfied and they juſtified by the …ighteouſneſs of the Mediator: Which made …nl ſo ſ…llicitous to be ſcand in him, Phil. 3.9. But ſtill, the Law is regarded in all this, according to Mat. 5.10.
2. HENCE none of fallen Men can be acquitted then un eſs he hath other by himſelf i… by …is S…re…y …eſw…red the De…anis of this Law. The judge of all the berth will do that which is right, Gen. 10.2…. The Law is the Rule … that, and therefore none can ſtand in the Judgment, but ſuch as can ſhew a true Claim to a R…ghteouſn…ſs by which the Law hath been ſatisfied in their behalf; f…r the Goſpel doth not undermine the Law, but ratify it, Rom. 3.31.
3. BUT the Law is n…t a ſufficient Rule of Life to fallen Men, by his perfe…t Obed…nce to it. Not only can he not obtain Life by it, becauſe he hath loſt his Power of perfect Obedience to it, and therefore it muſt needs condemn him if he ſtand to the trial of it, E…l. 7.20. Prov. 20.9.1 John 1.8. But it ceaſeth to be a Rule of Life to Man that is fallen, becauſe all Men are by Adam's Fall under the Condemnation of Death, by it, R…m. 5.12. Which Guilt they cannot expiate of themſelves, and by that means the Law becomes incapable of conſ…rti…g Life on them, Rom. 8.3. For what the … could not do, in that it was weak …ringh the firſt. God ſending his own S…n in the …k…n ſo of ſi…al, firſt …nd for ſin …e. …d ſ… … G…l. 3.21.
4. HENCE the n…w … hath …ated new Da…s, …h… w…re …: the Law, in this … Integrity. The Goſpel hath brought in Fa…th in Chriſt as neceſſary to Salvation, Mark 1….16. A…d it is not only indulged Men, but commanded them, … John 3 23. A…d … hath introduced Repentance both as a D…, and is therefore commanded, Acts 1….20. Yea, and it is made a neceſſary medium to the obtaining of Life; yea, and Lite is ſecured to it. He…ce is that Title put upon it, Acts 11.18. Repentance unto Life. Whereas there was … occaſion for juſtifying Faith, during Man's la…grity, not room for it in the Covenant of Works, becauſe Man by that was to be juſtifyed by his own perſonal Righteouſneſs; nor was there any room for Pard … upon Repentance, becauſe that Covenant poſitively denounced Death upon Si…, Ezek. 1….4.
5. NEVERTHELESS, theſe Duties, conſidered is Works required of us, are reduce…ble to … the moral Law. We before obſerved, that by that Law, Man was bound in Subjection to God, to yield him Obedience in whatſoever he ſhould ſee meet to e…i…n him in, and reveal to him to be his Will. When therefore God, in Favour to Man, did upon his fearful Apoſtaſy open to him a way of Recovery in a …ew Covenant, and preſcribe to him the Duties which be required of him in order to his re obtaining of Life; Man now was bound by that Law to obey him in it, and is guilty of moral Tranſgreſſion if he refuſe or neglect it, and is liable to Puniſhment for Diſobedience, 2 Theſ 1.9.
6. HENCE, whatſoever is required in new E…angelical Obedience, is comprized in this Law. Not only are the moral Duties, under which Man was expreſly e…gaged at firſt revived in it, and have a new F…ce put upon them, by the Conſideration of Chriſt's Redemption, 1 Cor. 6.20. But alſo the Duties of Faith and Repentance are reduceable to it, ſo far as they are commanded by that Auth…y which we are obliged to own and obey by the firſt Command.
USE. I. LEARN hence, how va…nly they … ſect Salvation by Chriſt, who deſpiſe the … Law. How many are there, who if not p… ſeſſedly, yet practically allow themſelves i… Sin, under a Preſumption that Chriſt hath …ed them from the Law, and there is now no…m to danger by Sinning agai…ſt it. Such are all they that pretend, they may ſin that Grace may abound; which the Apoſtle … j…cts with Deteſtation, Rom. 6.1, 2. Theſe will fi…d themſelves miſerably deceived as laſt.
USE. II. LEARN we hence, how dangero… a thing it is, to ſin againſt the light of a … Conſcience. G…d hath put into every Man a Co…ſcience to cu…h the exorbitant motions of L…ſt in him, from breaking out into lead …; and requires him to heathen to the Voice of it, and not ſo to do is Wickedneſs. Conſcience is God's Deputy in a Man, and ſpeaks to him in God's Name, he therefore that rejects the warnings of that, in ſo doing renounceth God's Government over him, and may expect his fearful Wrath to fall upon him. Hence the Apoſtle hath ſuch an Obſervation 1 John 3.20. For it our …art … denen as, G…d is greater then our heart, and kn…w…th all things. Such therefore as … ken not to it, are grown to a prodig…, height of Impiety.
USE. III. THIS ſhould put as upon frequ… ſtudying of the moral Law; if we would … and pleaſe God. True, it concerns us to … the Goſpel, becauſe thence all our Hope and Conſolation muſt derive; and the Law alone, will offer to fallen Man nothing but Tet…; but if under pretence of the Goſpel we neglect the Law, and nouriſh in ourſelves ignorance of it, we can never lead a Life of Evangel cal Obedience, which God requires of us, but muſt do the things that diſhonour … diſpleaſe him. Let us then labour to know cut Duty by it, and then improve the Goſpel to point us how we may do this Duty in Faith, ſo as may be acceptable to him.
[FEBRUARY 11. 1700.]