People under a C G. This covenant God made with Abraham viz To be a God to Him and his Seed †Gen. 17.7 And renewed it with Them Behold the Blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with YOV * EXO 24.8 The blood of the C W is a saying of a Strange Sound except you mean the blood of the Breach of that covenant i e the blood of the Offender which is Execution not Salvation I will commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat from between the two Cherubims of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel †Exo. 25.22 The faces of the Cherubims looked toward the Mercy Seat * Ver. 20. to signifie the desire of Angels to look into this mystery of Grace and Life for man †1 Pet. 1.12 after God that cannot Lie had said Man must die 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This covenant Verbally was made with all Abraham's seed Indefinitely but Virtually and Efficaciously so as to secure life Eternally it respected a Secret Distinction and Vein of Election for they are not all Israel which are of Israel * Rom. 9.6 but the children of the Promise are counted for the Seed †Ver. 8. God is LORD of ALL * Mat. 11.25 but to These he is a GOD God is not the GOD of the Dead but of the Living †Ch. 22.32 They that did Beleeve were not under a C W and Cured but under a C G and Blessed with faithfull Abraham * Gal. 3.9 And the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the Law which was 430 years after cannot disanull †Ver. 17. To our purpose is the Preface to the Ten commandments viz I am the Lord thy God which cannot Be by a C W. It is not Do this and I will be thy God but I am thy God therefore Do this * Deu. 5.15 Fath. God saith If ye keep my Covenant Object 1 then ye shall be a Peculiar treasure unto me †Exo. 19.5 Min. So Jesus saith He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father * Joh. 14.21 In such sayings God speaks as a Father to children to draw to Duty q d Do So and I will Love thee The childs love is not the Cause but the Effect not the Root but the Fruit of the fathers love to the child we love Him because he first loved Vs †1 Joh. 4.19 To a people under a C G the Law on Mount Sinai was delivered as on Mount Sion in the hand of a Mediatour * Gal. 3.19 without whom God had nothing to speak to man but Death N B. From his Right hand i e where Christ sitteth and Then virtually sat went a fiery law Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A fire of law For them not Against them and how Formidable and Fiery soever yet it was a fruit of Gods love yea he Loved the people †Deu. 33.2 3. Fath. Not against them say you Object 2 Paul saith it was against them and so took out of the way by Christ * Col. 2.14 Min. He speaks of the C L which to disobey was death †Lev. 23.29 30. The M L as a C W is against all men under it as well since Christ's death as before And as a C W it was taken away Before Christ's death as well as Since for them that beleeve And as a rule of life it never was against any man since nor before It was and is against Sin but it 's For man if God be for him Fath. You say the law on Mount Sinai was delivered as on Mount Sion Object 3 Paul opposeth them one to the other and speaketh of one as Dreadfull of the other as Comfortable * Heb. 12.18 22. Min. Paul sheweth what you See not viz that the ministry of the Gospel on Mount Sion is attended with more terrour than the Law on Mount Sinai was e g. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God 〈◊〉 * Ver. 15. lest there be any fornicatour or prophane person as Esau c †Ver. 16. why so for ye are not come to the mount that might be touched c * Ver. 18. which was very terrible but ye are come to Mount Sion c †Ver. 22. what then See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him who speaketh from Heaven * Ver. 25. Whose voice then shook the Earth but now he hath promised saying Yet once more I shake not the Earth onely but also Heaven †Ver. 26. He that despised Moses law died without mercy of how much Sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God * Heb. 10.28 29. The Gospel is glad tidings it 's Season is a day of Salvation but yet attended with a day of Vengeance for disobedience †Isa 61.2 without which what dread is in the Law Fath. Surely the Law was delivered to the Jews Object 4 as a C W. Min. The Ten Commandments contain the Matter and Words of the C W. And they were to acquaint Them and are to acquaint Us with the C W that All by Nature are Under that men may know what it is and not trust to Death for Life The Jews had been so long in Egyptian darknesse that Religion was almost rooted out of Heart and Life †Jos 24.14 and so needed to have a Rowsing Lecture read in their Ears But that ever God did since mans fall deliver the Law as a C W for man to be Saved by it is Quite besides the Book contrary to the Gospel a Weaknesse and a Shame for a man who hath a Bible in his house once to Imagine Fath. God saith Object 5 Keep my Statutes which if a man Do he shall live in them * Lev. 18.5 Min. For one to think from any such Text that Ever man was saved by Works savours of Grosse ignorance of the C W. This covenant requires a man to be as perfectly Righteous as Jesus himself was and if a man Once sin though he Never sin more there is no More to be said he can Never be saved by that covenant If then Eternal life be in this Text intended †Lev. 18.5 the law of Faith is included by which a person must be justified to live Eternally And then by Evangelical obedience to the Law he shall live 1 Temporally for Godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is * 1 Tim. 4.8 2 Spiritually for the Righteous shall flourish †Psal 92.12 as the Body by it's Food for God deals out his Heavenly bread in a way of Duty But by defect in Duty some die Temporally in Body * 1 Cor. 11.30 and many
ready at his Back to try his work So let a Christian have the Law not only in his Heart and Head but also under his Eye in the Bible that standing Rule that Sure word more to be regarded than what is spoken with an audible voice out of Heaven †2 Pet. 2.18 19. The commandment is a Lamp and the law is Light * Pro. 6.23 Simile the Sun is not more necessary by Day nor the Moon by Night nor a Candle in a Coal-pit or dark Dungeon than the Law without which the world would be a Hell Dr Luther 2 They are ruled by the law written in their hearts How shall we know whether these Persons pretences are pure To the Law if they speak not according to this WORD be they men or Devils or Angels there is no Light in them Heb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no morning Junius nulla lucis scintilla not a spark of light †Isa 8.20 N B. There is an Outward law written in the Bible and an Inward law written in a true Christians Heart the Outward law is the rule of Life not the Inward for the outward is Perfect the inward Imperfect The outward law is to Rule the inward and the inward is to be Ruled by the outward That the law is written in the Heart that loves it not as written in the Bible I utterly Deny Apage if the heart be not on the Law the law is not on the Heart 3 They are acted by a principle of love As if a Person should professe to love his Prince beyond him who in All points punctually obeys his Princes laws yet will not this person regard his Princes laws for his Love forsooth must be his Supream Law Whether this person have any love to his Prince or no I will not determine but this is certain his Prince hath one Singular Self-conceited Subject A piece of Pride to whom he may say Love me and love my law They that love God love his law as saith the man after Gods own heart O how love I thy law * Psal 119.97 there is NO more Lord-lovers than law-lovers Some professe love who have none some deny it who have it how shall we know who loves Christ this critical Question Christ himself resolves He that hath my commandments and keepeth them He it is that loveth me †Joh. 14.21 4 They are led by the Spirit of God How shall a man know he is led by the Spirit of God but by the Word of God i e as it leads him according to the Word Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God * 1 Joh. 4.1 We must try the spirits by the Word and not the word by the spirits 5 They delight to do the will of God How shall a man know the Will of God but by the Word of God and how shall a man delight in the Will of God without delight in the Word of God if a man delight not in the will of God in his word for Direction how shall he delight in the will of God in his rod for Correction e g Suppose God WILL take away Health Wealth Wife Child If once persons are puffed up with Pride they are soon filled with Swelling words of vanity †2 Pet. 2.18 Fath. It is clear to me that the law as written in the Bible is a Christians rule of life Q. is it a rule of life for a Carnal man too Min. The law is for a rule of Life to all men Living who have it A Rule for All. Jesus himself was not excepted when under it * Gal. 4.4 N B Man is to be considered in a twofold State precedent to a State of Grace 1 In innocency In this State the law as a C W was mans rule Of life and For life so long as he Obeyed he lived 2 In a Fallen state The condition of the C W was such that the Least sin Brake it and brought man under the Curse of it Before sin man was under the Blessing of the covenant after sin man was under the Curse of the C W and this is the Case of all Carnal men In this State the M L is a rule of Moral Life And the more exactly to his light a Moral man is ruled by it the more he is to be Commended though thereby he is not Justified And it is in a Sense a rule To life eternal i e as it is a School-master to direct to Christ to be Justified by Faith And this it doth Occasionally by shewing Sin and Wrath without a sight of which what cares a Sinner for a Saviour God likeneth his Law to a Looking-glasse †Jam. 1.23 Simile A glasse by shewing the Spots in the Face Occasionally directs to water to cleanse though water be not seen in the glasse A sense of a Disease directs to the Doctour for Cure Simile though the Doctour be not seen in the disease So the Law though it do not Verbally bid one go to Christ or shew the way of Salvation by it's light yet the law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul * Psal 19.7 But if this should never be for some men were never made to be saved †2 Pet. 2.12 yet the Law is to be their rule of life and by shewing what is Good and Evil it is to restrain them from Evil and to constrain them to Good and the more a man is thus ruled by the Law the more Mercy may he expect here and the lesse Misery here and hereafter Fath. How was the M L a rule of life to the Jews before Christs death Q how were they under it as we are Since his death Min. The Jews were like Rebekahs Twins two manner of people * Gen. 25.23 viz Carnal and Spiritual The carnal and wicked though Externally and by Profession under a C G were under the Curse of the Law and for the Future it was to Fare with them as with those that never were under that C G. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised Egypt and Judah and Ammon c for these nations i e Egypt and Ammon are uncircumcised i e in Flesh and the house of Israel is uncircumcised in Heart †Jer. 9.25 26. So we in our Congregational Reformed Gentile Church some Wise some Foolish virgins * Mat. 25.2 The wise are under the Law for rule of life the Foolish for all their Church member-ship are under the Curse of the Law ¶ 2 The Jews were under the law to Terrifie and Humble them to prepare them for Christ and So are we Not that the work of the law in humiliation of Heart and reformation of Life makes a Sinner acceptable to Christ as if Worthy because of this Humility But it makes Christ acceptable to a Sinner Simile as a Physitian
die Spiritually in Soul who do not die Eternally in both Fath. That Israel were under a C W is hard to beat out of my Head Object 6 Min. A covenant between God and man is not Made except GOD require and Man consent 1 God did not Require it is contrary to his purpose of Salvation by Grace and if by Grace then is it no more of Works †Rom. 11.6 2 Man did not Consent If in saying All that the Lord hath spoken we will do †Exo. 19.8 they counted to comply with a C W they said they knew not what nor are they Commended for it But when they said to Moses Speak thou with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we die †Ch. 20.19 then said Moses Fear not * Ver. 20. and said God They have Well said †Den. 5.28 i e to desire a Mediatour these are no signs of a C W. Nor did they Consent to a C W when they said Amen to the curses pronounced against him that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them †Deu. 27.26 but did acquiesce in the pronunciation of the Curse for him to whom it did belong Nor did Paul in saying As many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse * Gal. 3.10 say They were all so Nor doth Moses in describing the righteousnesse of the Law viz The man which doth those things shall live by them * Rom. 10 5. say They were so to live or that it was Possible for them The man that Doth shall Live is q d The man that emptieth the Ocean with a Spoon shall go into the depth of it and not be Drowned for to fulfill the Law and to empty the Sea are Parallel impossibilities Fath. But God speaks of a New Covenant Object 7 †Jer. 31.31 and this at Sinai is called Old * Heb. 8.13 so that it seems Not to be a C G as you call it nor that they were saved Before Christs death as we are since Min. There is some Circumstantial difference 1 The Old as it 's called comprehended the Promise of Canaan containing many Temporal blessings 2 The Jews were by it Obliged to Ceremonial service 3 Some few excepted it was confined to the Jews only 4 It was Sealed with the blood of Sacrifices Typical of Christ to Come These things being Transitory it is said to wax Old and vanish away †Heb. 8.13 yet the covenant is One and the Same in Substance AT Christ's death it was Sealed by his own blood Actively Before it was Sealed by his blood Virtually Since Christ's death it is Signified by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which is Permanent till Christ come so was the Ceremonial Sacrifice till he came to Die the blood of which signified Christ's blood Was to be shed as well as the Element of Wine signifieth it Is shed N B. Covenants are Certainly the Same if they accord in these 3 Substantials Subject End Condition Jesus Christ as Head of the Elect is the Subject Salvation is the End Faith is the Condition of Both and so is the way of Salvation the Same Before Christ's death the Jews were said to be under a yoke they were not able to bear †Act. 15.10 what then but we beleeve that by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved Even as they * Ver. 11. Identity or the Samenesse of Salvation We Jews even as they Gentiles for Christ and Salvation and the Way to it are the Same Jew and Gentile saved the Same way Before and After Christs death Before it they were under the Gospel clouded with the Law Since we are under the Gospel more clearly dispensed They that God taught saw it Then no more see it Now and from the Rest it is hid Fath. If the law was not delivered as a C W what signified the dreadfull delivery of it with Thunder and Lightning Object 8 and breaking the Tables when Israel Sinned Min. God by delivering the Law on Mount Sinai at first with his own mouth did signifie he had made a C W with Adam and in him with all Men and what he might justly require of men The thunder signified the dreadfull effects of the breach of that Covenant It 's being written on Tables signified it was written on Adam's Heart I will give thee Tables of stone and a Law which I have written †Exo. 24.12 they were the work of God without Moses i e without a Mediatour 2 The tables being broken when Israel sinned signified the C W was broken when Adam sinned and was never to be made with Man more God doth not say Moses mend the Tables thou hast broken but Hew thee two new Tables * Ch. 34.1 3 The law written on the Tables a second time signified or was an Embleme of the law written on the Heart of Christians according to the C G. 4 God by proclaiming his gracious name on Mount Sinai and giving the law there the second time to Moses alone †Ver. 3.5 6 signified he had made a C G with Christ for Christians and had given the law by Christ by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour N B This M L thus written not as a C W The Law the Rule but as it is the law of Christ IS a Christians rule of Life The Saviour is the Law-giver and Ruler * Isa 33.22 the Decalogue is the Sum it 's branched through the Bible for a rule of righteousnesse and Gospel obedience for all Christians in all Nations throughout all Generations Fath. But some say Object 9 The law as written in the Bible is not a Christians rule of life but as it is written in the Heart they act from a principle of Love are led by the Spirit of God and delight to do his Will Min. That a true Christian hath the law written in his Heart acts from a principle of Love is led by the Spirit of God delights to do his Will is True but the law as written in the Bible is not a Christians rule of life is not only False but Prefixt to the Rest makes all to be a piece of ridiculous Non-sense Pestilent Opinion This pestilent opinion hath 5 parts 1 The law as written in the Bible is not a Christians rule of life A. As the Gospel teacheth how to Beleeve and is a rule of Faith so the Law teacheth how to Live and is a rule of Life As the Gospel is an everlasting rule for Faith so is the Law an everlasting rule for Life As the Civil law is a rule of Civil life so is Gods Divine law a rule of Godly life Simile The law is as a Touch-stone Simile to try if gold be Good The law is as a Line to shew what is Straight and what is Crooked Simile A good work-man will have his Rule