Satisfaction of the Old Law (there perhaps it is only a Condition, and too much by that) yet as to the New Law, which with them is the Rule of our Justification, here it must be a Justifying Righteousness. I wish from my Heart there were no Occasion for such Debates as these. And why may we not in all Love and Friendship endeavour to shew one another our Mistakes? O that all of Self might veil to Christ, and his Glory might be sought alone! I had no Thoughts, in the Beginning of this Work, to meddle with any Man, any further than his Doctrine might incidently be concerned. But I found myself under a Necessity to answer Objections raised against the Doctrine here maintained; and finding many of them gathered to my Hand in Mr. Clark's Book of Justification, and being very sorry to find so noted, and indeed judicious, an Expositor, so far deviating from the Truth, I could not choose but speak somewhat largely to many Points in that Book. The rest (I think) fall of themselves. I aimed not at formal Answer to the Whole. ་ I have endeavoured to use all the Plainness which the Subject treated of did admit. The Judicious Reader will observe the Chain and Connexion of the several Parts which runs thro' the Whole, by comparing the Contents of the several Chapters. But it is more than Time to dismiss the Reader hence to the Body of the Work. Judge for yourselves in the Matter of your own Salvation. And the blessing of the Spirit accompany these Labours to the Hearts of the Readers. Amen and Amen, CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS. CHAP. I. Shews, That the Law is a Rule of Duty and Obedience; That as such it is most perfect and unchangeable in every State of Man, whether sinless, fallen, or recovered by Grace. Page: CHAP. II. That the Rule of Obedience for Duty, and the Rule of Righteousness for Justification, are 58 the same. CHAP. III. That fallen Man, both as in the Fall, and when recovered, is utterly unable to answer the Demands of the Law, or fulfil such a Righteousness as it requires unto Justification. CHAP. IV. That Jesus Christ, as Surety for the Elect, hath in their stead fulfilled the Law as a Rule of Righteousness for Justification, and born the Pezulty or Curse due for the Transgression of it.. CHAP. V. That the Righteousness fulfilled by Jesus, Christ, in his own Person, in Obedience and Suffering, is that Justifying Righteousness which is equally imputed to all Believers. 108 CHAP. VI. That Faith is not the Matter of our Justification, nor meritorious Cause of it; but is used therein only as an Instrument, not as a Work. 28 CONTENTS CHAP. I. Of Eternal Justification, shewing the Inconvenience of Divers Ways wherein it is stated. CHAP. II. Of Justification in Christ: Of the Im- mediate Effects of his Death, &c. Of the Offer of Christ to Sinners; of the Invitation Wherein the Continuation of the Law: its high Demands; the Incapacity of Man for obeying it, in his fallen State; are asserted and proved. The Suretyship of Christ; His obeying and suffering in our stead; are maintained and defended. The Concernment of Faith in Justification is opened and explained. CHAPTER I. Shewing, That the Law is a Rule of Duty and Obedience; that as such it is most perfect and unchangeable in every State of Man, whether sinless, fallen, or recovered by Grace. HE Honour of the Royal Law, which is THE a very considerable Part of the Word of God, is not only asserted and declared therein; as that it is pure, perfect, exceeding broad, precious, everlasting, holy, just and good, Prov. xxx. 5. Psal. xix. 7. and cxix. 96. cxxvii. 160. Rom. vii. 12. But also is kept up, and magnified by the Gospel of the Grace of God. Isa. xlii. 21. Rom. iii. 31. C 3 Wherefore it becomes the Ministers of the Word, to make this a considerable Part of their Work. This is very much the Aim of this Treatise: Wherein (depending on divine Assistance) I begin with the first Revelation which God made of himself, and of his Will, to Man, in the Beginning of Time; and from thence I would descend to later Revelations, both before and in Gospel-times. The holy, all-wise God, having created reasonable Creatures, gave to them a Law, the Rule of that Obedience and Duty which is the natural Result of the Relation between God the Creator, and such Creatures. This Law required perfect sinless Obedience: No less could God call for, no less was suited to the State of Innocency and Perfection, wherein Man was created (for of Man we speak, and not of Angels). This Law given at first was written on the Heart, and needed not to be externally proposed. That positive Prohibition, Not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, was but for the Trial of Obedience; and the Tree itself, a Sacrament or Symbol of Death, in case of Disobedience; as the Tree of Life was a Symbol or Sacrament of Life in case of Obedience. These Symbols clearly shew, that the Law was established into a Covenant. And a Covenant it was, truly and properly: For Adam had no Right to deny his Consent to the Terms which God proposed; and being yet sinless and holy, he had no Will thereto; but agreed both to the Preceptive Part, and to the Sanction, as holy, just, and good. |