II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables [b]: the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man [c].
III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits [d]; and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties [e]. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament [f].
IV. To them also, as a body politic, He gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require [g].
V. The moral law does forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof [h]; and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it [i]. Neither does Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation [k].
VI. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned [l]; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly [m]; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives [n]; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin [o], together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His obedience [p]. It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin [q]: and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law [r]. The promises of it, in like manner, show them God’s approbation of obedience,and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof [s]: although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works [t]. So as, a man’s doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law: and not under grace [u].
VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it [x]; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requires to be done [y].
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