THE whole Doctrine of Righteousness in1 the several parts and branches of it, hath hitherto been declared, which is indeed the perfect rule & directory of all duties whatsoever, which either we owe to God, or to our brethren for his sake. Now if a man shall ask but what good cometh to us by the keeping of these Commandments? This, if there were no more, is abundantly sufficient, that God is thereby glorified. So as if it were possible (which notwithstanding cannot be) that doing his will, we should perish everlastingly, yet ought we as cheerfully, and with as ready minds to obey, ⟨p. 223⟩as if we were to gain Heaven by it. But see the exceeding bounty and goodness of God, that will not have us serve him for nought. He is pleased for the perfect keeping of his Law, and the Righteousness by him enjoined, not only to promise a recompense of reward, but to contract and covenant with us, and under certain conditions, as it were, to bind himself unto it, which is the same that we call the Law or Covenant of works; the first Covenant that ever God made with his Creatures. The sum whereof is in few words, He bthat doth these things, shall live by them. As on the other side, cCursed is every one that continueth not in all the things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them. For this Covenant requireth works done by the strength of Nature, and according to the Law of our Creation, answerable to Gods Justice, the express Image whereof is in the Moral Law: And therefore the nature of Men and Angels, beautified in their first Creation with Holiness, and the light of Gods Law written in their heart, is the ground and foundation of this Covenant: for otherwise it could not have stood with the Justice of God, to require these things at their hands, unless the Law of GOD had been stamped and signed in them, and their nature made holy and pure, able by Creation to do the same.
THE whole Doctrine of Righteousnesse in1 the seuerall parts and branches of it, hath hitherto beene declared, which is indeed the perfect rule & directorie of all duties whatsoeuer, which either we owe to God, or to our brethrē for his sake. Now if a man shall aske but what good commeth to vs by the keeping of these Commandements? This, if there were no more, is aboundantly sufficient, that God is thereby glorified. So as if it were possible (which notwithstanding cannot be) that doing his will, we should perish euerlastingly, yet ought wee as cherefully, and with as readie mindes to obey, ⟨p. 223⟩as if wee were to gaine Heauen by it. But see the exceeding bountie and goodnesse of God, that will not haue vs serue him for nought. He is pleased for the perfect keeping of his Law, and the Righteousnesse by him inioyned, not onely to promise a recompence of reward, but to contract and couenant with vs, and vnder certaine conditions, as it were, to binde himselfe vnto it, which is the same that we call the Law or Couenant of workes; the first Couenant that euer God made with his Creatures. The summe whereof is in few words, He bthat doth these things, shall liue by them. As on the other side, cCursed is euery one that continueth not in all the things that are written in the Booke of the Law to doe them. For this Couenant requireth workes done by the strength of Nature, and according to the Law of our Creation, answerable to Gods Iustice, the expresse Image whereof is in the Morall Law: And therefore the nature of Men and Angels, beautified in their first Creation with Holinesse, and the light of Gods Law written in their heart, is the ground and foundation of this Couenant: for otherwise it could not haue stood with the Iustice of God, to require these things at their hands, vnlesse the Law of GOD had beene stamped and signed in them, and their nature made holy and pure, able by Creation to doe the same.
- 1With the Creatures, who are thus to do his will, it hath pleased God to make a Covenant, which is called the Covenant of Works: A Covenant of life (or blessedness) to the doers: of death (or of a curse) unto transgressors.With the Creatures, who are thus to doe his will, it hath pleased God to make a Couenant, which is called the Couenant of Workes: A Couenant of life (or blessednes) to the doers: of death (or of a curse) vnto transgressours.
- bRom. 10. 5.
- cGal. 3. 10.
