IV. When the natural man hears that no man (since the Fall) is able to fulfil the Law of God, and keep all his Commandments, he boldly presumes to sin, as others do; he contents himself with a few good thoughts; and if he be not altogether as bad as the worst, he concludes, that he is as truly regenerate as the best. And every voluntary refusal of doing good, or withstanding evil, he counts the impossibility of the Law. But he should learn that though (since the Fall) no man but Christ, who was both God and Man, did or can perfectly fulfil the whole Law; yet every true Christian, as soon as he is regenerated, begins to keep all God's Commandments in truth, though he cannot in absolute perfection. Thus with David, they gapply their hearts to fulfil God's Commandments always unto the end. And then theh spirit of grace, which was promised ⟨p. 113⟩to be more abundantly poured forth under the Gospel, 3helpeth them in their good endeavours, 4and assisteth them, to do what he commands them to do. And in so doing God accepteth their (a) good will and endeavour, instead of perfect fulfilling of the Law, supplying out of the merits of Christ, who fulfilled the Law for us, whatsoever wanteth in our obedience. And in this respect Saint John saith, thatb God's Commandments are not burdenous. And St. Paul saith,c I am able to do all things through the help of him that strengtheneth me. And Zechariah and Elizabeth are said to walk din all the Commandments of the Lord without reproof. Hereupon Christe commends to his Disciples, the care of his keeping of his Commandments, as the truest testimony of our love unto him. So far therefore doth a Man love Christ, as he makes conscience to walk in his Commandments, and the more unto Christ is our love, the less will our pains seem in keeping his Law. The Laws curse (which under the Old Testament was so terrible) is, under the New (by the Death of Christ) abolished to the regenerate; the rigour which made it so impossible to our Nature before, is now to the new born so mollified by the spirit that it seems facile and easy The Apostles indeed pressed on the unconverted Jews and Gentiles, the impossibility of keeping the Law by ability of Nature corrupted. But when they have to do with regenerate Christians, they require to ⟨p. 114⟩the Law (which is the Rule of righteousness) true aobedience in word and deed; the bmortifying of their members;
IV. When the natural man hears that no man (since the Fall) is able to fulfil the Law of God, and keep all his Commandments, he boldly presumes to sin, as others do; he contents himself with a few good thoughts; and if he be not altogether as bad as the worst, he concludes, that he is as truly regenerate as the best. And every voluntary refusal of doing good, or withstanding evil, he counts the impossibility of the Law. But he should learn that though (since the Fall) no man but Christ, who was both God and Man, did or can perfectly fulfil the whole Law; yet every true Christian, as soon as he is regenerated, begins to keep all God's Commandments in truth, though he cannot in absolute perfection. Thus with David, they gapply their hearts to fulfil God's Commandments always unto the end. And then theh spirit of grace, which was promised ⟨p. 113⟩to be more abundantly poured forth under the Gospel, 3helpeth them in their good endeavours, 4and assisteth them, to do what he commands them to do. And in so doing God accepteth their (a) good will and endeavour, instead of perfect fulfilling of the Law, supplying out of the merits of Christ, who fulfilled the Law for us, whatsoever wanteth in our obedience. And in this respect Saint John saith, thatb God's Commandments are not burthenous. And St. Paul saith,c I am able to do all things through the help of him that strengtheneth me. And Zachary and Elizabeth are said to walk din all the Commandments of the Lord without reproof. Hereupon Christe commends to his Disciples, the care of his keeping of his Commandments, as the truest testimony of our love unto him. So far therefore doth a Man love Christ, as he makes conscience to walk in his Commandmen•s, and the more unto Christ is our love, the less will our pains seem in keeping his Law. The Laws curse (which under the Old Testament was so terrible) is, under the New (by the Death of Christ) abolished to the regenerate; the rigour which made it so impossible to our Nature before, is now to the new born so mollified by the spirit that it seems facil and easie The Apostles indeed pressed on the unconverted Jews and Gentiles, the impossibility of keeping the Law by ability of Nature corrupted. But when they have to do with regenerate Christians, they require to
- gPsalm 119. 112.
- hJoel 2. 28, 29.
- 3Zech. 12. 10.
- 4Quod jubet, juvat. Aug.
- a2 Cor. 8. 12.
- b1 John 5. 3.
- cPhil. 4. 13.
- dLuk. 1. 16.
- eJohn 15. 10.
- aRom. 15. 18.
- bCol. 3. 5.
