A37046:85
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
AN EXPOSITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Delivered in several LECTURES. › Preface
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. They differ as to the manner of their acceptation, duties by the first Covenant are to abide their trial upon the account of their own worth, and the inherent perfection that is in them, and accordingly will be accepted, or rejected, as they are conform or disconform to the perfect Rule of Gods Law; but by the second Covenant, the acceptation of our performances, prayers, praises. are founded on Christs Righteousness, and Gods mercy in him, in whom only are they sweet-smelling Sacrifices, and accepted as our persons are, for he hath made us to be accepted as to both only in the beloved Ephes. 1. 4.
3. They differ as to the manner of their acceptation, duties by the first Covenant are to abide their tryal upon the account of their own worth, and the inherent perfection that is in them, and accordingly will be accepted, or rejected, as they are conform or disconform to the perfect Rule of Gods Law; but by the second Covenant, the acceptation of our performances, prayers, praises. are founded on Christs Righteousness, and Gods mercy in him, in whom only are they sweet-smelling Sacrifices, and accepted as our persons are, for he hath made us to be accepted as to both only in the beloved Ephes. 1. 4.
4. They differ in respect of the motive from which they proceed; or the great ⟨p. 4⟩motive of our obedience in the Covenant of Grace, is not fear of threatenings and wrath in case of disobedience, which by the Covenant of Works is the main thing sways men to duties, no• is it a purchase of Heaven to themselves by their holiness, which also by that Covenant is a predominant motive of mens obedience, but it is love and gratitude, and that not simply to God as Creator, but as Redeemer, as the Text here showeth. I brought thee out of the House of Bondage, it is that we may set forth the praises of him who called us, and that we may glorify him that has bought us: where Duties have these qualifications, they are consistent with Grace, and subservient to it; but when those are wanting or excluded, Christ is wronged, and men turn legal, and in so far fall from and overturn Grace.