A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

1 We would distinguish betwixt a Law and a Covenant, or betwixt this Law, considered as a Law, and as a Covenant; a Law doth necessarily imply no more than 1. To direct. 2. To command, enforcing that obedience by Authority; a Covenant doth further necessarily imply promises made upon some condition, or threatenings added if such a condition be not performed: now this Law may be considered without the consideration of a Covenant, for it was free to God to have added, or not to have added promises, and the threatenings (upon supposition the Law had been kept) might never have taken effect; but the first two are essential to the Law, the last two, to Believers, are made void through Christ; in which sense it is said, that by him we are freed from the Law as a Covenant, so that Believers life depends not on the promises annexed to the Law, nor are they in danger by the threatenings adjoined to it: Hence we are to advert when the Covenant of Works is spoken of, that by it is not meant this Law simply, but the Law propounded as the condition of obtaining life by the obedience of it; in which respect it was only so formally given to Adam: This then is the first distinction betwixt the Law, and the Covenant of Works.

1 We would distinguish betwixt a Law and a Covenant, or betwixt this Law, considered as a Law, and as a Covenant; a Law doth necessarily imply no more than 1. To direct. 2. To command, inforcing that obedience by Authority; a Covenant doth further necessarily imply promises made upon some condition, or threatnings added if such a condition be not performed: now this Law may be considered without the consideration of a Covenant, for it was free to God to have added, or not to have added promises, and the threatnings (upon supposition the Law had been kept) might never have taken effect; but the first two are essential to the Law, the last two, to Believers, are made void through Christ; in which sense it is said, that by him we are freed from the Law as a Covenant, so that Believers life depends not on the promises annexed to the Law, nor are they in danger by the threatnings adjoyned to it: Hence we are to advert when the Covenant of Works is spoken of, that by it is not meaned this Law simply, but the Law propounded as the condition of obtaining life by the obedience of it; in which respect it was only so formally given to Adam: This then is the first distinction betwixt the Law, and the Covenant of Works.