1 In regard of an end for which it was at first instituted: namely to justify such as should in themselves perfectly fulfil it. The end is thus expressed, The man which doth those things shall live by them, Rom. 10. 5. The man namely he himself in his own person: not by another, nor a Surety for him. Which doth, namely perfectly without failing in any particular. Those things, namely all the things in their substance and circumstances, that are comprised in the Law. Our freedom from the Law is thus expressed, We have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law, Gal. 2. 16.
2 In regard of the penalty of the Law, which is a curse for every transgression: according to this tenor thereof, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them, Gal. 3. 10. Our freedom from this curse is thus set down, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us, Gal. 3. 13. And thus, There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8. 1.
3 In regard of the rigour of the Law, which accepts no endeavours without absolute perfection. The tenor of the curse imports as much: for it pronounceth every one cursed that continueth not in all things, Gal. 3. 10. Our freedom from this rigour is thus exemplified, If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8. 12.
4 In regard of an aggravating power which the Law hath over a natural man. For a natural man committeth sin, even because the Law forbids it: and in despite of the Law: and thus the Law makes sin exceeding sinful, Rom. 7. 13. From this we are freed by the grace of Regeneration, whereby we are brought to delight in the Law of God, after the inward man: and with the mind to serve the Law of God▪ Rom. 7. 22, 25. But notwithstanding our freedom from the moral Law in such circumstances as have been mentioned, that Law remaineth most steadfast and inviolable in the substance of it; which is an exact form and declaration of that which is good and evil, just and unjust, meet and unmeet: and of what is due to God or man: and of what is a sin against the one, and a wrong unto the other.
1 In regard of an end for which it was at first instituted: namely to justifie such as should in themselves perfectly fulfill it. The end is thus expressed, The man which doth those things shall live by them, Rom. 10. 5. The man namely he himself in his own person: not by another, nor a Surety for him. Which doth, namely perfectly without failing in any particular. Those things, namely all the things in their substance and circumstances, that are comprised in the Law. Our freedom from the Law is thus expressed, We have beleeved in Iesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law, Gal. 2. 16.
2 In regard of the penalty of the Law, which is a curse for every transgression: according to this tenour thereof, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them, Gal. 3. 10. Our freedom from this curse is thus set down, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us, Gal. 3. 13. And thus, There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus, Rom. 8. 1.
3 In regard of the rigor of the Law, which accepts no endeavours without absolute perfection. The tenour of the curse imports as much: for it pronounceth every one cursed that continueth not in all things, Gal. 3. 10. Our freedom from this rigour is thus exemplified, If there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8. 12.
4 In regard of an aggravating power which the Law hath over a naturall man. For a naturall man committeth sin, even because the Law forbids it: and in despite of the Law: and thus the Law makes sinne exceeding sinfull, Rom. 7. 13. From this we are freed by the grace of Regeneration, whereby we are brought to delight in the Law of God, after the inward man: and with the minde to serve the Law of God▪ Rom. 7. 22, 25. But notwithstanding our freedom from the moral Law in such circumstances as have been mentioned, that Law remaineth most steadfast and inviolable in the substance of it; which is an exact form and declaration of that which is good and evil, just and unjust, meet and unmeet: and of what is due to God or man: and of what is a sinne against the one, and a wrong unto the other.
