The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

In exception hereunto it is pleaded, that when it was first given unto Adam, it was the Rule and Instrument of a Covenant between God and man, a Covenant of Works and perfect Obedience. But upon the entrance of sin, it ceased to have the nature of a Covenant unto any. And it is so ceased, that on an impossible supposition, that any man should fulfil the perfect Righteousness of it, yet should he not be justified or obtain the benefit of the Covenant thereby. It is not therefore only become ineffectual unto us as a Covenant by reason of our weakness and disability to perform it, but it is ceased in its own nature so to be. But these things as they are not unto our present purpose, so are they wholly unproved. For

1. Our Discourse is not about the Federal adjunct of the Law, but about its moral nature only. It is enough, that as a Law, it continueth to oblige all mankind unto perfect Obedience, under its Original penalty. For hence it will unavoidably follow, that unless the commands of it be complied withal and fulfilled, the penalty will fall on all that Transgress it. And those who grant that this Law is still in force as unto its being a Rule of Obedience, or as unto its requiring Duties of us, do grant all that we desire. For it requires no Obedience, but what it did in its Original constitution, that ⟨p. 345⟩is sinless and perfect; and it requires no Duty, nor prohibits any sin, but under the Penalty of Death upon disobedience.

1. Our Discourse is not about the Foederal adjunct of the Law, but about its moral nature only. It is enough, that as a Law, it continueth to oblige all mankind unto perfect Obedience, under its Original penalty. For hence it will unavoidably follow, that unless the commands of it be complied withal and fulfilled, the penalty will fall on all that Transgress it. And those who grant that this Law is still in force as unto its being a Rule of Obedience, or as unto its requiring Duties of us, do grant all that we desire. For it requires no Obedience, but what it did in its Original constitution, that ⟨p. 345⟩