The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

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⟩is sinless and perfect; and it requires no Duty, nor prohibits any sin, but under the Penalty of Death upon disobedience.

2. It is true, that he who is once a sinner, if he should afterwards yield all that perfect Obedience unto God that the Law requires, he could not thereby obtain the Benefit of the Promise of the Covenant. But the sole Reason of it is, because he is antecedently a sinner, and so obnoxious unto the Curse of the Law. And no man can be obnoxious unto its Curse, and have a right unto its Promise at the same time. But so to lay the supposition, that the same person is by any means free from the Curse due unto sin, and then to deny that upon the performance of that perfect sinless Obedience which the Law requires, that he should not have right unto the Promise of Life thereby, is to deny the Truth of God, and to reflect the highest dishonour upon his Justice. Jesus Christ himself was justified by this Law. And it is immutably true, that he who doth the things of it shall live therein.