The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. As he was thus made under the Law, so he did actually fulfil it by his Obedience unto it. So he testifieth concerning himself; Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfil, Mat. 5.17. These Words of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded by the Evangelist, the Jews continually object against the Christians, as contradictory to what they pretend to be done by him, namely that he hath destroyed and taken away the Law. And Maimonides in his Treatise De fundamentis Legis, hath many blasphemous Reflections on the Lord Christ as a false Prophet in this matter. But the Reconciliation is plain and easy. There was a twofold Law given unto the Church. The Moral and the Ceremonial Law. The first as we have proved is of an eternal Obligation. The other was given only for a Time. That the latter of these was to be taken away and abolished the Apostle proves with invincible Testimonies out of the Old Testament against the obstinate Jews, in his Epistle unto the Hebrews. Yet was it not to be taken away without its Accomplishment when it ceased of it self. Wherefore our Lord Christ did no otherwise dissolve or destroy that Law, but by the Accomplishment of it; and so he did put an end unto it, as is fully declared, Ephes. 2.14, 15, 16. But the Law [Greek or Hebrew], that which obligeth all men unto Obedience unto God always, he came not [Greek or Hebrew] to destroy; that is [Greek or Hebrew], to abolish it, as an [Greek or Hebrew] is ascribed unto the Mosaical Law, Heb. 9. (In the same sense is the Word used, Matth. 24.2. Chap. 26.6 Chap. 27.40. Mark 13.2. Chap. 14.58. Chap. 15. ⟨p. 394⟩29. Luk. 21.6. Acts 5.38, 39. Chap. 6.14. Rom. 14.20