Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

§. 3 We may then, as the foundation of our present Discourse, consider how these things answer unto one another. First, the old Creation comprised in it the Law of the Obedience of all Creatures unto God. This was therein and thereby implanted on their Natures, with inclinations, Natural, or Moral, unto the Observation of it. And thus must it be also in the new Creation, as unto the subject of it, which is the Church. This Law of the old Creation unto Man, consisted principally in the Image of God in him, and con-created with him. For hereby did he both know his duty, and was enabled to perform it, and was acquainted with his Relation unto God, and dependence upon him, which rendered it necessary and indispensable. But this Law in the state of Creation, fell under a double consideration, or had a double use; first of Rule, and then as a Principle. As a Rule, the light that was in the mind of man, which was a principal part of the Image of God in him, acquainted him with his whole duty, and directed him in the right performance of it. As a Principle, it respected the Ability that the whole man was endowed withal, to live to God according to his duty. This Law, as to its first use, being much impaired, weakened, and in a great measure made useless by sin, God was pleased to restore it in the vocal Revelation of his Will, especially in the Decalogue, which with his own finger he wrote in Tables of Stone. In answer hereunto, a new Law of Obedience is introduced by the new Creation in Christ Jesus. And this principally consisted in the Renovation ⟨p. 358⟩of the Image of God in the new Creatures, which was lost by sin: For they are renewed in the spirit of their minds, and do put on that new man, which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness, Ephes. 4. 23, 24. And this fully answers the first Law, as it was a Principle of Light, and Power, unto Obedience. And in a great measure it supplies the loss of it, as it was a Rule also; For there is a great Renovation thereof in God's writing his Law in our hearts, not here to be insisted on. But in this new Creation God designed to gather up all that was past, in the Old, and in the Law thereof, and in the continuation of it by writing under the Old Testament, unto one head in Christ.

§. 3 We may then, as the foundation of our present Discourse, consider how these things answer unto one another. First, the old Creation comprized in it the Law of the Obedience of all Creatures unto God. This was therein and thereby implanted on their Natures, with inclinations, Natural, or Moral, unto the Observation of it. And thus must it be also in the new Creation, as unto the subject of it, which is the Church. This Law of the old Creation unto Man, consisted principally in the Image of God in him, and con-created with him. For hereby did he both know his duty, and was enabled to perform it, and was acquainted with his Relation unto God, and dependance upon him, which rendred it necessary and indispensible. But this Law in the state of Creation, fell under a double consideration, or had a double use; first of Rule, and then as a Principle. As a Rule, the light that was in the mind of man, which was a principal part of the Image of God in him, acquainted him with his whole duty, and directed him in the right performance of it. As a Principle, it respected the Ability that the whole man was endowed withall, to live to God according to his duty. This Law, as to its first use, being much impaired, weakned, and in a great measure made useless by sin, God was pleased to restore it in the vocal Revelation of his Will, especially in the Decalogue, which with his own finger he wrote in Tables of Stone. In answer hereunto, a new Law of Obedience is introduced by the new Creation in Christ Jesus. And this principally consisted in the Renovation