to show mercy and to walk humbly, ⟨p. 8⟩were good in themselves, and were therefore commanded of God, and here called by the Prophet good. The sum of moral obedience is love to God and man, Matth. 22. But what love is this? surely tis in such things •• are in themselves lovely, and consequently in themsel••• good, for otherwise ceremonial obedience should be a part of moral obedience, because in performing such obediences is merely ceremonial, we show our love to God also, It being a branch of love to have respect unto all Gods Commandments, Deut. 6.1, 2, 3. with 5, 6. Only herein our love toward God appears in ceremonial duties, because these laws are commanded, our love appears in the other, because the things commanded are also lovely in themselves▪ The Image of God is good in it self, as God himself is good in himself, now the moral law is an exact rule of nothing else but Gods Image, as is evident, Eph. 4.24. where the Image of God is made to consist in holiness and righteousness, the first Table being the rule of the one, the second Table being the rule of the other; and hence it follows undeniably, that moral laws, respecting only Gods Image, have respect only to such things as are good in themselves, and wherein we resemble and are made like unto God.1 Some things (saith Cameron) are good in themselves, viz. such things wherein Gods Image shines forth, as he is holy, just and good, Colos. 3.10. Ephes. 4.24. Some things are indifferent, neither good nor bad in themselves, but merely as commanded or forbidden, which also bear not Gods Image, unless it be sub ratione entis, but not sub ratione boni moralis, i. e. they resemble God as he is a being, but not as he is holy, just and good in himself, the rule of which resemblance is the moral law, which therefore commands things because they are good.
to shew mercy and to walk humbly, ⟨p. 8⟩were good in themselves, and were therefore commanded of God, and here called by the Prophet good. The summe of morall obedience is love to God and man, Matth. 22. But what love is this? surely tis in such things •• are in themselves lovely, and consequently in themsel••• good, for otherwise ceremoniall obedience should be a part of morall obedience, because in performing such obediences is meerely ceremoniall, wee shew our love to God also, It being a branch of love to have respect unto all Gods Commandments, Deut. 6.1, 2, 3. with 5, 6. Onely herein our love toward God appeares in ceremoniall duties, because these lawes are commanded, our love appeares in the other, because the things commanded are also lovely in themselves▪ The Image of God is good in it selfe, as God himselfe is good in himselfe, now the morall law is an exact rule of nothing else but Gods Image, as is evident, Eph. 4.24. where the Image of God is made to consist in holinesse and righteousnesse, the first Table being the rule of the one, the second Table being the rule of the other; and hence it followes undenyably, that morall lawes, respecting onely Gods Image, have respect onely to such things as are good in themselves, and wherein we resemble and are made like unto God.1 Some things (saith Cameron) are good in themselves, viz. such things wherein Gods Image shines forth, as hee is holy, just and good, Colos. 3.10. Ephes. 4.24. Some things are indifferent, neither good nor bad in themselves, but meerely as commanded or forbidden, which also bear not Gods Image, unlesse it be sub ratione entis, but not sub ratione boni moralis, i. e. they resemble God as he is a being, but not as he is holy, just and good in himselfe, the rule of which resemblance is the morall law, which therefore commands things because they are good.
- 1C•••et. Pral. in ••p. Mat. 16.
