Morality not to be relied on for life. Or, A brief discourse, discovering the…

1. That moral Obedience is due to God from all mankind. The Jews, when the Gospel was published, were ready to charge Evangelical Preaching as if it made void the Law, which the Apostle utterly denies, and asserts the quite contrary, Rom. 3.31. Do we make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea we establish the law. The moral Law was adapted to the nature of man, as he was placed under the special Government of God. When God speaks of the Ceremonial law, he useth such a word as that, Ezek. ⟨p. 8⟩20.25. I gave them statutes that were not good. Not as if they were not good in respect of the use which they were appointed for, for that would have been an impeachment of Gods wisdom: but they were such as in themselves bind an heavy and insupportable burden upon those who were under the obligation of them, Acts 15.10. A yoke which neither we, nor our fathers were able to bear; and they only served for the time being, which was a state of Servitude under which the Church of God was held, during its nonage; and even then when these were of force; we are told in, Heb. 9 9. That they could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the Conscience. Whereas the Moral Law was suited to man, and every way proper to his nature, and relation which in it he bare to God, it hath therefore that encomium given to it, which it can never lose, Rom. 7.12. The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. The obligation therefore to obedience to this law is perpetual, and the Children of God, though brought under the New Covenant, do yet owe it; and it lies upon them as a constant duty, to study and endeavour after the greatest perfection in it, according to Christs own precept given in, Matt. 5. ult. Be ye perfect, as your father which is in heaven is perfect.