Judgmali jl Chap. 11. Of Eternal Judgment. H. The Evidence of the Facts and Matter, which !hall be produc'd as the Reafon of the Judgment. III. The Impartiality of the Sentence. I. The Equity of the Law which fl1all be the Rule of the lalt Judgment: This win appear by confidering the Law of Nature, and the Law of Faith, in their Precepts and Penalties, annex'd to enforce the Obfervation of them. r. The Law of Nature, which is the Rule of Man's Duty, \vill be the Rule of Judg· w:r~~ ~~r t~~u:,:'"{;~ t:;: i:s•:o~;~J~['f~c~n~~r:,r~;u:;:l~~xe~~~~~i~~a~~~u,~\r; and gracious Creator to give, and the reafonable Creature to recetve and oher: for they entirely agree and concenter in his Glory, and the Good of his Subjects. The Apoltle adorns the Law with the mol! excellent Elogy; 'tis Holy, 1uJI, andGood. Rom. 7· 12, Holy, as it enjoins all Afh of Piety to G?d : tl!e ador~tion ?f his MaJelty refult ing from ~~r;~e:~~~~~:ia~:~~~~ ~~":~\r~~r~~~d~~~~~"~~d0! k~~Ju!'g{;~die~~~~~~chis0~,l!J'r G~~~h a fenfe of our dependance and fubjection to God, is the proper Character of_the Reafona- ~t1d~ill~~~e!,;,~dt~~e~~a~~~~ %~~~~t~eo~~dv~:~/~j~it~~!~in1~1ti~h~ 7;: ~e~{;;t ~f Societies, without which they disband and fall into Confufion. And the Sum ot the La\v is virtually comprized in one Rule, To Jo to others as we would they fbould do to us, than which nothing is more equal. 'Tisgood to Man that keeps it, commanding nothin·g but what is influential upon his Well-bemg here and for ever. It does not infringe his true Freedom but allows him unltain'd Delights, and enjoins what is proper to advance and fecure hi; Dignity, Felicity a~d Perfection. _It forbids every thing that _de~les and debafes him, and caufes a degenerauon from hts native Excellency. If we prefcmd 10 our thoughts the facred Authority of the Law-giver, all the Precepts of the Law for their moral Goodnefs deferve our elteem and choice, and entire obfervation. The fanctilied Mind approves them univerfally. I ejleem ~11 thy Pre:epts conmni~g all_things to be right, faith holy David, Pfal. ug. 128. Nay, 111 the W1cked there IS an Intellectual alfent to the Goodnefs of the Law, tho the corrupt Will doth not embrace it : there are fame Inclina· tions and Willies to obey it, but controul'd by vicious Defires. 'Tis fa id of the convinced Sinr~·~aJ~~·~~j:t.%:' !f;;; :;:: (~~0'1/if:i~~e ;~;;~':~~t~~n~~'.''f:=ii'':~t~0fu;r~~~~: ed with innumerable Temptations, to require perfect Obedience from him, and condemn him for his Failings, feems hard. The Liw lays a reftraint upon all the Senfes, and for. bids all flelhly Lufts : this may be eafy to feparate Souls, but for Men to live in the Body, as if they were am of lt, to be alw.aysv1gllant agamft the !Dfinuauons or attacks of Sin, is impoffib!e. Thus the Carnal ~md IS apt W!th f~me colour, to traduce the Righteoufnefs of God's Government. But lt wtll be clearly vmdtcated,_ by co~fidering; ( 1 .) The Law fuppofes Man 111 a !late of mtegmy, furmfh'd with fufficientPowerto comply with every Precept, tho free to fall from hts Du ty and Happinefs. To command abfolute Impoffibilities, is tyrannical, and utterly inconfiltent with the Nature of theB!effed God. ( 2.) The firft Man wilfully tranfgrefs'd the Law, and loft his Holinefs: And Nature being poifon'd in the Fountain, is corrupt in all the defcendants from him. Mankind was juftly degraded in rebellious Adam, and is deltitute of fpiritual Strength to perform all that the Law re'l_uires. of ~l~)J;~~t~~~ili~ ~a~~c:~,u~rragi~~~P;r~~ :~ed ~~~~p~~~~~~~c~."c~i:?! i:h." j~g~~ cufe. 'Ti~ no fuult that a Man cannot ftop the Sun, as 1ojbua did; nor calm a Tempeft, as our Sav10ur dtd by hiS Word. Bm the difabthty thatanfes from a depraved difpofition, renders a Perfon more gudty. And this lS the prefent Cafe. TheWdl of Man is difobe. dient and perverfe, and as foon as it can exercife Election, choofes Evil ; and by cultom in Sin becomes more hardened and obftinate. And from hence the Prophet charges the contumacious Jews; Behold, the:r Ear is uncircumcifed, and they cannot hearken. Jel'. 6. 10. Were they uncapable of hearing the Divine Commands? No; but the Word of the Lord was to them • Reproach, they had no delight in it. And our Saviour upbraids the Pharifees, How c•n ye belit'fle, which recewe Honour one of another, and feek not the Honour that comes from ~o~ only? John 5· 44·. They were in high -Reputation for. their Holinefs, which made lt tmpoffible for them 111 a humble pemtent manner to fubmlt to our Saviour. In !hart, the primary end of the Law was the Happinefs of Man in the performance of his Duty ; and his firft Sin, and cgnfequent Impotence to fulfil it, was by his own fault. As · the 453
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