Chap. 8. and the Covenant ofGrace. 4 9 If there had been a law(not only a Directory of 1 fe )bast could have given life,verily righteoufne Jj'e had been by the Law, Ga1.3.2r. And this righeoufnefs giving life,utterly overthrows theGofpel.lfrigh- teaufnefe core by the Laev,then Chrift is dead in vaine, Gal. 2. 2r. In which fenfe I deny that the Jewes were ever under the Law. The Law was not given as fuch a Covenant as fhall God willing be íhewn,chap. So the Moral!. Law and Ceremonial Law fhould mi- litate one againft another, The Moral Law holding them in them- felves, looking fora righteoufneífe of works, and the Ceremonial Law leading them out of themfelves unto a facrifice for remiffion of fin. Abraham was under no fuch Covenant, he had the Gofpel preached to him,Gal,3.8.& fo had the feed of Abraham. But it ftill bath the nature of a Law binding to obedience,it is even a rule for the guide of our wayes. It was once of force, is without queftion., and above all contradiaion,and therefore I need not to multiply OldTeftament- Scriptures for it;there is no repeal of it,it was never antiquated andabolifhed; Though a Law be urged, yet if a repeal may be pleaded, there is a difcharge.That it is not repealed,I fhall fhew,and that it is not capable of any repeal.Ifit be repealed, then either by Chrift at his coming in the flefh, or elfe by his Apoffles by commiffion from him after the Spirit was given ; But neither Chrift in perfon, nor the Apofties by any Commilfion from him did repeal it; but inftead of a repeal, did put a new fanCtionlupon it; Chrift indeed as Toone as he publikely appeared in the work of redemption,was charged that he came to destroy theLaw;But this he did utterly difavow(and men of faith in Chrift fhould beleeve him) profeffing that he came not to defixrai the Law, but to fulfil it. Yea,that there is a greater 'lability in the Law in every tittle itre- gard of the permanency then is in heaven and earth, then is in the whole fabrick of the world;and whereas theScribes and Pharifees were then thought the only ftric`f obfervers of the rule of the Law, and the alone men that kept up the honour ofit,Chrift affert a ne- ceflity ofa higher degree of obedience; then theScribes&Pharifees ever taught or practifed,Except your rigl teou fne fee exceed the righ- teoufne f fe of the Scribes and Phan.. fees, &c. t ch muft be underftood of righteoufneffe inherent in conformity to the Law, as appears in the precedent words , where Chrift holds difcourfe about the Law, and is more fully confirmed in the wordsthat follow;; Chrift on this occafion openeth the Commandments of the Law, H Thew- The Law bath a commanding power over believers.
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