The Rule of fudgeinent. 3 27 . us that have the Scriptures, yet they havefo much manifefted to them as ¡hall con- demn them. And the reafonsofit are thee, why it mutt be fo. Reaf. r. Firft, becaufe the Law ofGod is Gods Scepter, whereby he governs and rules The Law is the Church, Pfal. tto. z. be (ball bring the rodofthy power oát ofSion. The rodof stiles thypower, that is, the Scepter of thy power : that Scepter whereby thou doll au- by t he cuk thoritivcly and by power rule over the Churches : and what is this Scepter ? It is the Word,as we [hall fee, Ifa. z. 3, 4. TheLair limit come out of Sion. So then the Scepter, the rodof the word thatis brought out ofSion,is the Law that comes out of Sion, the word ofGod, the Law of works and the Lawof faith ; for both thefe comeout ofSion,the Law of works as far asit is the ruleof life ; and then the Law ofFaith, both come in to rule the ChurchofGod. Yea, this isthe rod of Chrifts power, therefore he will manifeft his power, and make all men fubjeft to it. What power ?Thercisa power of Chrift,fuch a power whereby hemanifefts his own great- nefs and foveraignty over all his creatures ; over thofecreatures that have not lence, that have not reafon that is not this Law. But this power here,theScepter ofhis power is that whereby he tnanifefts his foveraignty,over reafonable creatures, A n- gels and men ; therefore if they will not obey him,yet it (hall be a Scepter ofIron to crufh them in pieces. Thereforewe fee theVery Angels themfelves thatwould not obey the dire ping commandmentof God, the rule of life,in that particular place wherein they were ; they found it a Scepter to crufh themdown ; and theywere caft out of their place for their fin. So likewife men ; you fee what the Apoftle Peter fpeaks ofthofethat perifhed in thetime of?\(oah,becaufe they would not re- ceive the Wordpreached to them,but they would be lawlefsand difobedient;or like men that would be under no Law, thereforethey felt the forceof it in the efte&of the Law,in the fruit andpenaltyofthe Lawupon them. So I fay Chrift Rill rules by, power in the Law ; in fomuch as that when the Law and command prevails not, thenthe punifhmentprevails; and they that will not fubjeEh themfelves to the La*, they (hall be fubdued under the punilhment of the Law: that is the firû thing. Again fecondly,it muft be thatChrift muftproceed in judgementaccording to the Reaf. z. Law; becaufe the Law isthe rule. Nowyou know a rule is a note ofdiûinftion,it h Becaufe the thatthat being ftraight and right in it felf, whichdoth diûinguilh and difcoverthing3 law it a rule. that are crooked. So the Law ofChrift, it is a ftraight rule in it felf t therefore whatfoever is contrary to it,is crooked and perverfe. And he will declare a righte- ous proceeding contraryto the unrighteoufnefsofmen. How?by that rule that du- coversunrighteoufnefs.Hovv Ihall Chrift appearto be righteousin his Lavv,except he have a rule vvhereby unrighteoufnefs /hall bedifcovered?Novv that is dtfcovered by the Lavv,the right rule,as it is,Pfal t9.Tbe flatutesofthe Lordare right. Novv retlum is indexfríaoblique,that that not only declares its oven excellency,but the unrighte- oufnefs,andobliquity of the contrary ; therefore Chrift (hall proceedby the Lavv, becaufe that (hall moft clear his proceedings.For all thevvotld oval grantthat that is arighteous rule; Therefore Micah 6. 8. when theProphetvvoulddeal vvith men that were unrighteous, that vvouldwalkwilfully, and rebellioufly againft God; and that ferve himwith outvvard performances, wherewith fhall I come before the Lord? and bow before the l ogis God? he bathfheaedthee 0 man whatis good, that is, to do juflly,and towalkhumbly with thy God. So that novv, look vvhat rule it is that (hews vvhat is good, that is the rule whereby the righteous Judge vvill proceed in judge- ment. NovvsheLays Ili eves what isgood,he hath fhevvedin his Lavv vvhatir good: thereforehe givesa brief fum oftheLavv there, to walkbumblytbitbGod, that is the fubûance of the fiat Tableofthe Lave : and todo juflice,thát ii the fubûanceof the Second Table of the Lavv; therefore faithhe,be bath(hewedeheewbatiogood,this is arighteous rule,that difccrns betvveen good andevil. Look what that is that in the direftions of lifedifcerns betvveen good and evil, thatalto in theproceedingof the Judge vvill clearhis juftice, either in revvarding thegood, or in punifhing the evil : therefore Chrift muû needs proceed accordingto his oven Lavvin judgement.Thlts the point is opened. Now a wordor two for application. Is
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=