9.44 The nature of the Obedie'u e that punifhment which is declared in the fan &ion of it, or threatned by it. The wages of (in is Death. If any Tefti- . irony of Scripture can be produced unto either -of thefe purpofes ; namely, that either any thing is not fin, in the way of Omiffion or Cómmillion, in the matter or manner of its performance, which is made ro be. fo by this Law, or that any fuch fin, -or`any thing that would have been fin by this Law, is exempted from the pim íhrnent threatned by it, as unto merit or defert , it fhäil be attended unto. It is there- fore in univerfal force towards all mankind. There is no Relief in this caíè ; But behold the Lamb Of God. In exception 'hereunto it is pleaded, that when it was firfl: given unto Adam,`itwas the Rule and Infirument of a Cove- nant between God and man, 'a Covenant of Works and per- k& Obedience. But upon the entrance of fin, 'it ceafed to have the nature of a Covenant unto any. And it is fo ceafed, that on an'impoffible fuppöfition, that any man fhould fulfil the perfect Righteoufnef of it, yet fho ild`he not be 'juftified or obtain the benefit of the Covenant thereby. It is not therefore only become inefEtual unto us as a , Covenant by reafon of our weaknefs and difability to perform it, but it is ceafed in its own nature fo to be. But thefe things as they are not unto our prefent purpofe, fo are they wholly unproved. For -I. Our Difcourfe is not abotit the Foderal adjunct of the Law, butabout its moral nature only. It is enough, that as `a Law, it 'continueth to oblige all mankind unto perfe& Obe- dience, under-its Original penalty. For hence it will una- voidably follow, that unlefs the commands of it be complied withal and fulfilled, the penalty will fall on all that Trani:. grefs it. And thole who 'grant that this Law is Rill in force as unto its being a Rule of Obedience, or as unto its requiring Duties of' us, do grant allthat we defire. 'For' it requires no Obedience, but what it did in itsOriginál conftitutiön, that is,
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