that God regxdreth of its. 3 5 i Aced another Covenant inconfifrent with it, and contrary un- to it. But yet neither loth this inftantly and ipfo fado free all men unto the Law, in the way of a Covenant. For un- to the Obligation of a Law there is no more required, but that the matter of it be Juít and Righteous, that it be given or made by him who bath ju.lf Authority fo to give or make it, and be fuffìciently declared unto them who are to be obliged by it Hence the making and promulgation of a new Law, Both ipfb facto abrogate any former Law that is contrary unto it, and frees all men from Obedience unto it, who were be- fore obliged by it. But in a Covenant it is not fo. For a Covenant doth not operate by weer Soveraign Authority ; it becomes not a Covenant without the confent of them with whom it is made. Wherefore no Benefit accrues unto any, or freedom from the Old Covenant, by the conftitution of the new, unlefs he bath ad-wily complied with it, hash chofen it, and is intereffed in it thereby. The firft Covenant made with Adam, we did in him content unto, and accept of And therein notwithftanding our fin, do we and mull we abide, that is, under the Obligation of it unto Duty and Punifhment, until by Faith we are made partakers of the new. It can- not therefore be faid, that we are not concerned in the ful- filling of the Righteoüfnefs of this Law, becaùfe it is abro- gated. 15. Nor can it be laid that the Law bath received a new Interpretation, whereby it is declared, that it doth not ob- lige, nor !hall be conftrued for the future to oblige any unto ftnleß and perfect Obedience, but may be complied with on fareaiier terms. For the Law being given unto us when we were fïnles, and on p'urpofe to continue and preferve us in that condition, it is abfurd to fay that it did not oblige us unto finlefs Obedience ; and not an Interpretation, but a plain Depravation of its fence and meaning: Nor is any fuch thing once intimated, in the Gofpel. Yea the Difeourfes of our Sa- viour A
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