DISCOURSE III. 211 grace, our prayer for mercy, our endeavours after new obedience, are all imperfect : whereas the law requires a perfection even of this sort of duties, a perfect hatred of sin, a perfect displea- sure with self on accountof it perfect sincerity in every thought, word and action, and perfect watchfulness in guarding against temptation, and striving after new holiness. But how shame- fully do we fail in these, and destroy our claims to justification and life, even if we were to be tried only by this part of the law which requires repentance at the hand of criminals ? We see then that no moral law can justify us. 3. Let us come to pòsitive laws, i. e, such rites, and forms, or ceremonies, as are appointed by the mere free -will of God, for particular purposes ; such as sacrifices, circumcision, wash- ings, baptism, the Lord's-supper, &c. These cannot justify us, because it is not in the power of any positive rites orce- remonies we can perform, to make up for the neglect of moral duties, or the violation of moral. commands. They were never given for this end, nor appointed for this purpose. Hebt t. 1, 2, 5. It is not possible that the blood of bulls andgoats should take away sins. Nor can circumcision cut off the vices of the heart. No, nor can baptism washus from our spiritual de- filements. Nor can the Lord's-supper give us spiritual life and nourishment. It is not outward performances of any kind can stand insteadof real holiness, much less can they answer for our past iniquities. Nolawof commandments, written in ordinances, can give righteousness and life to a sinful creature; for they were never ordained for that end. Quest. What were they ordained for then ? 11nsw. 1. T. chew us what sinful and defiled creatures we are, who have need of such washings, &c. and to give intimation that we are worthy of death, who need such sacrificesby the death ofso many living creatures, to make atonement foronr sins, and to die in our room ? Answ. 2. To give some typical hints that there is grace tobe ob- tained of God, and there is a way for atonement for sin and sal- vation provided for sinful man. 4. The Iast reason why no laws canjustify or save fallen man is this : viz. All laws, whether moral or positive, may command, but they give no power to obey, and therefore cannot give life, It is the promise that gives life. It is the gospel and grace of God that enables us to obey the law, even so far as the best of men do obey it in this life. The law commands, but it gives no strength to obey ; Rom. v, 6. When we were without strength Christ diedfgr us, to obtain life and strength, to yield obedience to the law from principles of faith and love. It is the gospel that brings spirit and lifewith it, to incline our hearts to obey the law. Gal. iii. 2. Receivedye the spirit by the works of the law, or by thehearing offàith2 IIeb. viii. 10, This is the covenant that I 02
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