SECTION IL 85 between christians, that differ in their sentiments or expres- sion of things, they imagine that while one is tiue, the other must needs be false ; and then they brand each other with error and heresy ; whereas if they would but attend to scripture, that would show them to be both in the right, by its different explication of their own forms of speaking. The gospel bath, or bath not, commands and conditions in' it, according to the various senses in which it is used. And, in this way of re- conciliation, I cannot but hope for some success, because it falls in with the universal fond esteem that each man hath of his own understanding ; it proves that two warm disputers may both have truth on their side: Now, if ten persons differ in their sentiments, it is much easier to persuade all of them that they may be all in the right, than it is to convince one that he is in the wrong, Quest. " 'Whether the gospel be a new law ?" inste. A law in the proper and full meaning of the word, includes these three things in it :I. That there be some command given out, wherein some duty is required, or sin forbidden by thejust au- thority of a superior. II. That there be a sanction, or penalty annexed to the neglect of that duty required, or the commission of that sin forbidden : This sanction is not always expressed, but it is always implied ; for the authority, that is sufficient to im- pose a command on any personymust also be sufficient to punish the breach of this command, and the offender is liable to bear it; otherwise the command wouldbe a mere advice, and not a law, III. That the performance of this duty or duties required, and abstinence from these sins forbidden, is our proper righte- ousness, or matter upon which we arejustified in the court of this law. These three things are implied in every strict and proper law : And I might prove it by instances of the chief laws that scripture speaks of, viz. the law of innocency, the law of nature, and the Jewish law. Thus it was in the law of innocency, or covenant of, works with Adam; the duties required, were all that the light of nature and reason enjoined to Adam in such circumstances, 'to which there was one positive prohibition added, Thou shalt not eat of the tree of knowledge, &c. and the sanction and penalty is ex= pressed; in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die; Gen. ii. IT. and Adam's observance of this law would have been his righteousness in the sight of God, andjustified him before God, according to the general language' of this and all laws. The man that doeth them shall live in them ; Gal. iii_ 12. And it is generally agreed, that the tree of life was a symbol or seal of immortal life to Adam, if he obeyed the law. , Thus it was also in-the law of nature, or moral law, which is very little different front the law of innocency, and this r3
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