386 An Expofìtion upon Chap. io Parts. and not by works. Or thus, The Law I T 1 M. What Law is meant here? S i L. By Law is meant' both cere- moniall and moral,but chiefly the mo- rali Law of the ten Commandements. T a M. In what fenfe and meaning íf Chrifl faid to be the end of the Law? :t S o L. This word [End] hatili` foure fignifications in Scriptures: Firfi, it fig - nifieth determination or ending of a thing,as Matth.24.3. Secondly, it figni- fieth the mark whereunto any thing aimeth, as 1 Pet.' .9. Thirdly,it fignifi- eth perfe &ion or accomplifhment , as Rom. 13. Love k the end of the Law. Fourthly,ihat forwhole fake or caufe any thing is appointed.The word[End] in this Text may well bear all thefe four fignifications: but the two Jail f efpecially. For Chrift bath determined theCeremoniall Law for fignification and pra&ife : and the moral) Law for curfe and extream rigour. Allo he is themark at which the whole Old Te- flament (to wit, both Law and Pro- phets) aimed; for they bare witneffe to Chrift,Rom.3.a.t.Thirdly,Chrift is that which is intended in the Law, and for which the Law is appointed. Laftly, he is the perfe &ion of the Law, inaftnuch as bee kath exa &ly in every point per- formed it, bearing the punifhment dne to the breach, and yeelditig due obedi- ence. T r M. But declare unto us more particu- larly, in what refpells Chrift is the pet fellion of the Law? S 1 L. Firfi, in refpe& of his integri- ty and purity of his Nature, being con- ceived without fip,Nlat. t.18. Lugo 1.35. Secondly,in refpe& of his life and a&i- ons , being wholly conformed to the abfolùte righttoufneffe of the Law, a Cor.5.a 1. Thirdly, in refpe& of the punifhment which he fuffered, to make fatisfa &ion unto Gods juftice for the breach of the Law, Col 1.2o. To which may be added that he hatep urged the Law from the corrupt..g1(6es of the Pharifees,Matth.5.6.Laftly,he reneweth it,caufing his members here to beginne, and in heaven to fulfill the obedience of it, Tit.3.5,6. T 1 M. What is the funi of the firfi part of the ourthvere? Si L. ferveth to fend us unto Chrifl , there- fore we are juftified by beleeving in Chat}, who is the end of the Law by fulfilling it and notbyi the works of the Law wlsich wedoe. The other reafon is taken from the property of the Law which requireth perte& keeping of it unto righteoufneffe and life,verf.5. but the perle& keeping of the Law , is un- poflible to us,therefore we cannot have righteoufnefs by the works of the Law, but by taith in Chrift. Or thus, That righteoulueffe is impof iibie to be had which prousifeth life upon an unpoffi- ble conditton;but the righteoufneffe of the Law is fuch ; therefore it is impoffi- ble and not to be fought after by us:but on the contrary, the righteoufnefle o faith being poffible to be had, therefore it is to be followed ofus, and refted in oneiy.. T 1 M. What be the parts of the fourth verfe? S t L. Two: Firft,in what fente and meaning Chrift is the end of the Law. And fecondly,how and to whom. T.1 M. What is the connexion of this verte with the former ? S r L. By a predtcupation making answer to a fecret obje &ion of the lems, who might fay and plead, that they fought tor themfelves no other righte- oulneffe then that the Law requireth and that being the true righteoufneffe , therefore they could not erre in their zeal tor it. Again, they being afraid to be excluded from this true righteouf- neffe,if they admitted Chrift, therefore did they not embrace him. Unto this their obje &ion the Apoftle anfwers, that indeed the Jews did not leek true ri ghteoufiteffe,becaufe they contemned Chrift, who is the end of the Law for righteoufneffeto beleevers ; and there- fore they had no true caufe to fear the lo king of the righteoufnefs of the Law by cleaving to Chrift,who is the end of it. Or the connexion may be this, to render a reafon why the Jews through ignorance and pride refitted the righte- oufneffe of God,becaufe they knew not Chritt, who is the end of the Law for rightecufneffe. Coherence Interpre- tation.
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