1. To every created moral agent in the universe the law of absolute moral perfection sustains a uniform and constant natural relation, as a standard of character and rule of action. In this relation the law is absolutely perfect and absolutely changeless. All that is moral is eternally and intrinsically obligatory on all moral agents. All that is not obligatory is not moral. And every particular and every degree in which any moral agent comes short of the standard of perfect moral excellence, in
being or in
action, is of the nature of sin. The demands
of the law, therefore, are everywhere and always the same; they are inherently, and therefore changelessly, obligatory, and incapable of being either intermitted, relaxed, or
transferred,
In respect to this natural relation to the * Loc. 14, Queestio 13, 3 15.
6 aes
RELATION TO THE MORAL LAW. 69
law, therefore, Christ, did not, and from the nature of the c#PT=R case could not, take our law-place. In respect to the in- ee herent and inalienable claims of right, it is purely impos-
sible that the obligations of law can be removed from
one person and vicariously assumed by another. The
law in this relation maintains for ever inviolable all its claims over all moral creatures whatever ; equally over angels and devils, men unfallen, fallen, regenerate, in perdition, and in glory. The hideous heresy of the Antinomians consists in the claim that Christ has im such a sense fulfilled all the claims of law upon his people that they are no longer required to live in con- formity to it in their own persons. This abominable heresy the entire Church has always consistently rejected with abhorrence, maintaining that the immutability of
the law and the changeless perpetuity of its claims is a principle lying at, the foundation of all religion, whether natural or revealed.
2 The federal relation to the law, on the other hand, Man’s has respect to a period of probation, into which man was p3sgn introduced in a condition of moral excellence, yet fallible ; (9° and his confirmation in an immutable holy character, and lew. his subsequent eternal blessedness, are made to depend upon his obedience during that period. It appears to be a general principle of the divine government (1) that every moral agent is created holy, yet (2) in a state of instable moral equilibrium; and hence (3) that confirma- tion in an estate of stable holiness is a divine gift, above those included in the natural endowments of any crea- ture, and always (4) suspended upon the condition of perfect. obedience during a period of probation. As a matter of fact, this is precisely the relation to the law, as a covenant of life, into which Adam (and all his descendants in him) was brought at his creation. He was created holy, yet fallible, and for a period of proba-
CHAPTER VE.
70 THE NATURE OF THE ATONEMENT.
tion put under the law as a test of obedience. Upon this obedience his character and condition for eternity were made to depend. If he had obeyed for the period prescribed he would have attained the reward. The granting of that reward would have confirmed him in holiness, and, by thus rendering him impeccable, would have closed his probation and removed him from under the law in this federal relation for ever, while his sub- jection to the same law in its natural relation would have been continued and confirmed. We know that the angels have passed through a probation not essentially different. They were created holy, yet fallible, for some did fall. And all who stood at the first appear to have been consequently confirmed in character and the enjoy- ment of divine favour; since there is no intimation that any have since fallen into sin, and since we cannot believe that it is God’s plan that any of his sinless creatures should continue permanently or even indefi- nitely in that state of instable equilibrium in which they were created. We may therefore assume it to be a gene- ral principle of the divine government, that every new- created moral agent is introduced into being holy, yet fallible, and subjected to the law as a covenant for a period of probation, conditioning upon perfect obedience ultimate confirmation in holiness and divine favour for ever.
It is evident that this federal relation to the law is in its very nature temporary in any event, being inevitably closed, ipso facto, either by giving the reward in case of obedience, or by inflicting the penalty im case of disobedience. It is evident, also, that this relation to the Jaw has a special end: not the demanding of perpetual obedience because of its intrinsic rightfulness, but de- manding it as a test for a definite period, to the end of an ultimate confirmation of a holy character, which
RELATION TO THE MORAL LAW. fd
confirmation will terminate the relation itself by securing caarms the end for which it was designed. Hence this federal —~ relation to the law, unlike the natural relation, concerns