being dead wherein we were held, that ive should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letterV Our obligation to obedience, so far from being relaxed by that change, is strongly and unalterably confirmed.]
3. From a sense of interest —
[Though we can never hope to be justified by our obe- dience to the law, our reward in heaven will be proportioned to our obedience. The day of judgment is appointed for the express purpose of manifesting the righteousness of God in all his dispensations. And, in reference to our obedience, we may safely say, " He that soweth plenteously shall reap plen- teously ; and he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly." Now, the expectation of this issue remains with every man, whatever be his hopes in reference to his first acceptance with God. But with him who has trembled for his lost estate, and has fled for refuge to Christ as to the hope set before him in the Gospel, there will be an ardour of desire to secure a testi- mony in his favour. He will not be content to leave any thing in doubt. He is well assured, that " not the person who merely says to his Saviour, Lord, Lord, shall inherit the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of his Father that is in heaven." Having therefore this prospect, he will of necessity say, " What manner of person ought I to be, in all holy conversation and godliness !"]
The subject, as you see, lies deep : yet is it very important. To all then I would say, respecting the law, ENDEAVOUR,
1. To understand its nature —
[The generality regard it solely as a system of restraints and precepts. But, in truth, it is a covenant of life and death : of life to man in innocence ; and of death, if I may so speak, to fallen man. It is now given, not to justify, but to condemn : not to save, but to kill ; not to be a ground of hope to any, but " to shut men up to the Gospel," and to Christ as revealed in its, even to him who is " the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believethh." I would to God that this matter were better understood. In fact, it is but rarely stated, even by those who, in the main, preach the Gospel : and it is owing to this that men's views of the Gospel are so very inadequate and superficial. But let me entreat of you to improve the instruction given you in relation to this matter. See that the law does nothing but curse you, yea, deservedly, and eternally curse you. See that the new
f Rom. vii. 4, 6. s Gal. iii. 23. h Rom. x. 4.