Christ (for you will take notice that I am following the Antinomian into all his strong-holds), we must remember what his end was in accomplishing salva- tion for us : " We have been bought with a price, that we may glorify him with our body and our spirit, which are his." There are two great errors from which we must keep equally remote ; namely, from legal dependence on our own obedience to the law, and, at the same time, from an Antinomian contempt of its commands. We must distinguish between the motives and principles by which we are actuated, and which determine the true quality of our actions. Whatever we do, in order to earn salvation by it, will be rejected of God, and will disappoint our hopes : but, whatever we do from a sense of duty to God, and with a view to honour the Saviour and evince the sincerity of our love to him, will be ac- cepted for his sake, and will receive a proportionable reward of grace. Only take care that your obedience be from faith and love, and not from a vain hope to purchase the Divine favour ; and then will you an- swer the true ends of your deliverance from the law as a covenant, of works, and of your subjection to it as a rule of life.
In enforcing the obligations of the law, I would next say, Attempt not in any thing to lozver its de- mands. We have before shewn, that, as a covenant, it recedes not from its commands of perfect obe- dience ; no, not in one jot or tittle of its requirements. And, as a rule, its requirements are of equal extent. It enjoins us to love God with all our heart, and all our mind, and all our soul, and all our strength ; and to love our neighbour as ourselves : and no lower standard must we propose to ourselves for our daily walk. We must not be satisfied with the world's standard : we must not be contented with a round of duties, and the performance of a few kind and charitable acts. " We must die unto sin altogether, and live unto righteousness." We must seek to have " the whole body of sin crucified within us;" and must " delight ourselves in the law after our inward man,"