is not comprehended in one of those two commandments, that of " loving God with all our heart and mind and soul and strength," and that of loving our neighbour as ourselves. On the other hand, he has bound upon us these duties in the most solemn manner ; and told us, that he will estimate our character, not by the zeal with which we " cry Lord, Lord," but by the care and uniformity with which we keep his com- mandments^.
Here then is proof sufficient, that our Lord has not de- stroyed the law and the prophets, or in the slightest degree weakened our obligations to obey them. There are some pro- fessors of religion, and indeed not a few, who think that Christ has set aside the law as a rule of life. But they labour under a dangerous, yea, a fatal error. When they say that we are released from the law as a covenant of works, they are right: but so were believers under the Old Testament. When they say that we are released from the whole cere- monial law, they are right : but we must still observe every part of it in a spiritual manner, presenting Christ as our sacri- fice, washing daily in the fountain of liis blood, and " cleansing ourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, that we may perfect holiness in the fear of God." But when they speak of being released from the law as a rule of life, they open the floodgates of licentiousness*' : and were it not that some of them, as we hope, have more piety in their practice than in their principles, they would have just reason to tremble for their state'. The truth is, that the advancing of our souls in holiness was a'very principal object of Christ's incarnation and death"^. And " that very grace of God which bringeth salva- tion," so far from annulling any single command of God, itself " teacheth us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world."]
This subject is of peculiar use,
I. To rectify our views —
[As for those who think that salvation is by the works of the law, we shall pass them over on the present occasion ; pray- ing only that God may open their eyes ere it be too late. But there are many thoughtful and intelligent persons, and not altogether destitute of piety, who imagine, that Christ has lowered the demands of the moral law, and purchased for us the liberty of being saved by a new law of sincere obedience : they think that for his sake our sincere obedience will be
g John xiv. 15, 21, 23. ^ Rom. iii. 31.
' See ver. 19. k Tit. ii. 14.