Sect. 1. — The nature of the Law of Christ.
CHAPTER III. OF THE LAW OF CHRIST.
Sect. 1. — The nature of the Law of Christ.
Nom. Then sir, I implore you, proceed to speak of the Law of Christ; and first, let us hear what the Law of Christ is.
Evan. The Law of Christ in regard to its substance and matter, is the same as the Law of Works, or the Covenant of Works. This matter is scattered through the whole Bible, and summed up in the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, commonly called the Moral Law. It contains things that are agreeable to the mind and will of God, such as piety towards God, charity towards our neighbour, and sobriety towards ourselves. And therefore it was given by God to be a true and eternal rule of righteousness for all men, of all nations, and at all times. So that evangelical grace directs a man to no other obedience than that of which the law of the Ten Commandments is to be the rule.
Nom. Yet, sir, I conceive, that even though (as you say) the Law of Christ in regard to its substance and matter is the same as the Law of Works, yet their forms differ.
Evan. True, indeed, for (as you have heard) the Law of Works speaks this way, “Do this and you shall live; and if you do not do it, then you shall die the death.” But the Law of Christ speaks in this way, Ezek. 16.6, “And when I passed by you, and saw you polluted in your own blood, I said to you when you were in your blood, live.” — John 11.26, “And whoever lives and believes in me, shall never die.” —
Eph. 5.1, 2, “Therefore be followers of God, as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ has loved us.” And “if you love me, keep my commandments,” John 14.15. And “if they break my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then will I visit their transgressions with a rod, and their iniquity with stripes; nevertheless I will not utterly take away from him my lovingkindness, nor allow my faithfulness to fail,” Psalm 89.31-33. Thus you see that both these laws agree in saying, “Do this.” But here is the difference: the one says, “Do this and live;” and the other says, “Live, and do this;” the one says, “Do this for life;” the other says, Do this from life: the one says, “If you do not do it, you shall die;” the other says, “If you do not do it, I will chastise you with the rod.” The one is to be delivered by God as he is Creator apart from Christ, only to those who are apart from Christ; the other is to be delivered by God, as he is a Redeemer in Christ, only to those who are in Christ. Which is why, neighbour Neophytus, seeing that you are now in Christ, beware that you do not receive the Ten Commandments at the hands of God apart from Christ, nor yet at the hands of Moses, but only at the hands of Christ; and so you shall be sure to receive them as the Law of Christ.”
Nom. But, sir, may not God apart from Christ deliver the Ten Commandments, as the Law of Christ?
Evan. O no! for God apart from Christ stands in relation to man according to the tenor of the law as it is the Covenant of Works; and therefore, he can speak to man on no other terms than the terms of that covenant.