Quest 40, 41 Of the moral law, 44
An Exposition of the Aſſembly's Catechifm. theirfonsandtheirdaughters in the fire, which I commanded hem not, neithercame it intomy heart.
Of the Moral Law .
7Hat didGod at firſt reveal to man forthe ruleof his obedience?
W A. The rulewhich God atfirst revealed tomanfor his obedience, was the moral law.
Quest, 40, and41.
Q.41.Wherein is the moral law ſummarily comprehended?
A. Themoral law isfummarily comprebended in the ten commandments.
Q. 1. Is every man under the direction and obligation ofa law?
A. Yes ; manbeing a reaſonable creature, is capable of, and fitted for government by law, which other creatures are not ; andbeing anaccountable creatureto God, mustneeds be undera law ; Rom. ii. 15. Which shew the works of the law written in their hearts ; their confciences alſo bearing witneſs, andtheir thoughts the mean while accufing, or elfe excufing oneanother, Q. 2. How couldmanbe under alaw before the law was givenbyMofes?
A. Before ever the lawwas given at Sinai, all the race of Adam had alaw written in their hearts, viz. the light of reafon,anddictates ofnatural confcience ; Rom. ii. 44. Forwhen the Gentiles, which have not the law, do bynature thethings contained in the law, theſe having not the law, are a law unto themselves.
Andbesides this, the church had the revealed will of God todirect them ; 2 Pet. i. 19, 20. We have alſo a more ſure word of prophecy, whereunto ye dowell to take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth in adark place, until the day dawa, andthe day-ftar arife in your hearts.
Knowing this firſt, thatnoprophecyof the ſcripture is ofanyprivate interpretation.
Q.3. What is the meaningofthe moral law ?
A. It is not a law to direct and order our manners ; but a law that binds univerſally and perpetually, as the ten commandments do thoſe to whom they are promulged, and the light of nature doth all others ; Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles,which have notthe law, do by nature the things contained inthe law, theſe having not the law, area law unto,
: themſelves. Luke xvi. 17. It is easier forheaven and earth to pafs, than onetittle ofthe law tofail.
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
Q. 4.Why is it faid tobe fummarily comprehendedinthe ten commandments ?
A.Becauſe much more is included in every command, than is expreſt, as our Saviour ſhews in his expoſition ofit ; Matth. xxii 40. On theſe twocommandments hang allthe law and theprophets.
Q. 5. Doth the moral lawbind Chriftians under thegoſpel?
A. Yes, itdoth, as a rule to order their converſations by ; Jam. ii. 8, 9, 10. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the fcripture,Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; ye dowell:
But ifye have reſpect to perſons, ye commit fin, and are convinced ofthe law as tranfgreffors; for whosoever ſhall keep thewhole law, andyet offendinone point, is guilty ofall.
Q. 6. Is themoral lawthe ſame thingwith the covenantof works, and impoſed for theſame end ?
A. God never deſigned the law to be the way ofman'sjuſtification ſince the fall; Gal. iii. 21, 22. Is the law then againstthepromises ofGod ? Godforbid! for ifthere hadbeen alawgivenwhich could have given life, verily righteouſneſs would have beenbythe law; buttheſcripture hath concluded all under fin, thatthe promise by faith of Jesus Chrift might begivento them that believe. But itwas promulged toconvince man of fin ; Rom. vii. 7. What ſhall we say then? Is the law fin ? God forbid ! Nay, I had not known fin, but by the law; for I had not known luſt, except the law had ſaid,
Thow ſhalt not covet. And bring them to Chrift ; Gal. iii.
24. Wherefore the law was our ſchool-master, tobring us untoChriſt, thatwe mightbejustified by faith.
Q. 7. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. Hence we learnthe abominable nature ofPopery. The Pope being that lawless one, who will not be bound bythe laws ofGod himself; 2 Thef. ii. 8. Then ſhall that wicked onebe revealedwhom the Lord ſhall confume with the Spirit ofhis mouth, andſhall destroy with the brightness ofhis coming; but affumes power to difpenſe with God's laws to others.
Q. 8. What is the ſecond inference hence ?
A. Thatman dieth not as beasts die ; which are under no moral law, and therefore capable ofno fin ; but must come to judgment afterdeath ; Ecclef. iii. 21. Who knoweth the ſpirit ofmanthat goeth upward, andthe ſpiritofthe beast, that goethdownward tothe earth? Heb. ix. 27. Andas it is appointed unto men once todie, fo after this thejudgment.
Q. 9. What is the third inference hence ?
A. Thatthough the actions ofmen naturallyconfidered are