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them to Chriftc or, upon their continuance in the estate and way of fin, to leave them inexcufable d, and under the curfe thereof e.

Q. 97. What Special ufe is there of the moral law to the regenerate?

A. Altho' they that are regenerate and believe in Chrift, be delivered from the moral law as a covenant of works f, so as thereby they are neither juftified g nor condemned b; yet, befide the general ufes thereof common to them with all men, it is of fpecial use, to fhew them how much they are bound to Chrift for his fulfilling it, and enduring the curfe thereof in their stead and for their good i; and thereby to provoke them

themselves with mankind, for menftealers, for liars, for perjured perfons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to found doc trine.

e Gal. iii. 24. Wherefore the law was our school-mafter to bring us unto Chrift, that we might be juftified by faith.

d Rom. i. 20. For the invifible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are, made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. Compared with Rom. ii. 15. Which fhew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience also bearing witnefs, and their thoughts the mean while accufing or elfe excufing one ano

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ren, ye alfo are become dead to the law by the body of Chrift: that ye fhould be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that ye fhould bring forth fruit unto Gud. v. 6. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held: that we should ferve in newness of fpirit, and not in the oldnefs of the letter. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God fent forth his Son, made of woman, made under the law v. 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of fons.

gRom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there fhall no flesh be justified in his fight for by the law is the knowledge of fin,

b Gal. v. 23. Meeknefs, tempes rance again fuch there is no law. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the fiefh, but after the Spirit.

i Rom. vii. 24. O wretched man that I am, who hall deliver me from the body of this death? v. 25. 1 thank God through Jefus Chrift our Lord. So then, with the mind. I myself ferve the law of God; but

to more thankfulness k, and to exprefs the fame in their greater' care to conform themselves thereunto as the rule of their obedience /.

• Q. 98. Where is the moral law fummarily comprehended?

A. The moral law is fummarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables of stone m; and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. The

with the flesh, the law of fin. Gal, iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us: for it is written, Curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree: v. 14. That the bleffing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' jefus Chrift; that we might receive the promife of the Spirit through faith. Rom. viii. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak thro' the flesh, God fending his own fon in the likeDefs of finful flesh, and for fin con demned fin in the flesh v. 4. That the righteoufnefs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

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redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of fins.

/ Rom. vii. 22. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man. Rom. xii. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Tit. ii. 11. For the grace of God that bringeth falvation, hath appeared to all men ; v. 12. Teaching us that denying ungodliness and wordly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world; v. 13. Looking for that bieffed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jefus Chrift:

k Luke i. 68. Bleffed be the Lord God of Ifrael, for he hath visited and redeemed his people, v. 69, And hath raised up an horn of falvation for us, in the houfe of his fervant David. V. 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might ferve him without fear, v. 75. in holiness and righteoufuefs before him all the days of our life, Col. i. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the isheritance of the faints in light; v. 13. Whe hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath tranf Jated us into the kingdom of his dear Soo: Y, 14. In whom we have

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14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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98. Deut. x. 4. And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you ia the mount, out of the midft of the fire, in the day of the affembly: And the Lord gave them unto me. Exod, xxxiv. 1. And the I ord faid unto Mofes, Hew thee two tables of ftone like unto the first : and F will write upon thefe tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakeft. v. 2. And be ready

four first commandments containing our duty to God, and the other fix our duty to man n.

Q.99. What rules are to be obferved for the right underftanding of the ten commandments?

A. For the right undeftanding of the ten commandments, thefe rules are to be observed;

1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth every one to full conformity in the whole man unto the righteoufnefs thereof, and unto entire obedience for ever; fo as to require the utmost perfection of every duty, and to forbid the leaft degree of every fin o.

2. That it is fpiritual, and fo reacheth the understanding, will,

in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and prefent thyself there to me, in the top of the mount. . 3. And no man fhall come up with thee, &c. v, 4. And he hewed two tables of flone like unto the firft; and Mofes rofe up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of flone.

7 Mat. xxii. 37. Jefus faid unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy cod with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy mind. v. 38. This is the first and great commandment. v. 39. And the fecond is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. v. 40. On thefe two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

99. Pfal. xix. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the foul: the teftimony of the Lord is fure, making wife the fimple. Jam. ii, 10. For whofoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Mat. v. 20. to the end. v. 21. Ye have heard that it was faid by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill, and whofoever shall kill, fhall be in dan.

ger of the judgment. v. 22. But I fay unto you, That whofoever is angry with his brother without a caufe, fhall be in danger of the judgment; and whofoever shall fay to his brother, Raca, fhall be in danger of the counfel; but whofoever hall fay, Thou fool, fhall be in danger of hell fire-v. 27. Ye have heard that it was faid by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery. v. 28. But I fay unto you, That whofoever looketh on a woman to luft after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.-v. 33. Again, ye have heard that it hath been faid by them of old time, Thou shalt not forfwear thyself, but fhall perform unto the Lord thine oaths. v. 34. But I fay unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne :-v. 37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay for whatsoever is more than thefe cometh of evil. v. 38. Ye have heard that it hath been faid, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth v. 39. But I fay unto you, that ye refift not evil. v. 43. Ye have heard that it hath been faid, Thou fhalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. v. 44. But I fay un

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will, affections, and all other powers of the foul; as well as words, works, and geftures p.

3. That one and the fame thing, in diverfe refpects, is required or forbidden in feveral commandments q.

4. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary fin is forbidden r; and where a fin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commandedƒ; fo, where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatning

to you, Love your enemies, blefs them that curfe you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who defpitefully ufe you, and perfecute you, &c.

Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is fpiritual: But I am carnal, fold under fin. Deut. vi. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy might. Compared with Mat. xxii. 37. Je fus faid unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy mind. v. 38. This is the first and great commandinent. v. 39. and the fecond is like unto it, Thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf.

q Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupifcence, and covetoufnefs, which is idolatry. Amos viii. 5. Saying, When will the new-moon be gone, that we may fell corn? and the fabbath, that we may fet forth wheat, making the ephah fmall, and the fhekel great, and falfifying the balances by deceit? Prov. i. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain: which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Tim. vi. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while fome coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced them

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felves through with many forrows.

r Ifa. Iviii. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the fabbath, from doing thy pleafure on my holy day, and call the fabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and fhalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleafure, nor fpeaking thine own words. Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and ferve him, and fhalt fwear by his name. Compared with Mat. iv. 9. And faith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. V. IO. Then faith Jefus unto him, cet thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only thalt thou ferve. Mat. xv. 4. For God commanded, faying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curfeth father or mother, let him die the death. v. 5. But ye fay, Whosoever shall fay to his Father or his mother, It is a gift by whatfoever thou mighteft be profited by me. v. 6. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

/Mat. v. 21, 22. (See letter o.) v, 23. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembreft that thy brother hath ought agaiuft thee: v. 24. Leave here thy gift before the altar, and go thy way,

threatning is included; and where a threatning is annexed, the contrary promife is included v.

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5. That what God forbids, is at no time to be done w; what he commands, is always our duty ; and yet every particular duty is not to be done at all times y.

6. That, under one fin or duty, all of the fame kind are forbidden or commanded; together with all the causes, means, occafions,

firft be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Eph. iv. 28. Let him that ftole, fteal ao more: but rather let him, labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth,

t Exod. xx. 12. Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Compared with Prov. xxx. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and defpifeth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley fhall pick it out, and the young eagles fhall eat it.

Jer. xviii. 7. At what inftant I fhall fpeak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to pull down, and to deftroy it: v. 8. If that nation against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. Exod xx. 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltlefs that taketh his name in vain. Compared with. Pfal. xv. 1, Lord, who fhall abide in thy tabernacle? who fhall dwell in thy holy hill? v. 4. In whofe eyes a vile perfon is contemned; but he honoureth them that, fear the Lord: he that fweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. v. 5. He that putteth not out his money to ufury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doth thefe

things fhall never be moved. And with Pfal. xxiv. 4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lift up his foul unto vanity, nor fworn deceitfully. v. 5. He fhall receive the bleffing from the Lord, and righteoufpefs from the God of his falvation.

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w Job xiii. 7. Will ye fpeak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8. Will ye accept his perfon? will ye contend for God? Rom. iii. 8. And not rather, as we be flanderously reported, and fome affirm that we fay, let us do evil, that good may come? whofe damnation is juft. Job xxxvi. 21. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this haft thou chofen rather than affliction. Heb. xi. 25. Choofing rather to fuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleafures of fin for a feafon.

x Deut, iv. 8. And what nation is there fo great, that hath flatutes and judgments, fo righteous, as all this law which I fet before you this day: v. 9. Only take heed to thyfelf, and keep thy foul diligently, left thou forget the things which thine eyes have feen, and left they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy fons, and thy fon's fons.

Mat. xii. 7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mer cy and not facrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ≈ Mat.

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