or the Transgression of it. (2.) His whole Life was absolutely, and in every Point, regulated by this Law; not only all his Actions and Words, but even his Thoughts also. He did never transgress the least Command, in the least thing whatsoever. Did the Law require Love? In him was perfect Love; Sinners find it so. Did it require Innocency? He was innocent. He failed not in any Instance, either by way of Omission, or Commission, 1 Pet. ii. 22. Heb. vii. 26. These Things will not be denied. And that the Law which he was under, was the very Law of Creation, the whole Moral Law, and that his Conformity and Obedience thereto was Idem, the very same (only with Advantge on Christ's Part) which was found with innocent Adam, and ought to have been found with all his Posterity, is so clear, that I cannot conceive what should be said against it. For when the Rule was the same, and all his Actions squared thereby, his Obedience must needs be the same. Righteousness and Holiness is the very Image of God, and the End of Law. It was lost in Adam; it is in part restored in Believers, Ephes. iv. 24. But in its Perfection it was found in Christ. 2. The Lord Jesus fulfilled this Righteousness for Others, obeyed the Precept of the Law for the Elect. It is said by those of the contrary Judgment, That being Man, he was necessarily under the Law for himself, and I except Mr. Clark, as to this, who excellently proves, That Christ was not bound to obey the Law for himself. "Script. Jus tific. p. 94. must obey it for himself; and that he was thereby qualified to offer up a Sacrifice acceptable to God, and available for us. I answer, 1. The Lord Christ was born for us, Isa. ix. 6. 'That altho' this legal Obedience 'was required of Christ by the Right of Crea'tion, when he was become Man; yet because he was made Man, not for himself, but for us, 'it was a Part of his Humiliation, Satisfaction, 'and Merit, which God required and accepted 'of him for us.' Amos, Medul. 1. 1. c. 21, and 24. 2. He was made under the Law for us. I confess, the Meaning of these Words [for us] neither in the former Head, nor in this, is the same as [in our stead]. But he was neither born, nor made under the Law, for us, altogether for our Sakes, and for our Salvation, unless it were for that End, that he might do something in our stead; that, the Law of God being perfectly fulfilled, Life and Salvation might be purchased for us, which could not be conferred without a perfect Righteousness. He was born, and made under the Law for us, that he might obey, and die in our stead. 3. Take some Scripture Testimony. In Gal, iv. 4. We read God sent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law. Here made under the Law is reckoned as a distinct Act from his being made of a Woman. For indeed, the Israelites; who were born under the Sinai Covenant, were under the Law, not only as the rest of the World, but the Obligation was strengthened by the giving of the Law by Moses. Now Christ was of that Race, and the Law took fast hold of him, as being a Person responsible, and the Man intended all along by God, when the Law was given (as hath been shewn already); or else it had been a proper Covenant of Works to Israel. So that here is a visible being made under the Law, even Moses's Law, or the Ten Commandments, which did not result merely from his being born of a Woman. And further, tho' Christ, being made Man, were in some sort under the Law, by the Right of Creation; yet I cannot conceive, that he had been under the Law, in Statu Viatoris, for eternal Life, for a Right or Title thereto, or in an humbled State, or in any other Sense than Angels or glorified Saints are, or his human Nature, the Forty Days after his Resurrection here on Earth, was, or now in Heaven is, if it had not been for our Sakes, That He, being the Son of God, and Heir of all things," had any less Glory, was altogether for our Sakes. Nor can I think, that he had lived such a Series and Length of Time in Humiliation, Obedience, and Subjection to the Law, and to Men [his Parents] by virtue of it, if it had not been of Necessity, with respect to the great Work of our Redemption. When Herod slew the Infants, he might have been one, and have taken the nearest Way to Glory. Who can say that he was not qualified to have been a Sacrifice? Lastly, This Clause [made under the Law] has such a Weight and Emphasis in it, that it signifies some special Act of God, whereby he was constituted and put under the Law, in some further Sense than what was merely natural and necessary. And the End of it is given, v. 5. That he might redeem them that' were under the law: He was made under the Curse of the law, and I hope it will not be denied, that that was in our stead: And if he were at all under the Precept of the law for Obedience, then I argue, his Whole being under the law, and Obedience to it, as so under it, is altogether referred to this End [the redeeming of them that were under the law]. And it is yet the more evident, because his being made under the law commenceth, and taketh Date, from his being made of a Woman; so that all he did, his whole life, was as under the law, and in Obedience to it, for our Redemption from it. Again, Once more look into Mat. v. where we have a full and express Testimony to this Truth, ver. 17, 18. Think not that I am come to destroy the law-I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For Christ to fulfil the Law, is the same as to fulfil all Righteousness; Mat. iii. 15. which was by doing the Father's Will, and belonged to his bringing in an Everlasting Righteousness for us, Dan. ix. 24 He speaks of his fulfilling of it in his own Person; and as that which was the End of his Coming. Now that which was the very End of his Coming was for us, and was referred to the Justification and Salvation of Sinners, 1 Tim. i 15. He gives the Reason of his Coming to fulfil it, Mat. v. 18. And that is taken from the Stability, Unchangeableness, and Eternal Veracity, of the + Law: It is so sacred, and agreeable to the Nature of God himself, that Heaven and Earth shall sooner pass away, &c. For God cannot cease to be as holy in his Nature, and therefore must be as holy in the Revelation of his Will, as ever. There is not a Jot or Tittle to be abated. Surely the Ten Commandments are more than a JOT or TITTLE of the law, *and therefore must be intended. You'll say, Who can thus fulfil the law, as not to miss of a Jot or Tittle? Christ tells us plainly, HE came to fulfill it, ver. 17. O blessed Second Adam! And then, when he presently subjoins, ver. 20. Except your Righteousness exceed, &c. is it not plainly to tell us, that he therefore fulfilled the Law, that we might have a Righteousness exceeding that of the Scribes and Pharisees; and that He obeyed for us? The Necessity lay here, it must be so fulfilled, that Sinners might be justified and saved. Again, when he tells us, that He came to fulfil the Law, &c. and then proceeds from v. 21. to expound the Commandments, and shew their Spirituality; is it not clearly to tell us what Law He fulfilled, even these very Commandments, which could in no-wise pass away, but must be thus exactly fulfilled; seeing the End of their being given was Obedience? One Scripture more I cannot forbear quoting; viz. Rom. v. 19. As by one Man's Dis obedience many were made Sinners, so by the Obedience of one shall many be made Righte ous. In this Context there is a Comparison. * Nec Apex nec Iota quidem subscriptum. |