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Verse 5 For Moses thus describeth the righteousnesse which is of the law, that the man which doth these things shall liue thereby.
FRom what booke of Moses is this testimony fet∣ched, and what is the summe of it?
The testimony is fetched out of Leuiticus 18.
verse 5. The summe where of is thus much, that whosoeuer* 1.1 perfectly keepeth the whole law, shall haue that righteous∣nesse, vnto which as a due debt belongeth eternall life. So as heere in these wordes is a compact betweene God and man; God promiseth eternall life so as men do his starutes perfectly; this is the couenant of workes, made with An∣gels and men in their creation, and repeated in Scripture, to force vs to Christ.
To what purpose is this testimony cited?
First, to prooue that there is a righteousnesse of* 1.2 workes, as well as of faith. Secondly, to proue that it is impossible for any meere man to haue this righteousnesse of workes; because the condition vppon which the righ∣teousnesse of the law doeth depend, is not possible to bee fulfilled: which is this, (to doe the whole lawe in euery poynt,) it being a thing which farre surpasseth the infirmi∣ty of mans nature; and therefore we may not seeke either righteousnesse or eternall life by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ Iesus.
Now come to the wordes and tell vs what is meant by [describeth?]
Thus much, to set foorth a thing in so plaine and* 1.3 cleere manner, as that it may be well perceiued and vnder∣stood, as a thing painted in liuely colours to be seene.
What is meant by the [righteousnes of the law?]
That 〈◊〉〈◊〉ousnesse which the lawe morall tea∣cheth and describeth, which elsewhere is called our owne righteousnes, or the righteousnesse of woorkes; because it sticketh in our selues, and standeth in working after the law, and not in beleeuing the Gospell.
What lesson are we to learne from the first part of this verse, being thus explained?
That all such texts of Scripture as do teach workes* 1.4 and promise life vnto them, they belong vnto Moses; and are part of Moses law though they be written in the newe Testament; as namely those words of Christ to the young man, Math. 19. 17. If thou wili enter into life, keepe the com∣mandements
also Rom. 2. 6. 7. and 13. For the Gospell re∣quireth* 1.5 workes as truites of faith, not as merites of righte∣ousnes and life.
What vse is to be made of this poynt?
It helpeth vs to distinguish betweene the senten∣ces* 1.6 of the law and of the Gospell; for the Gospell doth of∣ten promise life eternall, and saluation to repentance and good works; but not as they are performance of the law, but as the tokens and fruites of a liuely faith, whereby the promise of eternall life is apprehended.
Now go forwards and shew vs what is meant by doing, [he that doth.]
To [doe] signifies to keepe and performe exactly* 1.7 and most perfectly, without any the least faylings at any time: for here the sentence is legall; but when the sentence is Euangelicall, then to doe signifies no more but to desire, to take care and to endeuour to doe what wee may, and what lies in vs, as Iohn 13. 17. If ye knowe these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
What is meant in our text by [these things?]
The statutes and lawes of God, as appeareth by the 5. verse of the 5. chap. of Leuit.
Of what life doth this text speake?
Not of a temporall life only, (as some vnderstand it,) but of eternall life also; which appeareth by compa∣ring this place with Mat. 19. 17. For as the law threatneth death eternall to euery transgressour; so it propoundeth life, both temporall and eternall, to the perfect keeping of it; vnto which is required these three things. First, that all the statutes of the law of God be kept, the little as well as the great. Secondly, that they be kept with the whole heart, the whole minde, and the whole strength. Thirdly, that they be kept all our whole life long, vntil the last gasp and yeelding vp of the Ghost. Deut. 27. 26. Math. 22. 37. Gal. 3. 10.
Tell vs nowe what instructions wee are to learne from the latter part of this verse?
First, that the righteousnesse of the law is a per∣formance* 1.8 of perfect obedience. Secondly, that this* 1.9 perfect obediēce cannot be obtained of any man in this* 1.10 life. Thirdly, that no man must looke to haue eternall life by his workes of the Law: for it is written, hee that doth them shall liue thereby; but none doth them, ther∣fore none shall liue by them. And note this, that righ∣teousnesse and life are denied to come by the law, in re∣spect of vs who doe it not.
But how may it be proued that there is none that doth the workes of the law perfectly?
Vnregenerate men cannot doe them, for they are euill from their youth vp, Gen. 6, 5. and 8, 20. neither regenerate men can fully doe them, for in many things we sinne all, lames, 3, 2. 1. Iohn, 1, 8.
If Gods law be not possible to be kept, then it should* 1.11 seeme that the promise of life made vnto it, is ridiculous and idle.
Nay, not so, for it was once possible to obey* 1.12 perfectly in our creation. Secondly, the keeping of the law is possible to Christ, though it bee not to vs, who yet haue title to eternall life by Christs fulfilling of it. Thirdly, the elect by grace in this life are made able in some measure ro keepe it, and shall be able to doe it per∣fectly in the life to come, when they shall loue God and their neighbour, with all their heart.
What vse is to bee made of these doctrines con∣cerning our great vnablenesse to haue righteousnesse by the Law?
First, it confuteth such as looke for eternall* 1.13 life by the workes of the Law, which indeede can mini∣ster nothing but death to vs, sithence wee cannot keepe it. For as it promiseth life to the dooers, so it threatneth death to him that failes but in one point; and what man liuing is he that sinneth not?
Secondly, it serueth to humble vs, in as much as by our owne fault we are made vnable to doe the works
of the law in that perfection that it requireth; for that it cannot giue vs righteousnesse and life, it must bee im∣puted* 1.14 to a weakenesse in our selues, and not to an insuf∣ficiency in the lawe, Rom. 8, 3. Thirdly, it sendeth all men, euen the best, out of themselues, and enforceth thē to goe to Christ for righteousnesse and life eternall, by beleeuing that he hath fulfilled the law for vs, by his o∣bedience and death; and this is indeed the right medita∣tion of the doctrine of the lawe, when it schooleth and swindgeth a sinner vnto Christ, to fetch from him alone righteousnesse and saluation. Now heereby shall wee know that the preaching of the righteousnesse of the law, hath driuen vs to Christ: First, if we trust not to the workes of the law, to seeke life by the merite thereof in whole or in part. Secondly, if wee striue to order our workes according to the leuell of the law, making it the rule of our Christian life, still suing to Christ, for pardon of faults. Lastly, learne hence, that if the righteous∣nesse of the law hauing promise of life, do consist in do∣ing thinges commanded, in all perfection; therefore Christ cannot be the end of the law for tighteousnes, vn∣lesse beside the passion of his death there be allowed vn∣to beleeuers his actiue obedience and integrity of life, that in him wee may claime life, as well as escape death.
Summe.
Scope.
Interpret.
1. Doctrine.
Reason.
Vse.
Interpreta∣tion.
1. Doctrine.
2. Doctrine.
3. Doctrine.
A doubt.
Solution.
Vse.
The law hū-bleth vs by shewing what we ought to haue, and yet haue it not by our owne default, also it prouoketh by prayer to secke it.