§. Sect. 3 That we must in a godly life performe obe∣dience to the Law, after an Euangelicall manner.
Our obedience therefore to the Law is required, seeing it is the rule of holinesse and righteousnesse, according to which, all our thoughts, words, and actions are to be conformed; and our obedience to the Gospell, to supply and amend what is imperfect and defectiue through our frailty and corruption, and to make our workes straight in Gods sight, when through ignorance or impotencie we haue swarued from our rule. The Law must be obserued of all that will leade a godly life, because as a Schoolemaster it teacheth vs, what is good, and what is euill, what we must doe, and what wee must leaue vndone; The Gospel also with no lesse care, because it sheweth vs how it is to be done, and also ministreth courage and strength, whereby we are inabled to performe our duties. We must make the Law the Canon, according to which, wee must carry our selues in all our thoughts, words, and workes, because so farre foorth onely, as they are conformable vnto it, they are holy and righteous; but withall, the Com∣mandements of the Gospel requiring faith and repentance, must be obey∣ed, that what is imperfect in vs, may be made perfect through Christ, and that our new obedience, which cannot be accepted according to the Co∣uenant of workes, as comming from seruants, may be acceptable, accor∣ding to the Couenant of grace, as comming from sonnes, whose desires and indeuours are pleasing to our heauenly Father, who accepteth the will for the deed. The Law prescribeth the way wherein all are to walke, that will leade a godly life; The Gospel, as a faithfull companion, incou∣rageth vs to goe in this way, and leading vs by the hand, preserueth vs from falling; and when through frailty wee are falne, it lifteth vs vp a∣gaine.