The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. X. Concerning the Law.

DOCTRINE. I. That the Law of Moses came be∣tween the promise of salvation by Christ, and the fulfilling thereof; and to what end.

BUt between the Promise of Re∣demption by Christ, which was first made unto Adam, and afterwards more manifestly declared unto o∣thers, but especially unto Abraham, sealed by the Sacrament of Circum∣cision, and as it were confirmed by the death of Isaac the first born of∣fered

for a sacrifice, and established by an everlasting covenant: Between this promise, I say, and the fulfilling thereof, the Law which was delivered by Moses came between: the people which descended from the seed of Abraham (of which Christ was to come) being gathered together, and wonderfully increased, and being af∣ter a miraculous manner delivered out of the bondage of Egypt, that God might have a certain and vi∣sible Church, separated from all gen∣tiles, and gathered together in one place, in which the promise, made unto the Fathers concerning Christ might be kept, and God might be worshipped after such a manner as was best pleasing unto him, even un∣to the coming of the true Redeemer promised: Between these two, I say, the promise and the fulfilling there∣of, the Law which was delivered by Moses came between, and contained in it three kinds of precepts: Morall, for the right ordering of a private life in the course of pietie; Cermoniall, according to the prescript rule where∣of the Church was to be governed;

and Iudiciall concerning the govern∣ment of the whole commonwealth in civil matters, and concerning the ordering of private families in house∣hold government: That by this meanes the people of God, of whom Christ was to come, might be kept from idolatrie, and from following the profane customes and manners of the wicked gentiles; That they might be kept within the compasse of their duty and service to God, and obe∣dience to Gods will; and, to con∣clude, That they might be supported and upheld through saith and hope in the promise, concerning true Re∣demption to be wrought by Christ, which was to be fulfilled; and that so they might be prepared every day more and more for the receiving and entertaining of Christ: and all to this end, That God might be glorified in his people.

DOCT. II. That whatsoever is necessarie unto sal∣vation is contained in the Law of God.

BUt, as for the two latter parts of the whole Law, which belong

nothing unto us, to say nothing of them; but onely of the former: We believe that in this Law, as it is deli∣vered unto us in the books of Moses, he Prophets, and Apostels,a 1.1 all things necessarie unto our salvation, are so perfectly and completely set down unto us, and the will of God which he would have us to do here in this world is so farre forth revealed: thatb 1.2 nothing can be added thereto, or diminished from it.

DOCT. III. That the Law of the Decalogue, or ten Commandments, is the exposition of the Law of Nature, and the Map of Gods image.

FOr we believe, That this Law is is the exposition of the Law of Nature, which was perfectly wrote in the hearts of our first patents, but in others imperfectly, and but in part: and, therefore by this is condemned whatsoever is repugnant to that image of God after which man was at the first created; and contrarily, That is commanded, whatsoever is agreeable unto it. For it was Gods

will by this Law to declare, both what man was in his first estate; and what he was made in his second, and what he ought to be; and further, What he should be in the third, in part; and in the fourth, perfectly, by Christ. That the Law of God is no∣thing else, but the true, lively, ex∣presse draught or Map of Gods i∣mage: by which we are put in mind what we were; what we are; what we should be; and what we shall be, if we believe on Christ.

DOCT. IV. That the summe of the Law is reduced to these two heads; the love of God, and our neighbour.

WE believe and confesse, accord∣ing to the Doctrine of Christ, That the summe or substance of the whole Law is contained in these two Commandments,a 1.3 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, andb 1.4 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self: The first of which is the summe of the former table; and the other is the summe of the latter.

DOCT. V. That, if God alone is to be loved with all the heart, He alone also is to be worshipped.

NOw, if the summe of the first table, which containeth in it the whole worship which is due unto God, consisteth in the perfect love of God alone: from hence, beside the expresse Commandments of God in other places, expounding this Com∣mandment, we gather thus much; and believe, That God alone is to be adored, invocated, and worship∣ped with religious worship, and that we are to swear onely by his name; because these things are contained in the Commandment concerning the loving of God with all the heart: To omit this, that the image of God, whereof the Law it self is a draught or map, taught Adam the very same.

DOCT. VI. That concupiscence it self, and the cor∣ruption of nature is a sinne.

ANd, if by the Law of God, that is condemned for a sinne, what∣soever

is not agreeable unto the first image of God, that is, in righteous∣nesse, holinesse, and uprightnesse, wherein man was created: we gather from hence, that not onely the a∣ctions done with consent of will con∣trary to the will of God, but also the very inward motions of concupi∣scence, and therefore concupiscence it self, and every corruption of nature is a sinne, and so condemned by the Law of God: because it is repugnant to the rectitude, or uprightnesse, and righteousnesse in which man was created, and in which he might have continned and stood, if he would.

DOCT. VII. That the Law, although it cannot be perfectly kept and fulfilled, was not yet given in vain, or to no end.

BUt, although the Law of God is so perfect, thata 1.5 no mortall man hath been able, or is able to keep it wholly, alwayes, and in such a man∣ner as it ought to be kept: Yet we believe that it was not given in vain, or to no end or purpose; for as much God doth nothing in vain, but all in

infinite wisedome, for his own glo∣rie, and for our profit and salvation.

DOCT. VIII. That there is a threefold use and profit arising from the Law of God.

FOr, First of all by the perfect Re∣velation of Gods will by this Law, men might in former times, and may now come the better unto the know∣ledge of God, and what is pleasing unto him; what is good, and what bad; what to be done, and what to be avoided: better, I say, then by the mere reliques of the Law of Nature which was left in mans mind: and so, all pretense of ignorance being quite taken away, the Iews were made more unexcusable then other nations, for not keeping the Law of God: because from thence men are given to understand, that the judge∣ments of God against us are most just. Secondly by the curses which are added against the transgressours of the Law, men are better bridled as it were, and kept in, that they run not into sin; and again, by the blessings promised unto the observers of the

Law, men are incited and spurred on, as it were to run in the way of Gods Commandments, and keep his Law, though not wholly and perfectly, yet at least in part as concerning outward works: and so they were the better kept within the compasse of their dutie: which how profitable it is for the commowealth in generall, and for every man in particular, who knows not? Thirdly, and lastly, whereas men found by dayly expe∣perience that they did alwayes sinne against this perfect Law, and did feel that they could not keep it as they ought, and so became more & more, every day, subject to the wrath of God; and guilty of eternall death: From hence it came to passe, that de∣spairing in themselves, and of their own strength, they did the more ar∣dently desire, and long for the com∣ing of their Redeemer and Deliverer. and therefore the more they came to the knowledge of their sins, and their own weakensse, and the more sensi∣bly they felt the wrath of God by the Law: the more they did hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, and fitted

and prepared themselves for the recei∣ving of Christ by faith: So it is most true which the Apostle saith in both places,a 1.6 By the Law is the know∣ledge of sin, and,b 1.7 The Law is our School-master, to bring us unto Christ.

DOCT. IX. That the Law at this time hath the same uses even in those which are regenerate.

ANd we believe, that the foresaid uses of the Law abide and con∣tinue as long as we live in this world: not onely in the unregenerate, as was said before, but even in the rege∣nerate also. For, whereas our minds are overclouded with darknesse, and our memories are slippery, that we cannot, either perfectly understand the things of God, or understanding them, keep them in remembrance: Need we have of the Law of God to be our glasse, wherein we may every day behold and see, and certainly un∣derstand what is the will of God that we should do. And again, Whereas our hearts are not perfectly purged from all corruption, So that they

are not fully bent to doe the will of God, but stilla 1.8 The flesh lusteth against the Spirit: Necessary it is for us to have the Law of God, by the tenours and comminations thereof to keep us from falling into sin, and by the promises thereof to incite us unto o∣bedience, and to follow after righte∣ousness. And thirdly and lastly, For as much as there isb 1.9 no man so far forth sanctified, but that he sinneth, and hath sin dwelling in him, which makes us weak and feeble to every good work, and alwayes prone to that which is evil: Therefore the Law is usefull, and profitable for us, that thereby coming to the know∣ledge of our sins and manifold weak∣nesses we may more and more every day acknowledge, how impossible it is that we should ever by our own works be justified and saved; and fur∣ther so much the more ardently-hun∣ger and thirst after Christs righteous∣ness, & embrace him by faith. And so the Law, although it can never justify us, yet it may bring us every day nearer & nearer unto justification, by bringing us unto Christ that justifi∣eth.

DOCT. X. That the Morall Law, as concerning the substance thereof, was not abro∣gated by Christ.

FOr we know and believe, that the Law as concerning the substance of Doctrine, and those wholesome and saving uses whereof hath been spo∣ken, was not be abrogated by Christ, and therefore was not abrogated; but onely as concerning the curse and condemnation: For,a 1.10 There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Yet further, in respect of the curse and condemna∣tion it self the Law alwayes was, and still is, usefull and profitable unto them, which yet are not in Christ, for as much as it drives them unto him, that they be not condemned.

DOCT. XI. Errours condemned.

WE therefore condemne those, which cast out of the Church this Law as unprofitable and not use∣full, nor belonging unto Christians:

And again those which teach that a man may either totally or partially, in whole or in part be justified by the Law: whereas the Law rather was given,a 1.11 to conclude all under sinne, and to bring them unto Christ, who aloneb 1.12 taketh away the sinnes of the world. And this is our brief confession con∣cerning the Law, which was delivered by Moses, and expounded by the Prophets, which fitteth, prepareth, disposeth, and bringeth men unto Christ, who isc 1.13 the end of the Law, as the Apostle witnesseth.

Notes

• a 1.1

  2 Tim. 3.16.
• b 1.2

  Deut. 4.2. b 12.32.
• a 1.3

  Matt. 22.37.
• b 1.4

  39.
• a 1.5

  Rom. 7.15.
• a 1.6

  Rom. 3.20.
• b 1.7

  Gal. 3.24.
• a 1.8

  Gal. 5.17.
• b 1.9

  1 Io•••• ••8.
• a 1.10

  Rom. 8.1.
• a 1.11

  Gal. 3.22.
• b 1.12

  Iohn 1.29.
• c 1.13

  Rom. 10.4.