2. When he gave it the first time, it was with thunderings and
lightnings, with blackness and darkness, with flame and smoke, and a
tearing sound of the trumpet; but when he gave it the second time, it was
with a proclamation of his name to be merciful, gracious, long-suffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands,
forgiving iniquity, transgressions, and sins.
3. When he gave it the first time, Moses was called to go up to receive
it through the fire, which made him exceedingly fear and quake: but when
he went to receive it the second time, he was laid in a clift of the
rock.
4. From all which I gather, that, though as to the matter of the law,
both as to its being given the first time and the second, it binds the
unbeliever under the pains of eternal damnation (if he close not with
Christ by faith); yet as to the manner of its giving at these two times,
I think the first doth more principally intend its force as a covenant of
works, not at all respecting the Lord Jesus; but this second time not (at
least in the manner of its being given) respecting such a covenant, but
rather as a rule or directory to those who already are found in the clift
of the rock Christ; for the saint himself, though he be without law to
God, as it is considered the first or old covenant, yet even he is not
without law to him as considered under grace; not without law to God, but
under the law to Christ.
5. Though, therefore, it be sad with the unbeliever, because he only and
wholly standeth under the law as it is given in fire, in smoke, in
blackness, and darkness, and thunder; all which threaten him with eternal
ruin if he fulfil not the utmost tittle thereof; yet the believer stands
to the law under no such consideration, neither is he so at all to hear
or regard it, for he is now removed from thence to the blessed mountain
of Zion—to grace and forgiveness of sins; he is now, I say, by faith in
the Lord Jesus, shrouded under so perfect and blessed a righteousness,
that this thundering law of Mount Sinai cannot find the least fault or
diminution therein, but rather approveth and alloweth thereof, either
when or wherever it find it. This is called the righteousness of God
without the law, and also said to be witnessed by both the law and the
prophets; even the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus
Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no
difference.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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