Chapter 21

Answer: According to the matter of the thing commanded, quoad rem mandatam, he commands the same, and charges upon all and every one the moral duty even as Mediator, for he cannot loose the least of these commandments, but simply they are not the same, quoad modum mandandi. It shall not be needful to dispute whether they be commands differing in nature: for not only does the Mediator command obedience upon his interposed authority as lawgiver and Creator, but also as Lord Redeemer upon the motive of Gospel-constraining love. In which notion he calls love the keeping of his commandments (if they love him, John 14) the new commandment of love.

Question 2: Does the Lord Mediator, in the Covenant of Grace, command the same good works to all, the same way?

Answer: (Romans 3:19) The Lord, in the Law, must speak one way to these that are under the Law, that is, under the jurisdiction and condemning power of the Law: and a far other way to these that are not under the Law.

Christ speaks to reprobates in the Visible Church, even when the matter of the command is Evangelical, as to non-confederates of grace in a Law way, and in a Law intention. For he cannot bid them obey upon any other ground than legislative authority, not upon the ground of Redemption-love bestowed on them, or that he died out of love to save all and every one: for we disclaim that ground; or because he died out of a special design to save them as his chosen ones. For there is no ground for that until we believe. But they are to obey upon the ground of Redemption-love, so they first believe and fiducially rely upon Christ the Saviour of all. But he commands Law-obedience to his chosen even as Mediator. First, upon a Gospel intention to chase them to Christ (Galatians 3:23). Second, when they are come to [reconstructed: hedge] them in, with Law-threatening to adhere, in a godly fear, more closely to Christ. But the Lord commands no believer to believe hell in the event to be their reward, but to believe perseverance and life, but hell in the deserving. Hence that, (1 Timothy 1:9): The Law [illegible], is not made for the righteous (to condemn them: as if God thereby opened up to them their doom) but for the lawless, etc., to let them be damned and see their damnation. Christ one way lays Evangelical commands upon the elect, and another way on the reprobate.