Though Christ redeemed all his people from the curse of the law, as it was sanctioned in the covenant of works,1 yet the moral law, the substance of which was written in the heart of man at his creation,2 which was proclaimed by God from Mount Sinai in ten commandments, to declare God’s authority over men and cause the offence to abound, to show the necessity for a mediator and to be a schoolmaster to bring men to Christ;3 which was also proclaimed by Christ in the gospel in two great commandments, love to God and love to our neighbour, the latter springing from and being evidence of the former4 - this law ever continues to be the rule of man’s obedience to his Creator, in no degree changed under any dispensation.5 This perfect law is spiritual, righteous, holy, and good, and contains in itself all that the Lord requires of men; no change being possible in one of its commandments, while God is Creator and man a creature.6 To magnify this law Christ was manifested in the flesh and fulfilled the work of redemption;7 and this is the law that the Holy Spirit writes in the hearts of the redeemed, when they are restored to the image of God.8
1 Gal. 3:13; 4:4-5; Rom. 8:3-4; 10:4. 2 Gen. 1:26; 2:17; Rom. 2:14; 5:13; 10:5; Eccles. 7:29; Job 28:28. 3 Exod. 20:3-17; Deut. 5:6-21; Rom. 5:20; Gal. 3:24. 4 Matt. 5:17-48; 22:36-40; Rom. 13:8, 10. 5 Rom. 2:14; 3:19; Matt. 5:48; 22:36-40; Psa.19:7; James 1:25. 6 Deut. 5:32- 33; 12:32; Psa. 119:152, 160; Rom. 7:12, 14; 1 Tim. 1:8; Eph. 6:1-2; James 2:10; Matt. 5:17- 18. 7 Gal. 3:17; 4:4-5; Rom. 8:3; 10:4; Matt. 5:17; Isa. 42:21. 8 Heb. 8:10; Psa. 119:97; Rom. 7:22,25; 1 Cor. 7:19; Matt. 5:19; James 1:23-25; Jer. 31:33; Eph. 5:1; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 John 3:3.
