|
I. LAW AND GOSPEL.
There were many in the days
of Christ who rejected the gospel, because of their professed love for the
law; and there are many now who disregard the law, because of their
professed love for the gospel. But the true disciple of Moses embraced
Christ, and the true believer in Christ delights himself in the law. For
the test of the profession under the law was—Do you long for the Redeemer
and the Spirit to deliver you from the curse of the law, and to fill you
with strength of obedience? Hence David and all Nathanaels, true
Israelites without guile, rejoiced in the salvation of God. And the true
test of our discipleship. is— Do we love the law? is it written on our
heart, according to the promise of the new covenant? Hence Paul and all
who are justified by faith delight themselves in the law; and the beloved
disciple, representing Christ's bride, exclaims, "His commandments are not
grievous."
What God hath joined
together, let no man put asunder. Jesus gives rest to the weary and heavy
laden, and in doing so He puts His easy yoke and light burden upon us. We
cannot receive and retain the rest, without receiving and retaining His
other most precious gift.
God's law is our friend;
for it no longer accuses and condemns us. In this respect Christ has made
a full and perfect end of it, as it is written, ''Christ is the end of the
law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Fearlessly, boldly,
manfully, and honestly, look the law in the face, and behold in its
countenance, not stern condemnation, but the lovely features of Divine
righteousness, truth, and purity; nay, look closely, and behold in it the
very features of thy beloved Saviour, whose image is to be formed in thee.
Verily, Martin Luther has expressed a deep and blessed truth in a quaint
allegory, when he said, "Moses is the meekest of all men; the law demands
of us nothing, but what the most tender and compassionate love desires for
our blessedness."
The law drives us to
Christ. During this storm and stress period, we have neither heart nor
eye, neither courage and love, nor wisdom and understanding, to see Him
aright. Jesus leads us back to the law, and gives us a new heart and a new
mind, and the schoolmaster becomes a friend, revered, trusted, and
beloved. And were it not for this one thing, that Jesus himself, that
perfect man, had His delight in the law of the Lord, and meditated in it
day and night, (Psalm i.,) and was made perfect in that He learned
obedience, and found His nourishment and strength in doing God's will—were
it but for Christ's view of the law, we must love and cherish it!
But old Adam, and the new
man, Christ, the second Adam within us, make this their constant battle.
The old man looks at the restrictions, pleasures forbidden, tasks imposed;
the new man looks at the reward of the recompence, the promise, and the
inheritance. Like two children, who have been left by their father for a
while. He gave them rules for their conduct: they were to read, and work,
and play, and abstain from one or two things, and he would soon return,
and bring them many beautiful things. The good child cheerfully obeys,
thinking of the return of the father and his promise; the other frets, and
cannot get his mind and eye and heart away from the forbidden thing. And
if these two children are within thy little heart, seest thou not that law
and gospel are one?
The promise of the law is
fulfilled immediately. In keeping of God's commandments there is great
reward. God the Creator is the lawgiver, therefore it is very good; it is
a law of life and of health; and while we enjoy perfect freedom in
serving, and childlike peace and tranquillity in yielding ourselves to the
will of our heavenly Father, we are made meet for the inheritance of light
and glory, where love, joy, and obedience are perfect; where God is known
only as Father, and where His will is done. (Matt. vi. 9, 10.)
"The law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making
wise the simple: the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." |
