Out of goodness
The law then is right and just concerning all things. And it is good as well as just. This we may easily infer from the fountain from which it flowed. For what was this, but the goodness of God? What but goodness alone inclined him to impart that divine copy of himself to the holy angels? To what else can we impute his bestowing upon man the same transcript of his own nature? And what but tender love constrained him afresh to manifest his will to fallen man? Either to Adam, or any of his seed, who like him had come short of the glory of God? Was it not mere love that moved him to publish his law, after the understandings of men were darkened? And to send his prophets to declare that law, to the blind, thoughtless children of men? Doubtless his goodness it was which raised up Enoch and Noah, to be preachers of righteousness; which caused Abraham, his friend, and Isaac and Jacob, to bear witness to his truth. It was his goodness alone, which when darkness had covered the earth, and thick darkness the people, gave a written law to Moses, and through him, to the nation whom he had chosen. It was his love which explained these living oracles by David and all the prophets that followed: until, when the fullness of time had come, he sent his only-begotten Son, not to destroy the law but to fulfil, to confirm every jot and tittle of it, till having wrote it in the hearts of all his children, and put all his enemies under his feet, he shall deliver up his mediatorial kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all.
1771 text
10. The law then is right and just concerning all things. And it is good as well as just. This we may easily infer from the fountain whence it flowed. For what was this, but the goodness of God? What but goodness alone inclined him to impart that divine copy of himself to the holy angels? To what else can we impute his bestowing upon man the same transcript of his own nature? And what but tender love constrained him afresh to manifest his will to fallen man? Either to Adam, or any of his seed, who like him were come short of the glory of God? Was it not mere love that moved him to publish his law, after the understandings of men were darkened? And to send his prophets to declare that law, to the blind, thoughtless children of men? Doubtless his goodness it was which raised up Enoch and Noah, to be preachers of righteousness; which caused Abraham, his friend, and Isaac and Jacob, to bear witness to his truth. It was his goodness alone, which when darkness had covered the earth, and thick darkness the people, gave a written law to Moses, and through him, to the nation whom he had chosen. It was his love which explained these living oracles by David and all the prophets that followed: until, when the fulness of time was come, he sent his only-begotten Son, not to destroy the law but to fulfil, to confirm every jot and tittle thereof, till having wrote it in the hearts of all his children, and put all his enemies under his feet, he shall deliver up his mediatorial kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 34 in the 1771 Works. Romans 7:12.
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