Chap. VII. — Of the Law of God.

Q. 1. Which is the law that God gave man at first to fulfil?

A. The same which was afterwards³⁷³⁷   This law of God bindeth us now, not because delivered to the Jews on Mount Horeb, but because written in the hearts of all by the finger of God at the first. written with the finger of God in two tables of stone on Mount Horeb, called the Ten Commandments.
Rom. ii. 14, 15.

Q. 2. Is the observation of this law still required of us?

A. Yes, to the uttermost tittle.
Matt. v. 17; 1 John iii. 4; Rom. iii. 31; James ii. 8–10; Gal. iii.

Q. 3. Are we able of ourselves to³⁸³⁸   After the fall, the law ceased to be a rule of justification, and became a rule for sanctification only. ³⁹³⁹   It is of free grace that God giveth power to yield any obedience, and accepteth of any obedience that is not perfect. perform it?

A. No, in no wise; the law is spiritual, but we are carnal.
1 Kings viii. 46; Gen. vi. 5; John xv. 5; Rom. vii. 14, viii. 7; 1 John i. 8.

Q. 4. Did, then, God give a law which could not be kept?

A. No; when God gave it, we had power to keep it; which since we have lost in Adam.
Gen. i. 26; Eph. iv. 19; Rom. v. 12.

Q. 5. Whereto, then, doth the law now serve?

A. For two general ends; first, ^ato be a rule of our duty, or to discover to us the obedience of God required; secondly, ^bto drive us unto Christ.
^aPs. xix. 7–11; 1 Tim. i. 8, 9. ^bGal. iii. 24.

Q. 6. How doth the law drive us unto Christ?

A. Divers ways; as, first, ^aby laying open unto us the utter disability of our nature to do any good; secondly, ^bby charging the wrath and curse of God, due to sin, upon the conscience; thirdly, ^cby bringing the whole soul under bondage to sin, death, Satan, and hell, so making us long and seek for a Saviour.
^aRom. vii. 7–9; Gal. iii. 19. ^bRom. iii. 19, 20, iv. 15, v. 20; Gal. iii. 10. ^cGal. iii. 22; Heb. ii. 15.