fill the Law? How will that stand with his Prayer, Psal. 143.2.Enter not into judgement with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. No, but he knew sincere and willing obedience, which he promised and would performe, should be taken in good part. And this is further apparent by the prayers of the faithfull, Psal. 26.1,11.Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity. Isai. 38.3.
Neh. 1.5,9.
Psal. 25.10.
Dan. 9.4.
Jer. 31.32.Remember how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. It never came into the heart of these Worthies to conceit, they had been able to justifie themselves before the barre of Gods justice in any particular action, great or small, as if it had been without all defect or staine, being tried in the rigour of justice; nor could their integrity ought availe them, if no obedience did find acceptance with God, but that which is every way compleat. It is said of Josiah, that 2 Kin. 23.25.he turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; that 2 King. 22.3.he declined not to the right hand, or to the left: Of David, that 1 Kin. 11.34.he kept the Commandements of God, and his Statutes: that 1 King. 14.8.he kept the Commandements of God, and followed him with all his heart, to doe that only which was right in his eyes: that 1 King. 15.5.he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the dayes of his life, save only in the matter of Ʋriah the Hittite: and of Jehoshaphat, that 1 King. 22.43.he turned not aside from doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord: Of Asa, that his heart was perfect before the Lord all his dayes: Of Asa and the people, that 2 Chro. 15.12.they sought the Lord with all their heart, and all their soule. From these passages we cannot prove either that these servants of God did, or that it is possible for men in this life to fulfill the Law exactly, or that the Law is given with such moderation, as that the imperfections which did cleave unto these, and the best servants of God, were no sinnes: because in phrase of Scripture the words will not beare that weight, it may be confuted by Text it selfe, setting down severall imperfections even in them, who are said not to have turned aside from the Commandements, and it is directly contrary to divers other passages of holy writ. But thence we may soundly gather, that the Law as it was given to Israel, doth admit and allow of sincere and unpartiall obedience, though it be imperfect and answer not to that exactnesse which is required.
These words, Doe this and live, must not be interpreted, as ifthey
