might
receive the adoption of sons," (Gal. iv. 4) and the Son's being made under
the law is of more worth than all our being under it. Now faith puts that
obedience of God Man in the law's hand. When we do God's will, he brings
out Christ Jesus, "Lo, (says he) I come, I delight to do thy will," Psal.
xl. 7-9. In a word, faith in Jesus accomplishes the law, in the commands,
in the promise, in the curse, as might be easily shown, if your time would
allow.

(1) In the curse, because it lays hold upon Christ, who was "made a curse
for us," (Gal. iii. 13) and so gives complete satisfaction to the Lord's
justice in that point. It holds up the sacrifice and propitiation of our
Saviour, and justice says, I am satisfied. It holds up the ransom, (Job
xxxiii. 24) and therefore Christ says, "Deliver them from going down to
the pit, for I have found a ransom." Again we also observe, (2) That faith
in Christ also fulfils the commandments of the law, because it is the
fountain of new obedience unto the law. It hath a respect unto all God's
righteous judgments. It purifies the heart into the obedience of them, and
it works by love, and so it is the end of the law for righteousness. It
not only gives the answer of a good conscience unto all challenges and
curses from Christ's blood, but daily derives virtue out of Jesus Christ,
to bring forth fruit unto God. What it cannot reach by doing, it supplies
by believing, and laying hold upon Christ's obedience. And this is the
righteousness of the law fulfilled in us. Let us also,

(3) Look upon the promise of life, and it is accomplished also by faith in
Christ. For the law could not have given life, and so the promise would
now be in vain; but Christ by faith justifies the sinner, and he lives,
yea, hath eternal life in him, and so all the three are strengthened and
established. Faith is the most comprehensive commandment, 1 John iii. 22,
23. It is put for all the commandments, (1) By acknowledgment of the
breach of all, and so it magnifies the law, and makes it honourable, and
subscribes to the sentence of justice and the authority of the command;
(2) By satisfaction, because it gives a price for the breach of it, and
puts the Cautioner(465) in the craver's hand; (3) By obedience, because
after this, it hath a respect to all God's laws, and endeavours after new
obedience to every one of them.

The improvement of all this is extremely plain. It may serve to discover
unto us how we disappo