-01 Chapter 1. Of Observance in General

2-01 Chapter 1. Of Observance in General Thus much of the first part of Theology, or of Faith
in God: the other part follows, which is
Observance toward God.

1. Observance is that by which the Will of God is performed with subjection to his glory.
2. It respects the Will of God as a pattern and a rule, as it appears by those words of Christ in which he also describes our obedience; let your Will be done, as in Heaven, so also on Earth;710 and also explained his own obedience. Matthew 26:39. Not as I will, but as you will; and Matthew 26:42, Let your will be done; so also Psalms 40:8, I delight to do your will, O my God; and your Law is written in my heart.
3. But it respects the Will of God, not as it is secret and powerfully effectual or ordaining; for then all other Creatures, even ungodly men, and the very Devils themselves, also perform the Will of God with that obediential virtue which is common to all Creatures. Rather, it respects that Will of God which prescribes our duty. Deuteronomy 29:29, Things that are revealed, are revealed that we may do them.
4. It respects that Will with subjection, Romans 8:7.711 Because obedience applies our will to fulfill the Will of God, as it commands us to do anything according to his authority. It is not subject to the Law of God.
5. Hence it is called obedience because it makes the Will ready to commit the command of God to execution — that command being heard and in some measure perceived.
6. Hence also, it has some respect to Service toward God; from which it comes to pass that to obey God, and to serve him, sound like one and the same thing, Luke 1:74; Romans 6:16.712 And to serve God is entirely the same as serving from obedience and righteousness, Romans 6:18, Romans 6:22.713 Because to do the Will of God with subjection is to serve God. Ephesians 6:6-7, As servants of Christ, do the Will of the Lord from the heart, with good will doing service as to the Lord.
7. For our obedience toward God, although in respect to readiness of mind it ought to be the obedience of sons, yet in respect to that strict obligation to subjection, it is the obedience of servants.
8. From this subjection to the Will of God, there necessarily follows a conformity between the Will of God and ours. Revelation 2:6, This you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate. And there follows a certain express resemblance to that Divine perfection which God has revealed and propounded to be imitated by us. 2 Peter 1:4, That we might be made partakers of the Divine nature; for the works of him who does truth are said to be done according to God, John 3:2.714
9. Hence the same obedience which is called obedience, because it respects the Will of God with subjection, and is called righteousness because it performs that subjection which is due, is also called holiness, because it respects the same Will with conformity and pure likeness. 1 Peter 1:14-15, As obedient children—as he that has called you is holy, you also be holy in all manner of conduct.
10. Obedience looks to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31, Do all to the glory of God, as it acknowledges his chief authority and power in commanding. 1 Corinthians 6:20, You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God, etc. And also because it partly has a relation to, and it represents, the perfection of God. 1 Peter 2:9, That you may set forth his virtues,715 in the manifestation of which consists that glory which may be given to him by us.
11. Also in this subjection there is a respect to fear, as the Authority and Power of God is acknowledged; this is also why the fear of the Lord in Scripture is often put for the whole of obedience. Psalms 34:12, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12. Obedience is therefore said to be toward God, both as to the Rule of it, and as he is the Object of it, and also as he is the End of it.
13. The principal efficient cause of obedience, by way of an inward and inherent principle, is mediately Faith, and immediately Sanctifying Grace.
14. For FAITH prepares a way for us to God, Hebrews 10:22, Let us draw near by assurance of Faith; and the Power to go to him, 2 Corinthians 1:24, By Faith you stand; from these, obedience is called the obedience of Faith, Romans 1:5, And the faithful are called the children of obedience, 1 Peter 1:14.716
15. Now Faith brings forth obedience in a threefold respect: 1. As it apprehends Christ who is the Fountain of Life, and the Spring of all power to do good. 2. As it receives and rests in those arguments which God has propounded to us in Scripture to persuade us to obedience, namely, by promises and threatenings. 3. As it has power to obtain all grace, and thus that grace by which obedience is performed.
16. But SANCTIFYING GRACE is that very power whereby we are lifted up to apply our will to the will of God. This is also why new obedience is always included and understood in Scripture, when mention is made of the new man, and the new creature, Ephesians 4:24; Galatians 6:15.
17. For nothing can be performed by man, as it comes from him, or as a work of spiritual life, that is acceptable to God since sin has entered—unless it is performed in Christ by Faith and by the grace of sanctification. John 15:4-5,717 Without me, you can do nothing.
18. Yet the duties are not therefore to be omitted by a man who does not yet believe, because they are good in themselves; they hinder the increase of sin and the punishment of sinners; indeed, they are often recompensed with various benefits from God, although not by force of any determined Law, but by a certain abundant and secret kindness from him.
19. The adjuvant cause by moving is, 1. The dignity and majesty of God to be observed in itself. Deuteronomy 32:3, Ascribe greatness to our God. Psalms 29:2, Give to the Lord the glory of his name. 2. The kindness of God toward us, in which respect we owe him whatever is in us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Do you not know that you are not your own—which are God’s. Romans 12:1, by the mercy of God; this is also why our obedience is nothing else than thankfulness due to God, and it is rightly explained by Divines under that name. 3. The authority of God commanding us, which has universal and full dominion over us. James 4:12, There is one Law-giver who can save and destroy. 4. The equity and profit of the things commanded, both of which agree with greatest reason. Romans 2:15, Their conscience together bearing witness; and these also pertain to our perfection and blessedness. Deuteronomy 32:47. It is your Life.718 5. The reward and promises by which obedience is persuaded. 2 Corinthians 7:1, Seeing we have these promises, let us purge ourselves, etc. 6. The misery incurred by those who do otherwise. Deuteronomy 28:16, Cursed you shall be. Hebrews 12:29, For our God is a consuming fire.
20. The matter of obedience is that very thing which is commanded by God; and so it is summarily contained in the Decalogue; for otherwise the Law of God would not be perfect.719
21. Therefore the Law of God, in respect to the faithful, is abrogated as it were,720 both in respect to the power of justifying which it had in the state of integrity,721 and in respect to the condemning power which it had in the state of sin. Yet it has force and vigor in respect to its power to direct; and it also retains some power of condemning, because it reproves and condemns sin in the faithful themselves — although it cannot wholly condemn the faithful, who are not under the Law, but under Grace.
22. The form of obedience is our conformity to the Will of God; therefore it is revealed that it may be fulfilled by us. Micah 6:8, He has shown you O man, what is good.
23. For the secret Will of God is not the rule of our obedience, nor is all of his revealed will; for Jeroboam sinned in taking the Kingdom of Israel, although the Prophet told him that God in some way willed it, 1 Kings 11:31 with 2 Chronicles 13:5-7.722 But that revealed will which prescribes our duty is therefore revealed, so that it may be fulfilled by us.
24. But this Will of God, in this very respect, is said to be good, perfect, and acceptable to God, Romans 12:2. It is good because it contains in itself all respect to that which is honest; it is perfect because there is nothing to be sought further for the instruction of life; it is acceptable to God because obedience to this will is approved and crowned by God.
25. Knowledge of this will is necessary to true obedience. Proverbs 4:13, Take hold of instruction and do not let her go; keep her for she is your life; Proverbs 4:19, The way of the wicked is darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Therefore the desire to know this will of God is commanded to us, together with obedience itself. Proverbs 5:1, Attend to wisdom; incline your ear to understanding; of which a great part is when it also respects practice — so that contrariwise, all ignorance of those things which we are bound to know and do, is sin. 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Rendering vengeance to those who do not know God, and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
26. With knowledge of the will of God in this life, there ought to be joined a trembling and fear to transgress it. Proverbs 8:12-13; I wisdom have the fear of the Lord with me. Proverbs 14:16, The wise man fears and departs from evil. Chiefly indeed this is in respect to offence; but it is also in respect to anger and punishment, most of all as it separates us from God. Nor should such fear be called servile when it does not respect only punishment.
27. The chief end is God’s glory; for we attend to God by obedience, upon whom we lean by Faith; otherwise obedience would not flow from Faith. Seeing also that Faith is our life, as it joins us to God in Christ, it is necessary that the actions of that same Faith, which are contained in obedience, should also be carried to God; that is, to his glory.
28. The lesser principal end is our own salvation and blessedness. Romans 6:22, Being made servants to God, you have your fruit in holiness, and the end, eternal life. Hebrews 12:2, For the joy that was set before him, he endured the Cross.
29. For although obedience performed only for fear of punishment or expectation of reward is rightly called mercenary, yet if any [believer] were secondarily stirred up to do his duty by looking at the reward, or for fear of punishment; this is not alien to the sons of God, nor does it in any part weaken their solid obedience.
30. But our obedience is not the principal or meritorious cause of eternal life. For we both receive the privilege of this life and also life itself, by grace, and as the gift of God for Christ’s sake, apprehended by Faith. Romans 6:23, The gift of God is eternal Life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But our obedience is in a certain manner the Ministering, helping, and furthering cause toward the possession of this life, the right of which we had before; in this respect, it is called the Way in which we walk to Heaven, Ephesians 2:10.723
31. But obedience furthers our life both in its own nature – because it is some degree of the life which itself is always tending toward perfection — and also by virtue of the promise of God, who has promised eternal life to those who walk in his precepts. Galatians 6:8, He that sows to the spirit, from the spirit shall reap eternal life.
32. For although all our obedience while we live here is imperfect and defiled with some mixture of sin (Galatians 5:17, the flesh lusts against the Spirit), yet in Christ it is so acceptable to God, that it is crowned with the greatest reward.
33. Therefore the promises made according to the obedience of the faithful are not legal [as of debt],724 but evangelical [as of grace];725 although some call them mixed, Matthew 6:3.726
34. The manner of obedience is largely taken in subjection or humility, whereby the creature submits himself to God to receive and execute his commands, to which there should always be joined, 1. Sincerity, whereby all mixture of a strange727 intention and affection is removed; so that the whole man is applied to this duty, 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 6:20.728 And 2. Zeal; that is, the highest degree of pure affection. Galatians 4:18, It is a good thing to love fervently, ζηλοῦσθαι, in a good thing always.729
35. The chief subject of obedience (being of lively Faith) is the will. Php_2:13, It is God that works in you both to will, and to do.
36. But because the sincerity of the will in approving, most appears in readiness, alacrity,730 or cheerfulness of mind, that cheerfulness most of all pertains to the very essence of obedience. 2 Corinthians 9:7, God loves a cheerful giver. Deuteronomy 28:47, Because you did not serve your God in joy and cheerfulness of heart. So as often as it is cheerful, it is pleasing and acceptable to God, although the work proposed is not performed. 2 Corinthians 8:12, For if there is first a ready mind, one is accepted according to what he has, not according to what he does not have.
37. And because the zeal of the will chiefly consists in love and hatred, there is necessarily required for obedience that is acceptable to God, a love of the good also, and hatred of evil. Psalms 45:8, You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity.
38. The effect and fruit is not only a declaration, but also a confirmation of Faith and Hope. 1 Timothy 1:19, Keeping Faith and a good conscience, which being put away, some have made Shipwreck of their Faith.
39. An adjunct that accompanies obedience is a conscience that is quiet, joyful, and glorying, Hebrews 13:18, For we trust that we have a good conscience, desiring to behave ourselves well in all things. 2 Corinthians 1:12, Our glorying is this: the testimony of our conscience. 1 John 3:19; 1 John 3:21, by this we shall assure our hearts ...if our heart does not condemn us.