The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

5. The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience
thereof; and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the
authority of God the Creator who gave it. (396) Neither doth Christ in the gospel any way
dissolve, but much strengthen, this obligation. (397)
6. Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby
justified or condemned; (398) yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule
of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk
accordingly; (399) discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives; (400)
so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and
hatred against sin; (401) together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the
perfection of his obedience. (402) It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their
corruptions, in that it forbids sin, (403) and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their
sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the
curse thereof threatened in the law. (404) The promises of it, in like manner, show them God's
approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance
thereof; (405) although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works: so as a man's
doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from
the other, is no evidence of his being under the law, and not under grace. (406)
7. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the gospel, but
do sweetly comply with it: (407) the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do
that freely and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done. (408)
CHAPTER XXII/CHAPTER XX - Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
1. The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel consists in their
freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; (409)
and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of
sin, (410) from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting
damnation; (411) as also in their free access to God, (412) and their yielding obedience unto him,
not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love, and a willing mind. (413) All which were common
also to believers under the law; (414) but under the New Testament, the liberty of Christians is
further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church
was subjected; (415) and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, (416) and in
fuller (417) communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily
partake of. (418)
2. God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and
commandments of men which are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it in matters of faith
or worship. (419) So that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of
conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; (420) and the requiring an implicit faith, and
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