(1.) The placing of our gospel obedience on the right foot
of account (that it may neither be exalted into a state,
condition, use, or end, not given it of God; nor any
reason, cause, motive, end, necessity of it, on the other hand,
taken away, weakened, or impaired), is a matter of great importance. Some
make our obedience, the works of faith, our works, the matter or cause of
our justification; some, the condition of the imputation of the
righteousness of Christ; some, the qualification of the person justified,
on the one hand; some exclude all the necessity of them, and turn the grace
of God into lasciviousness, on the other. To debate these differences is
not my present business; only, I say, on this and other accounts, the right
stating of our obedience is of great importance as to our walking with
God.