If this marriage be made up between Christ and you, then you have put away all lovers besides Christ; the right hand will be cut off, the right eye will be put out; you will be divorced from all other husbands, particularly from the law; you must be dead to the law, that you may be married to another husband, even to Christ. But you will say, What is it to be dead to the law? I answer, It is not to lay it aside as the rule of obedience; for the law shall still be the rule and standard of the believer’s obedience, life, and conversation: but to be dead to the law, is to be sensible that the law cannot save us as a covenant of works. It is to disclaim all hopes of being justified by the law, or by our works or obedience to it. I see Christ, the glorious husband, hath brought in an everlasting righteousness, answering the law fully: this is the garment I must put on, and cast off my filthy rags.
Ralph Erskine, “The Best Match; Or the Incomparable Marriage Between the Creator and the Creature,” in The Works of Ralph Erskine (Bell and Bain LTD, 1991), 1.122.
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Tony Phelps
Tony grew up in Rhode Island. He was educated at BA (University of Rhode Island) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He worked in the insurance industry for ten years. He planted a PCA church in Wakefield, RI where he served for eleven years. In 2015–18 he pastored Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Colorado Springs. He is currently pastor of Christ Our Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Charlestown, RI. Tony is married to Donna and together they have three children.
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When as a cov’nant stern the law commands,
Faith puts her Lamb’s obedience in its hands:
And when its threats gush out a fiery flood,
Faith stops the current with her victim’s blood.
The law can crave no more, yet craves no less,
Than active, passive, perfect righteousness.
Yet here is all, yea more than its demand,
All render’d to it by a divine hand.
Mankind is bound law-service to pay,
Yea, angel-kind is also bound t’obey.
…
Again to view the holy law’s command,
As lodged in a Mediator’s hand;
Faith gives it honour, as a rule of life,
And makes the bride the Lamb’s obedient wife.
Due homage to the law those never did,
To whom th’obedience pure of faith is hid.
Faith works by love, and purifies the heart,
And truth advances in the inward part; —Ralph Erskine, Gospel Sonnets or Spiritual Songs Pt. 1, Ch.3, Sec.3