There is not only direction given to us to obey the gospel but a charge and obligation is laid upon us. The gospel is sometimes called ‘The counsel of God’ (Luke vii 30 ‘They rejected the counsel of God against themselves.’) Sometimes the law of God is called his counsel as it is the result of his wisdom and his law as it is the effect of his legislative will. He would not only direct and instruct the creature by his counsel but oblige him by his authority; “Exhortation or advice serveth to direct or excite one that is free but a decree and law implieth a necessity to obey.” So Jerome: “Counsel and precept differ. Precept saith, not only we shall do well to do so but we must do so. Counsel respects friends, a precept subjects. There is a coactive power in laws; God hath not left the creatures to comply with his directions if they please; no, there is a strict charge laid upon them; they must do it at their peril. Laws have a binding force, from the authority of their lawgiver. God giveth us counsel as a friend but commandeth us as a sovereign. Therefore we read much of the ‘Obedience of faith’ Rom xvi 26 ‘The gospel was manifested to all nations for the obedience of faith’ and Rom i 5 ‘We have received apostleship for the obedience of faith’ among all nations: so Acts vi 7 ‘And a great company of priests were obedient to the faith’ and 2 Cor x 5 ‘Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;’ and 1 Pet i 22 ‘Having purified your hearts in obeying the truth through the spirit;’ and Acts v 32, ‘The Holy Ghost which is given to them that obey’ All this is said to show it is not arbitrary or indifferent but we are bound by the authority of this new law.

via Hierodule.