Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Here ye must understand that there is a double use of the law.¹ One is Civill: For God hath ordained Civil laws, yea all laws to punish transgressions. Every law then is given to restrain sin.² If it restrain sin, then it maketh men righteous. No, nothing less. For in that I do not kill, I do not commit adultery, I do not steal,³ or in that I abstain from other sins, I do it not willingly or for the love of virtue, but I fear the prison, the sword, and the hangman. These do bridle and restrain me that I sin not, as bonds & chains restrain a Lion or a Bear, that he tear and devour not every thing that he meeteth. Therefore the restraining from sin is not righteousness, but rather a signification of unrighteousness. For as a mad or a wild beast is bound lest he should destroy every thing that he meeteth: even so the law doth bridle a mad and furious man, that he sin not after his ⟨image 152⟩own lust. This restraint showeth plainly enough that they which have need of the law (as all they have which are without Christ) are not righteous, but rather wicked & mad men, whom it is necessary by the bonds & prison of the law so to bridle that they sin not. Therefore the law justifieth not.