Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

Vers. 22. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.] Though Sin have made the Law contrary to the Promise, in that it curseth and condemneth, and concludeth men under sin and wrath: yet such is the mercy of God that he hath subordinated all this, and made it subservient unto the Gospel, that the Promise thereby may be applied, and advanced. For it is all ordered to no other purpose but that men might ⟨p. 384⟩believe, and inherit the Promises. But what? Doth the Law make men believe, or beget Faith? Formally it doth not, but by way of preparation and manuduction it doth: As when a man finds one way shut up, he is thereby induced to enquire after another. To sum up all that hath been spoken touching the use of the Law in a plain similitude. Suppose we a Prince should proclaim a pardon to all Traitors if they would come in and plead it: and after this should send forth his officers to attach, imprison, examine, convince, arraign, threaten, and condemn them. Is he now contrary to himself? hath he repented of his mercy? No, but he is unwilling to lose his mercy, he is desirous to have the honour of his mercy acknowledged unto him; and therefore he bringeth them unto these extremities, that when their mouth is stopped, and their guilt made evident, they may, with the more humility and abhorrency of their former lewdness, acknowledge the Justness of the Law, which would condemn them, and the great mercy of the Prince, who hath given them liberty to plead his pardon. The same is the case between God and us. First, to Abraham he made promise of mercy and blessedness to all that would plead interest in it for the remission of their sins. But men were secure, and heedless of their estate, and though sin was in them, and death reigned over them, yet being without a Law to evidence this sin and death unto their consciences, therefore they imputed it not to themselves, they would not own them, nor charge themselves with them, and by consequence found no necessity of pleading that promise. Hereupon the Lord published by Moses a severe and terrible Law, so terrible that Moses himself did exceedingly ¹fear and quake; A Law which filled the Air with Thunder, and the Mount with fire; A Law full of blackness, darkness, and Tempest;

Vers. 22. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sinne, that the Promise by Faith of Iesus Christ might bee given to them that beleeve.] Though Sinne have made the Law contrary to the Promise, in that it curseth and condemneth, and concludeth men under sin and wrath: yet such is the mercy of God that he hath subordinated all this, and made it subservient unto the Gospell, that the Promise thereby may be applyed, and advanced. For it is all ordered to no other purpose but that men might