But since the law doth require at all ⟨p. 401⟩our hands most absolute righteousness, charity and a pure heart, it doth condemn all men of sin, unrighteousness, and death. For in the law of God it is expressly said, Cursed is every one which abideth not in all that is written in the book of the law to do it. But what one of us fulfilleth 1all the points of the law? what man, I pray, either heretofore hath had, or at this day hath a pure heart within him? What man hath ever loved, or doeth now love God with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind? What man is he that did never lust after evil? Or who is it now y• lusteth not every day? Therefore imperfection and sin is by the law or by the bewraying of the law revealed in mankind. What shall we say to this? where I pray you doth there appear in any man that divine and most absolute righteousness which the law requireth? Job crieth, I know verily that a man compared to God cannot be justified. Or, How shall a man be found righteous if he be compared to God? If he will argue with him, he shall not be able to answer one for a thousand. If I have any righteousness in me, I will not answer him, but I will beseech my Judge. Like to these are the words of the Apostle John who saith, If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us. Again, If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Therefore by this means the law is a certain looking glass, wherein 2we behold our own corruption, frailness, imbecility, imperfection & our judgement, that is, our just and deserved damnation. For the Apostle doth expressly say, that the law was given, to the end, that it might make manifest mens transgressions, and by that means drive them to the acknowledging of their imperfection and guilt in sinning. For none of us doth look into his own bosom, nor into the secrets of his own breast, but we do all flatter our selves, and will not be persuaded that our thoughts and deeds are so corrupt, as they be in very deed: and therefore doth the law creep in and lay open the secrets of our hearts, and bringeth to light our sin and corruption. Before the law, saith the Apostle, although sin were in the world, yet was it not imputed.
But since ye law doth require at all ⟨p. 401⟩our handes most absolute righteousnesse, charitie and a pure heart, it doth condemne all men of sinne, vnrighteousnesse, and death. For in the lawe of God it is expressely said, Cursed is euery one whiche abideth not in all that is writtē in the booke of the lawe to doe it. But what one of vs fulfilleth 1all the pointes of the lawe? what mā, I pray, either heretofore hath had, or at this day hath a pure heart within him? What man hath euer loued, or doeth now loue God with all his heart, with all his soule, and with all his minde? What man is he that did neuer luste after euill? Or who is it now y• lusteth not euery day? Therefore imperfection and sinne is by the lawe or by the bewraying of the lawe reuealed in mankinde. What shall we say to this? where I pray you doth there appeare in any man that diuine and most absolute righteousnesse whiche the lawe requireth? Iob crieth, I knowe verilie that a man compared to God cannot be iustified. Or, How shall a man be found righteous if hee be compared to God? If he wil argue with him, he shall not be able to aunswere one for a thousand. If I haue any righteousnes in me, I will not answere him, but I will beseech my Iudge. Like to these are the words of the Apostle Iohn who saith, If wee say wee haue no sinne we deceiue our selues, and the truth is not in vs. Againe, If we say we haue not sinned, we make him a lyar, and his word is not in vs. Therefore by this meanes the lawe is a certaine looking glasse, wherein 2we behold our owne corruption, frailnesse, imbecillitie, imperfection & oure iudgement, that is, our iust and deserued damnation. For the Apostle doth expressely say, yt the law was giuen, to the end, that it might make manifest mens trāsgressions, and by that meanes driue them to the acknowledging of their imperfection and guilt in sinning. For none of vs doth looke into his owne boosome, nor into the secrets of his owne breast, but wee do all flatter our selues, and will not be persuaded that our thoughts and deedes are so corrupt, as they bee in very deede: and therefore doth the lawe creepe in and lay open the secrets of our hearts, and bringeth to lighte oure sinne and corruption. Before the lawe, saith the Apostle, although sinne were in the world, yet was it not imputed.
- 1No man living is perfect and un spotted.No man liuing is perfect and vn spotted.
- 2The law doth make […] sins manifest […] bring ou• misery to light.The lawe doth make 〈…〉 sinnes manifest 〈…〉 bring ou• misery to light.
