Before we enter upon1 this part, because Christ (the subject it treateth of) ais the end of the Law, somewhat would be said as an inducement to the principal, concerning the power, efficacy and use of the Law of GOD: for if such be the condition of all Mankind, as we have hitherto left them in, what shall we say? Is there ⟨p. 268⟩no means by any thing we can do, to attain unto salvation? No verily, there is not any: for bwe are borne dead in sins, and are by nature the children of wrath: accursed every Mothers son, and unable of our selves, or by our own strength to get out of that curse. It is true, the Law or Covenant of works, is of sufficient power and ability in it self to justify; for by it the Holy Angels that kept their first estate, are justified in the sight of God, and by it our Saviour Christ was justified: and so should Adam and all his posterity have been, if they had continued in the obedience thereof: but in respect of our weakness, who are not able to perform it, it is now become cimpossible for the Law to save us. Wherefore the dScripture every where proclaimeth as a thing evident eand clear, that by the Law no man is justified before God: for, saith the Apostle, Gal. 3. 17. 18. The Law which was four hundred and thirty years after cannot disannul the Covenant that was confirmed afore of God, in respect of Christ, that it should make the promise of none effect. The meaning is, Abraham, four hundred thirty years, before the giving of the Law, was justified by faith in the promise or covenant of Grace, which could not be made void by the Law coming so long after; as it must, if the Law should justify.
BEfore wee enter vpon1 this part, because Christ (the subiect it treateth of) ais the end of the Law, somewhat would bee said as an inducement to the principall, concerning the power, efficacie and vse of the Law of GOD: for if such bee the condition of all Mankind, as wee haue hitherto left them in, what shall wee say? Is there ⟨p. 268⟩no means by any thing we can do, to attain vnto saluation? No verily, there is not any: for bwe are borne dead in sinnes, and are by nature the children of wrath: accursed euery Mothers sonne, and vnable of our selues, or by our owne strength to get out of that curse. It is true, the Law or Couenant of workes, is of sufficient power and abilitie in it selfe to iustifie; for by it the Holy Angels that kept their first estate, are iustified in the sight of God, and by it our Sauiour Christ was iustified: and so should Adam and all his posteritie haue beene, if they had continued in the obedience thereof: but in respect of our weaknesse, who are not able to performe it, it is now become cimpossible for the Law to saue vs. Wherefore the dScripture euery where proclaymeth as a thing euident eand cleere, that by the Law no man is iustified before God: for, saith the Apostle, Gal. 3. 17. 18. The Law which was foure hundred and thirty yeeres after cannot disanull the Couenant that was confirmed afore of God, in respect of Christ, that it should make the promise of none effect. The meaning is, Abraham, foure hundred thirtie yeeres, before the giuing of the Law, was iustified by faith in the promise or couenant of Grace, which could not bee made void by the Law comming so long after; as it must, if the Law should iustifie.
- 1This is the sum of that Doctrine which we have concerning God: The other followeth, concerning Immanuel, God with us.This is the summe of that Doctrine which we haue concerning God: The other followeth, concerning Immanuel, God with vs.
- aRom. 10. 4.
- bEphes. 2. 13.
- cRom. 8. 3. Gal. 3. 21.
- dRom. 3. 20: Gal. 3. 11.
- e[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
