Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Besides, the Law has Rewards and Punishments to secure our Respects and Obedience to it. The wise God knows the Frame of the reasonable Creature, what are the inward Springs of our Actions, and has accordingly propounded such Motives to our Hope and Fear, the most active Passions, as may engage us to perform our Duty. He promises his favour that is better then life, to the Obedient, and threatens his wrath, that is worse then death to the rebellious. Now Sin makes it evident, that these Motives are not effectual in the Minds of Men: And this reflects upon the Wisdom of the Law-giver, as if defective in not binding his Subjects firmly to their Duty; for if the Advantage or Pleasure that may be gained by Sin, be greater than the Reward that is promised to Obedience, and the Punishment that is threatened against the Transgression, the Law is unable to restrain from Sin, and the Ends of Government are not obtained. Thus Sinners in venturing upon forbidden things, reproach the Understanding of the Divine Law-giver.

Besides, the Law has Rewards and Punishments to secure our Respects and Obedience to it. The wise God knows the Frame of the reasonable Creature, what are the inward Springs of our Actions, and has accordingly propounded such Motives to our Hope and Fear, the most active Passions, as may engage us to perform our Duty. He promises his favour that is better then life, to the Obedient, and threatens his wrath, that is worse then death to the rebellious. Now Sin makes it evident, that these Motives are not effectual in the Minds of Men: And this reflects upon the Wisdom of the Law-giver, as if defective in not binding his Subjects firmly to their Duty; for if the Advantage or Pleasure that may be gain'd by Sin, be greater than the Reward that is promised to Obedience, and the Punishment that is threatned against the Transgression, the Law is unable to restrain from Sin, and the Ends of Government are not obtained. Thus Sinners in venturing upon forbidden things, reproach the Understanding of the Divine Law-giver.

3. Sin is a Contrariety to the unspotted Holiness of God. Of all the glorious and benign Constellation of the Divine Attributes that shine in the Law of God, his Holiness has the brightest Lustre. God is Holy in all his Works, but the most venerable and precious Monument of his Holiness is the Law. For the Holiness of God consists in the Correspondence of his Will and Actions with his moral Perfections, Wisdom, Goodness and Justice; and the Law is the perfect Copy of his Nature and Will. The Psalmist who had a purged Eye, saw and admired its Purity and Perfection.