The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…

It may be objected, That the Law being pure, and Man in a frail state, surrounded with innumerable Temptations, to require perfect Obedience from him, and condemn him for his Failings, seems hard. The Law lays a restraint upon all the Senses, and forbids all fleshly Lusts: this may be easy to separate Souls, but for Men to live in the Body, as if they were out of it, to be always vigilant against the insinuations or attacks of Sin, is impossible. Thus the Carnal Mind is apt with some colour, to traduce the Righteousness of God's Government. But it will be clearly vindicated, by considering;

(1.) The Law supposes Man in a state of integrity, furnished with sufficient Power to comply with every Precept, though free to fall from his Duty and Happiness. To command absolute Impossibilities, is tyrannical, and utterly ⟨p. 166⟩inconsistent with the Nature of the Blessed God.

(1.) The Law supposes Man in a state of integrity, furnish'd with sufficient Power to comply with every Precept, though free to fall from his Duty and Happiness. To command absolute Impossibilities, is tyrannical, and utterly ⟨p. 166⟩inconsistent with the Nature of the Blessed God.

(2.) The first Man wilfully transgressed the Law, and lost his Holiness: And Nature being poisoned in the Fountain, is corrupt in all the descendants from him. Mankind was justly degraded in rebellious Adam, and is destitute of spiritual Strength to perform all that the Law requires.