The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises

2. Nor will the righteousness of the Law be large enough, if it were supposed that a man were able to fulfil all that righteousness, and keep the whole Law—Present obedience, though supposed to be Adequate to the Righteousness of the Law, will never answer for former offences and disobediences.

The Law indeed is strong enough to damn a thousand, but cannot save one; it can pour Hell, and Wrath, and Condemnation upon a World of sinners; but is not able to pour Grace, or to give Justification to one—The Apostle tells us, Rom. 8.3, 4. —What the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh: God (sending his own son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin) condemned sin in the flesh—The same Apostle also tells us, Gal. 3.21—If there had been a Law given, which could have given life, righteousness should have been by the Law. The Apostle tells us again, Gal. 3.17—The Law was given four hundred and thirty years after the promise, to show we must not work, that we may be justified; but be justified, that we may be able to work. If God had intended The Law, the instrument of Justification, he would have given the Law Four hundred and thirty years before the Promise.

The Law indeed is strong enough to damn a thousand, but cannot save one; it can pour Hell, and Wrath, and Condemnation upon a World of sinners; but is not able to pour Grace, or to give Justification to one—The Apostle tells us, Rom. 8.3, 4. —What the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh: God (sending his own son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin) condemned sin in the flesh—The same Apostle also tells us, Gal. 3.21—If there had been a Law given, which could have given life, righteousness should have been by the Law. The Apostle tells us again,