Paradise opened, or, The secrets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…Paradice opened, or, The secreets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…

They that are under this Covenant of works, must of necessity perish. The case stands thus, Adam did break this Covenant, and so brought the curse of it, both upon himself, and all his seed, to the end of the world; in his sin, all men sinned. Now, if we consider all men as¹ involved in the first transgression of the Covenant, they must all needs perish without a Saviour, this is the miserable condition that all mortals are in, that are under a Covenant of works. But,

1. 1Rom. 5. 12.

Secondly, Such as are under a Covenant of works, their §2best and choicest duties are rejected and abhorred, for the least miscarriages or blemishes, that do attend them, or cleave to them: Observe the dreadful language of that Covenant of works; Cursed is he that continueth not in all ¹things that are written in the law of God, to do them. Hence it is, that the best duties of all unregenerate persons, are loathed and abhorred by God; as you may clearly see, by² comparing the Scriptures in the margin together; the most glorious duties, and the most splendid performances of those that are under a Covenant of works, are loathsome to God, for the least mistake that doth accompany them. The Covenant of works, deals with men according to the exactest terms of strict justice, it doth not make nor allow any favourable or gracious interpretation, as the Covenant of grace doth; the very least failure exposes the soul to wrath, to great wrath, to everlasting wrath. This Covenant, is not a Covenant of mercy, but of pure justice. But,