A30141:13
The doctrine of the law and grace unfolded, or, A discourse touching the law…
The doctrine of the law and grace unfolded, or, A discourse touching the law and grace the nature of the one and the nature of the other, showing what they are as they are the two covenants ... wherein for the better understanding of the reader there is several questions answered touching the law and grace ... : also several titles set over the several truths contained in this book, for thy sooner finding of them, which are those following the epistle / published by that poor and contemptible creature, John Bunyan of Bedford.The doctrine of the law and grace unfolded, or, A discourse touching the law and grace the nature of the one and the nature of the other, shewing what they are as they are the two covenants ... wherein for the better understanding of the reader there is several questions answered touching the law and grace ... : also several titles set over the several truths contained in this book, for thy sooner finding of them, which are those following the epistle / published by that poor and contemptible creature, John Bunyan of Bedford.
London: printed for Nath. Ponder, 1685
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And the reason is this, because so long as People are ignorant of the nature of the Law, and of their being under it, that is, under the curse and condemning power of it, by reason of their sin against it; so long they will be careless, and negligent as to the enquiring after the true knowledge of the Gospel. Before the Commandment came, (that is in the spirituality of it) Paul was alive, (that is) thought himself safe, which is clear, Rom. 7. 9, 10. compared with the 3. of Phil. the 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. ver. &c. But when that came, and was indeed discovered unto him by the Spirit of the Lord, then Paul dies (Rom. 7.) to all his former life (Phil. 3.) and that man which before could content himself to live, though ignorant of the Gospel, cries out now, I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, ver. 8. Therefore, I say, so long they vvill be ignorant of the nature of the Gospel, and how glorious a thing it is to be found within the bounds of it; ⟨image 3⟩for we use to say, That man that knoweth not himself to be sick, that man will not look out for himself a Physician; and this Christ knew full well, where he saith, The whole have no need of a Physician, but them that are sick: that is, none will in truth desire the Physician, unless they know they be sick. That man also, that hath got but a notion of the Law (a notion, that is the Knowledge of it in the Head, so as to discourse and talk of it) if he hath not felt the power of it, and that effectually too, he, it is to be feared, will at the best be but a Notionest in the Gospel; he will not have the experimental Knowledge of the same in his Heart: nay, he will not seek, nor heartily desire after it, and all because, as I said before, he hath not Experience of the wounding, cutting, killing nature of the other.
And the reason is this, because so long as People are ignorant of the nature of the Law, and of their being under it, that is, under the curse and condemning power of it, by reason of their sin against it; so long they will be careless, and negligent as to the enquiring after the true knowledge of the Gospel. Before the Commandement came, (that is in the spirituality of it) Paul was alive, (that is) thought himself safe, which is clear,