A30141:143
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.
Secondly, They are under the Law, also, who do not only so break and disobey the Law, but follow after the Law, as hard as ever they can, seeking justification thereby; that is, though a man should abstain from the sins against the Law, and labour to fulfil the Law, and give up himself to the Law, yet if he look no further than the Law, he is still under the Law; and for all his obedience to the Law, the righteous Law of God, he shall be destroyed by that Law. Friend, you must not understand that none but profane persons are under the Law: No, but you must understand that a man may be turned from a vain, loose, open, profane Conversation, and sinning against the ⟨p. 55⟩Law, to a holy, righteous, religious life, and yet be in the same state, under the same Law, and as sure to be damned as the other that are more profane and loose. And though you may say this is very strange, yet I shall both say it, and prove it to be true. Read with understanding that Scripture in Romans 9. at the 30, 31. verses, where the Apostle speaking of the very same thing, saith, But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousness; mark, that followed after the Law of righteousness; they notwithstanding their earnest pursuit, or hunting after the Law of righteousness, fell short of the Law of righteousness. It signifies thus much to us, that let a man be never so earnest, so fervent, so restless, so serious, so ready, so apt and willing to follow the Law, and the righteousness thereof, if he be under that Covenant, he is gone, he is lost, he is deprived of eternal life; because he is not under the ministration of life (if he die there) read also that Scripture, Gal. 3. 10. (which saith) For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse, mark, they that are of the Works of the Law; now for to be of the works of the Law, it is to be of the works of the righteousness thereof; that is, to abstain from sins against the Law, and to do the commands thereof, as near as ever they can for their lives, or with all the might they have; and therefore I beseech ⟨p. 56⟩you to consider it; for mens being ignorant of this, is the cause why so many go on, supposing they have a share in Christ; because they are reformed, and abstain from the sins against the Law, who when all comes to all, will be damned notwithstanding;