The doctrine of the law and grace unfolded, or, A discourse touching the law…

Answ. Truly this doth seem very strange, I do know full well, to the natural man, to him that is yet in his unbelief; because he goeth by beguiled reason: but for my part I do know it is so, and shall labour also to convince thee of the truth of the same.

First, Then the Law is thus strict and severe, that if a man do sin but once against it, he (I say) is gone for ever by the Law, living and dying under that Covenant: If you would be satisfied, as touching the truth of this, do but read the third of the Galatians at the 10. verse. Where it saith, Cursed is every one ⟨p. 57⟩(that is, not a man shall miss by that Covenant) that continueth not in all (mark, in all) things that are written in the book of the Law to do them: pray mark, here is a curse in the first place, if all things written in the Book of the Law be not done, and that continually too, that is, without any failing, or one slip, as I said before. Now there is never a one in the world, but before they did begin to yield obedience to the least command, they in their own persons did sin against it, by breaking of it: the Apostle methinks is very notable for the clearing of this in that 3 of the Romans, and also in the fifth, in the one he endeavours for to prove that all had transgressed in the first Adam, as he stood a common person representing both himself and us in his standing and falling, Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore (saith he) as by one man sin entered into the World, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men; mark that, but why? for that all have sinned, that is, for as much as all naturally are guilty of original sin, the sin that was committed by us in Adam: So this is one cause why none can be justified by their obedience to the Law, because they have in their first place broken it in their first parents. But secondly, In case this should be opposed and rejected by quarrelsome persons, though there be no ground for it, Paul hath another argument to back ⟨p. 58⟩his Doctrine, saying, For we have proved (already) that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. First, As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. Secondly, They are all gone out of the way, they are together (mark, together) become unprofitable, there is none that doth good, no not one. Thirdly, Their throat is an open Sepulchre, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips. Fourthly, Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Fifthly, Their feet are swift to shed blood. In a word, Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace they have not known.