Secondly, There is the word of the Law, and that will make the gate strait also: none must go in thereat but those that can go in by the leave of the law, for though no man be or can be, justified by the works of the law, yet unless the righteousness and holiness by which they attempt to enter into this kingdom, be justified ⟨p. 22⟩by the law, 'tis in vain once to think of entering in at this strait gate: now the law justifieth not, but upon the account of Christs righteousness; if therefore thou be not indeed found in that righteousness, thou wilt find the law, lie just in the passage into heaven to keep thee out; every mans work must be tried by fire, that it may be manifest of what sort it is. There are two errors in the world about the law, one is, when men think to enter in at the strait gate by the righteousness of the law, the other is, when men think, they may enter into heaven, without the leave of the law; both these, I say, are errors: for, as by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified, so without the consent of the law, no flesh shall be saved, heaven and earth shall pass away, before one jot, or title of the law shall fail, till all be fulfilled: he therefore must be damned, that cannot be saved by the consent of the law, and indeed this law is the flaming sword that turneth ⟨p. 23⟩every way, yea, that lieth to this day, in the way, to heaven, for a bar to all unbelievers and unsanctified professors, for it is taken out of the way for the truly gracious only; it will be found as a roaring lion to devour all others: because of the law therefore the gate will be found too strait for the unsanctified to enter in; when the Apostle had told the Corinthians, that the unrighteous should not inherit the kingdom of God, and, that such were some of them, he adds, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, & by the spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. 11. closely concluding, that had they not been washed, and sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, the law, for their transgressions, would have kept them out, it would have made the gate too strait for them to enter in.
Secondly, There is the word of the Law, and that will make the gate strait also: none must go in thereat but those that can go in by the leave of the law, for though no man be or can be, justifyed by the works of the law, yet unlesse the righteousness and holyness by which they attempt to enter into this kingdom, be justified ⟨p. 22⟩by the law, 'tis in vain once to think of entring in at this strait gate: now the law justifieth not, but upon the account of Christs righteousness; if therefore thou be not indeed found in that righteousnes, thou wilt finde the law, lie just in the passage into heaven to keep thee out; every mans work must be tried by fire, that it may be manifest of what sort it is. There are two errors in the world about the law, one is, when men think to enter in at the strait gate by the righteousness of the law, the other is, when men think, they may enter into heaven, without the leave of the law; both these, I say, are errors: for, as by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified, so without the consent of the law, no flesh shall be saved, heaven and earth shall passe away, before one jot, or title of the law shall fail, till all be fulfilled: he therefore must be damned, that cannot be saved by the consent of the law, and indeed this law is the flaming sword that turneth ⟨p. 23⟩every way, yea, that lieth to this day, in the way, to heaven, for a barr to all unbelievers and unsanctified professors, for it is taken out of the way for the truly gracious only; it will be found as a roaring lion to devour all others: because of the law therefore the gate will be found too strait for the unsanctified to enter in; when the Apostle had told the Corinthians, that the unrighteous should not inherit the kingdom of God, and, that such were some of them, he adds, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, & by the spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. 11. closely concluding, that had they not been washed, and sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, the law, for their transgressions, would have kept them out, it would have made the gate too strait for them to enter in.
