A37046:75
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
AN EXPOSITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Delivered in several LECTURES. › Preface
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.
The third is the great ignorance, that is amongst not a few, of the meaning of the useful and excellent Scripture, and especially in this secure time, many not knowing ⟨p. 2⟩they break the Commandments when they break them, at least in many material things, and this draweth with it these sad effects: 1. That there are few convictions of sin. 2. Little repentance for sin, 3. Much security▪ presumption confidence in self-righteousness, and the like, upon which the ignorance of this Scripture hath great influence, even as amongst the Jews the ignorance of its Spiritually made many neglect the chief part of holiness, and proudly settle on self-righteousness▪ and slight Christ the Mediator; as we may see in Pauls example, Rom. 7. 9. and this was one reason why our Lord expounded it, that by it sinners might see more the necessity of a Mediator, who is the end of the Law for righteousness to all that believe, Rom. 10. 4. And as these effects are palpable at this time, so we conceive it useful to follow the same remedy; this evil being not only amongest the profane, but amongst the most formal and civil, who stumble at this stone; yea, many believers are often so much taken with cases and light in Doctrinal truths, that they heed not sufficiently the meaning of the Law, whereby their convictions of sin tenderness in practise, constant exercise of repentance, and daily fresh applications to the Blood of Sprinkling are much impeded.
The third is the great ignorance, that is amongst not a few, of the meaning of the useful and excellent Scripture, and especially in this secure time, many not knowing ⟨p. 2⟩they break the Commandments when they break them, at least in many material things, and this draweth with it these sad effects: 1. That there are few convictions of sin. 2. Little repentance for sin, 3. Much security▪ presumption confidence in self-righteousness, and the like, upon which the ignorance of this Scripture hath great influence, even as amongst the Jews the ignorance of its Spiritually made many neglect the chief part of holiness, and proudly settle on self-righteousness and slight Christ the Mediator; as we may see in Pauls example,