Moreover,1 Brethren, 'tis said, the Law entered, 2that the Offence might abound, &c. and the Commandment came, &c. Now this entering of the Law, and coming of the Commandment,3 chiefly refers to the Law as it is in Christ's hand, set home with Power by the Spirit upon the Conscience. The bare entrance of the Law on Mount Sinai, as in Moses's hand, was with Thundering and Lightning, but without Rain, I mean without Contrition or Brokenness of heart. Men may read Moses's Law, and hear it preached every day; nay write it on the Walls of their Houses, and carry it in their Bosoms; but yet it may have no operations on their Hearts: no, 'tis the Ministration of the Law in Christ's hand by his Spirit, that wounds the Conscience, pierces and melts the hard Heart, that God's Law may be written there. The Ministration of the Law in Christ's hand answers the chief design of God in giving it forth, and renders the Ministration of it by Moses of little or no use: for as in his hand, it is done away; but the Law by the Spirit greatens Sin, or makes Sin abound, and Grace superabound. ⟨p. 146⟩Sin thus by the Law becomes exceeding sinful; and it doth not only wound, but slay the Soul: Sin taking occasion by the Commandment, 4deceived me, and by it slew me: Wherefore the Law is holy, &c. O blessed be God for the Law as it is in Christ's hand! Thus Sin revived, […] I died, saith Paul; I died as to any hope of Justification, or eternal Life by the Law. The Jews who had the Law only as in Moses's hand, were puffed up or filled with Pride: they (as Paul before Conversion, or the coming of the Commandment in and by the Spirit, as in Christ's hand) were alive; so he thought himself alive, in a justified state; but when the Commandment came, it was then quite otherwise with him.
Moreover,1 Brethren, 'tis said, the Law enter'd, 2that the Offence might abound, &c. and the Commandment came, &c. Now this entering of the Law, and coming of the Commandment,3 chiefly refers to the Law as it is in Christ's hand, set home with Power by the Spirit upon the Conscience. The bare entrance of the Law on Mount Sinai, as in Moses's hand, was with Thundering and Lightning, but without Rain, I mean without Contrition or Brokenness of heart. Men may read Moses's Law, and hear it preach'd every day; nay write it on the Walls of their Houses, and carry it in their Bosoms; but yet it may have no operations on their Hearts: no, 'tis the Ministration of the Law in Christ's hand by his Spirit, that wounds the Conscience, pierces and melts the hard Heart, that God's Law may be written there. The Ministration of the Law in Christ's hand answers the chief design of God in giving it forth, and renders the Minstration of it by Moses of little or no use: for as in his hand, it is done away; but the Law by the Spirit greatens Sin, or makes Sin abound, and Grace superabound. ⟨p. 146⟩Sin thus by the Law becomes exceeding sinful; and it doth not only wound, but slay the Soul: Sin taking occasion by the Commandment, 4deceived me, and by it slew me: Wherefore the Law is holy, &c. O blessed be God for the Law as it is in Christ's hand! Thus Sin reviv'd, 〈…〉 I dy'd, saith Paul; I dy'd as to any hope of Justification, or eternal Life by the Law. The Jews who had the Law only as in Moses's hand, were puff'd up or fill'd with Pride: they (as Paul before Conversion, or the coming of the Commandment in and by the Spirit, as in Christ's hand) were alive; so he thought himself alive, in a justified state; but when the Commandment came, it was then quite otherwise with him.
- 1Ch. 5. 20.
- 2Chap. 7. 9.
- 3The use of the Law at in Christ's hand.
- 4Rom. 7. 11, 12.
