That he might effectually do the first, he in the three first Chapters discovers the dismal state of all, both Jews and Gentiles, as considered in the First Adam, or the condition of every Soul by Nature, and the weakness and insufficiency of the Law by reason of Man's Pravity to obtain Justification and eternal Life thereby;1 insomuch that the Jews were in no better state than the Gentiles, all being gone out of the way, 2and the whole World become guilty before God. But to revive their sinking Hopes, he then displays the white Flag of Peace, through the Free-Grace ⟨p. 6⟩of God in Jesus Christ, that tho the Law pronounces nothing but Wrath and Condemnation to every Soul of Man, and also the remainders of Sin, or the Law in our Members, doth distress and sorely afflict Believers themselves; yet he shows us that through Jesus Christ we have a blessed Victory over the Law of Sin and Death, so that Sin cannot expose a true Believer to eternal Wrath, and that the Law of God (which holds all Unbelievers down under Guilt) can no more oblige Believers to eternal Condemnation, because Jesus Christ in our Nature hath answered all the Demands, and born the Penalty thereof. And from hence he brings in the Words of our Text, as the profitable Use or Application of that Doctrine he had so well proved.
That he might effectually do the first, he in the three first Chapters discovers the dismal state of all, both Jews and Gentiles, as considered in the First Adam, or the condition of every Soul by Nature, and the weakness and insufficiency of the Law by reason of Man's Pravity to obtain Justification and eternal Life thereby;1 insomuch that the Jews were in no better state than the Gentiles, all being gone out of the way, 2and the whole World become guilty before God. But to revive their sinking Hopes, he then displays the white Flag of Peace, through the Free-Grace ⟨p. 6⟩of God in Jesus Christ, that tho the Law pronounces nothing but Wrath and Condemnation to every Soul of Man, and also the remainders of Sin, or the Law in our Members, doth distress and sorely afflict Believers themselves; yet he shews us that through Jesus Christ we have a blessed Victory over the Law of Sin and Death, so that Sin cannot expose a true Believer to eternal Wrath, and that the Law of God (which holds all Unbelievers down under Guilt) can no more oblige Believers to eternal Condemnation, because Jesus Christ in our Nature hath answered all the Demands, and born the Penalty thereof. And from hence he brings in the Words of our Text, as the profitable Use or Application of that Doctrine he had so well proved.
- 1Rom. 8.3.
- 2Rom. 3.
