A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

Object. You will say, these seem to be hard Expressions, to call it the Law of Sin and Death; but you must understand it aright. To Man fallen, the Law only convinceth of Sin, and bindeth over to Death, it is nothing but a killing Letter; but the Gospel, accompanied by the Power of the Spirit, bringeth Life. Again, Psal. 19.7. it is said there, The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul: therefore it seems the Law may also be a word of Salvation to the Creature. I answer; By the Law there, is not meant only that part of the Word which we call the Covenant of Works, but there it is put for the whole Word, for the whole Doctrine of the Covenant of Life and Salvation; as Psal. 1.2. His Delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and night. And if you take it in that stricter sense, then it converteth the Soul but by accident, as it is joined with the Gospel, which is the Ministry of Life and Righteousness, but in it self it is the Law of Sin and Death. Look as a thing taken simply, would be Poison and deadly in self, yet mixed with other wholesome Medicines, it is of great use, is an excellent Physical Ingredient. So the Law is of great use as joined with the Gospel, to awaken and startle the Sinner, to show him his Duty, to convince him of Sin and Judgment; but it is the Gospel properly that pulls in the Heart.

Object. You will say, these seem to be hard Expressions, to call it the Law of Sin and Death; but you must understand it aright. To Man fallen, the Law only convinceth of Sin, and bindeth over to Death, it is nothing but a killing Letter; but the Gospel, accompanied by the Power of the Spirit, bringeth Life. Again, Psal. 19.7. it is said there, The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul: therefore it seems the Law may also be a word of Salvation to the Creature. I answer; By the Law there, is not meant only that part of the Word which we call the Covenant of Works, but there it is put for the whole Word, for the whole Doctrine of the Covenant of Life and Salvation; as Psal. 1.2. His Delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and night. And if you take it in that stricter sense, then it converteth the Soul but by accident, as it is joined with the Gospel, which is the Ministry of Life and Righteousness, but in it self it is the Law of Sin and Death. Look as a thing taken simply, would be Poison and deadly in self, yet mix'd with other wholsome Medicines, it is of great use, is an excellent Physical Ingredient. So the Law is of great use as joined with the Gospel, to awaken and startle the Sinner, to shew him his Duty, to convince him of Sin and Judgment; but it is the Gospel properly that pulls in the Heart.