First, GOD lets in the truth of his Word, not so much as may serve for direction, but for provocation. That of the Romans is observable to this purpose, There is no transgression where there is no Law; not that the Law brings sin, but provokes a mans heart, Rom. 7.5. the phrases are strange in the fifth verse, The motions of sin which were by the Law: The Law moves a man to sin by opposing of it; saith the stubborn heart, I will do it because you say so; many a man that hath lived civilly, and as a good ⟨p. 72⟩neighbour, &c. and after the Law stirs him up to more exactness he is more violent against good men. The Law meeting with a proud heart, he opposeth it, and would pluck the Law in pieces. All the while men join sides they are loved; but if GOD pleaseth to humble them, then they fly out: There is nothing there that comes in anew saving GODS grace; but that malice that was there before, is now stirred; now there is no fault in a good man, that he is good: but sin taking occasion by the command slew me, saith the Apostle. Look as an ague that is pretty well over-past, it lies in the bones, and if he that hath it drink cold water, it grows extreme and hot by force of opposition: So that man that lay lurking before, the Word comes and it lays a man flat, and it slays him utterly. vers. 13. Sin by the command became out of measure sinful. Look, as it is with a dam, the dam stops, and the stream swells by force of opposition; so the Law stops the stream of sin and corruption, and now it grows exceeding violent. Therefore they that have been under good means, and break, are out of measure shameless in their sinful proceedings; this dam that stops makes this sin greater; thus the Law of GOD is a Law to a proud heart. The Law is not to blame, but the heart.
First, GOD lets in the truth of his Word, not so much as may serve for direction, but for provocation. That of the Romans is observable to this purpose, There is no transgression where there is no Law; not that the Law brings sinne, but provokes a mans heart, Rom. 7.5. the phrases are strange in the fifth verse, The motions of sinne which were by the Law: The Law moves a man to sinne by opposing of it; saith the stubborne heart, I will doe it because you say so; many a man that hath lived civilly, and as a good ⟨p. 72⟩neighbour, &c. and after the Law stirs him up to more exactnesse he is more violent against good men. The Law meeting with a proud heart, he opposeth it, and would pluck the Law in peeces. All the while men joine sides they are loved; but if GOD pleaseth to humble them, then they flie out: There is nothing there that comes in anew saving GODS grace; but that malice that was there before, is now stirred; now there is no fault in a good man, that he is good: but sinne taking occasion by the command slew me, saith the Apostle. Looke as an ague that is pretty well over-past, it lies in the bones, and if he that hath it drinke cold water, it growes extream and hot by force of opposition: So that man that lay lurking before, the Word comes and it layes a man flat, and it slayes him utterly. vers. 13. Sinne by the command became out of measure sinfull. Looke, as it is with a damme, the damme stops, and the streame swels by force of opposition; so the Law stops the streame of sinne and corruption, and now it growes exceeding violent. Therefore they that have been under good meanes, and breake, are out of measure shamelesse in their sinfull proceedings; this damme that stops makes this sin greater; thus the Law of GOD is a Law to a proud heart. The Law is not to blame, but the heart.
