Thus we have the Objection with its rise; for the further and full satisfaction whereof; Consider,
1. By the Law in this place we are to understand the dominion of the Law over a sinner; hence it is compared to a hard and cruel Master, Rom. 6.14. to a hard or cruel husband, Rom. 7. beg.
2. The dominion of the Law hath divers acceptions in the Scripture, and is taken sometimes for that power of the Law, whereby as an occasion it provoketh and stirreth up the corruption of the heart in the irregenerate: Rom. 7.8. But sin taking occasion by the Commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. Sometimes for the accusing and damnatory sentence of the Law: Sometimes for the rigour, whereby it exacteth perfect, personal, and constant obedience, by virtue of that principle wherein we were created after the Image of God, and that for our Justification.
3. That the dominion of the Law in the first sense, namely, that power of the Law occasionally and by accident to provoke and stir up sin in the irregenerate, is the dominion intended in this place, is manifest, Rom. 7.5, 8, 9. and Chap. 6.14, 15. from the joint consent of Interpreters, that the Law is to be taken in the same sense in both these places: It cannot be interpreted of the dominion of the Law in either of the two last senses. That dominion of sin, which death unto the Law here mentioned freeth us from, is the dominion of the Law here intended: But the death unto the Law here mentioned, freeth us from the dominion of the Law in the ⟨p. 181⟩first sense, as we saw in the Texts last cited, but not from the dominion of the Law in the two last senses; because the death unto the Law here mentioned, precedeth union, [dead unto the Law, that we should be married unto another,] and union precedeth Justification: But freedom from the dominion of sin in the two last senses follow union; the first of them supposing, the second presupposing Justification.1 But in this place 'tis spoken of the mortification of sin, and righteousness inchoated in us by the Spirit of Christ: Neither is the dominion of sin here looked at, as it is imputed, or not imputed, but so far forth as corruption beareth or doth not bear sway in us.
4. To be dead to the Law in the first sense, is for lust to be so mortified, that it cannot take occasion to sin from the restraint of the Law; it is to be freed from the reigning power of sin, Rom. 6.7.
Thus we have the Objection with its rise; for the further and full satisfaction whereof; Consider,
1. By the Law in this place we are to understand the dominion of the Law over a sinner; hence it is compared to a hard and cruel Master, Rom. 6.14. to a hard or cruel husband, Rom. 7. beg.
2. The dominion of the Law hath divers acceptions in the Scripture, and is taken sometimes for that power of the Law, whereby as an occasion it provoketh and stirreth up the corruption of the heart in the irregenerate: Rom. 7.8. But sin taking occasion by the Commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. Sometimes for the accusing and damnatory sentence of the Law: Sometimes for the rigor, whereby it exacteth perfect, personal, and constant obedience, by virtue of that principle wherein we were created after the Image of God, and that for our Justification.
3. That the dominion of the Law in the first sence, namely, that power of the Law occasionally and by accident to provoke and stir up sin in the irregenerate, is the dominion intended in this place, is manifest, Rom. 7.5, 8, 9. and Chap. 6.14, 15. from the joynt consent of Interpreters, that the Law is to be taken in the same sence in both these places: It cannot be interpreted of the dominion of the Law in either of the two last sences. That dominion of sin, which death unto the Law here mentioned freeth us from, is the dominion of the Law here intended: But the death unto the Law here mentioned, freeth us from the dominion of the Law in the ⟨p. 181⟩first sence, as we saw in the Texts last cited, but not from the dominion of the Law in the two last sences; because the death unto the Law here mentioned, precedeth union, [dead unto the Law, that we should be married unto another,] and union precedeth Justification: But freedom from the dominion of sin in the two last sences follow union; the first of them supposing, the second presupposing Justification.1 But in this place 'tis spoken of the mortification of sin, and righteousness inchoated in us by the Spirit of Christ: Neither is the dominion of sin here looked at, as it is imputed, or not imputed, but so far forth as corruption beareth or doth not bear sway in us.
4. To be dead to the Law in the first sence, is for lust to be so mortified, that it cannot take occasion to sin from the restraint of the Law; it is to be freed from the raigning power of sin,
- 1Hic vero agitur de mortisicatione peccati & justitia nobis per Christi Spiritum inchoata neque hic spectatur deminatio peccatorum quatenus imputantur vel non imputantur, sed quatenus corruptio viget aut non viget in nobis. Beza in Rom. 6.14.
