Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

(5.) Consider what necessity often appears of amending old laws, and making new ones; which have their rise from new crimes that man's nature is very fruitful of. There would be no need of mending the hedge, if men were not like unruly beasts, still breaking it down. It is astonishing to see▪ what figure the Israelites, who were separated unto God, from among all the nations of the earth do make in their history; what horrible confusions were among them, when there was no king in Israel, as you may see, in the xviii. xix. xx. and xxi. chapters of Judges: how hard it was to reform them, when they had the best of magistrates: and how quickly they turned aside again, when they got wicked rulers. I cannot but think, that one grand design of that sacred history, was to discover the corruption of man's nature, the absolute need of the Messiah, and his grace: and that we ought in the reading of it, to improve it to that end. How cutting is that word, the Lord has to Samuel, concerning Saul, 1 Sam. ix. 17. The same shall reign over (or, as the word is, shall restrain) my people. O the corruption of man's nature! the awe and dread of the God of heaven restrains them not: but they must have gods on the earth to do it to put them to shame, Judges xviii. 7.

(5.) Consider what necessity often appears of ammending old laws, and making new ones; which have their rise from new crimes that man's nature is very fruitful of. There would be no need of mending the hedge, if men were not like unruly beasts, still breaking it down. It is astonishing to see▪ what figure the Israelites, who were separated unto God, from among all the nations of the earth do make in their history; what horrible confusions were among them, when there was no king in Israel, as you may see, in the xviii. xix. xx. and xxi. chapters of Judges: how hard it was to reform them, when they had the best of magistrates: and how quickly they turned aside again, when they got wicked rulers. I cannot but think, that one grand design of that sacred history, was to discover the corruption of man's nature, the absolute need of the Messiah, and his grace: and that we ought in the reading of it, to improve it to that end. How cutting is that word, the Lord has to Samuel, concerning Saul,