The Second Reason.—A second reason why men must stand just in the sight of God from the curse, while sinners in themselves, is, because of the exactions of the law. For were it granted that men’s good works arose from a holy root, and were perfect in their kind, yet the demand of the law—for that is still beyond them—would leave them sinners before the justice of God. And hence it is that holy men stand just in the sight of God from the curse; yet dare not offer their gifts by the law, but through Jesus Christ; knowing that not only their persons, but also their spiritual service would else be rejected of the heavenly Majesty (1 Peter 2:5; Rev 7:14–16; Heb 8:7–8).
For the law is itself so perfectly holy and good as not to admit of the least failure, either in the matter or manner of obedience—’ Cursed is every one that continues not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them (Gal 3:10). For they that shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, are guilty of all, and convicted of the law as transgressors (James 22:9, 10. ‘Tribulation,’ therefore, ‘and anguish, upon every soul of man that doth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile’ (Rom 2:9). And observe, the law leaves thee not to thy choice, when, or when not, to begin to keep it; but required thy obedience so soon as concerned, exactly, both as to the matter and manner, and that before thou hast sinned against it; for the first sin breaks the law. Now, if thou sin before thou begin to do, thou art found by the law a transgressor, and so standest by that convicted of sin; so, then, all thy after-acts of righteousness are but the righteousness of a sinner, of one whom the law hath condemned already (John 3:18). ‘The law is spiritual, but thou art carnal, sold under sin’ (Rom 7:14).
Besides, the law being absolutely perfect, doth not only respect the matter and manner as to outward acts, but also the rise and root, the heart, from whence they flow; and an impediment there spoils all, were the executive part never so good—’Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, with ALL thy soul, with ALL thy mind, and with ALL thy strength’ (Mark 12:30). Mark the repetition, with all, with all, with all, with all; with all thy heart, with all thy soul, in all things, at all times, else thou hadst as good do nothing. But ‘every imagination of the thought of the heart of man is only evil continually’ (Gen 6:5). The margin hath it, ‘the whole imagination, the purposes, and desires’; so that a good root is here wanting. ‘The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?’ (Jer 17:9). What thoughts, words, or actions can be clean, enough to answer a perfect law that flows from this original? It is impossible. ‘Men must therefore be justified from the curse, in the sight of God, while sinners in themselves.’ But further action is yet to be taken to open the case. Several things make it impossible for a man to stand just in the sight of God while sinful in himself.
1. Because the law under which he at present stands, holds him under the dominion of sin; for sin by the law hath dominion over all that are under the law (Rom 6:14). Dominion, I say, both as to guilt and filth. Guilt hath dominion over him because he is under the curse: and filth, because the law giveth him no power, neither can he by it deliver his soul. And for this cause, it is that it is called beggarly, weak, and unprofitable; imposing a duty, but giving no strength (Gal 3:2, 4:9). Expecting the duty to be complete yet bent not the heart to do the work; to do it, I say, as is required (Rom 8:3). And hence it is again that it is called a ‘voice of words’ (Heb 12:19); for as barely such words are void of spirit and quickening life, so are the impositions of the law of works. Thus far, therefore, the man remains a sinner. But,
2. The law is so far from giving life or strength to do it, that it doth quite the contrary.
(1.) It weakened, discouraged, and disheartened the sinner, especially when it shows itself in its glory; for then it is the ministration of death and killed all the world. When Israel saw this, they fled from the face of God; they could not endure that which was commanded (Exo 20:18,19); yea, so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I exceedingly fear and quake’ (Heb 12:20,21). Yea, almost forty years after, Moses stood amazed to find himself and Israel yet alive, ‘Did ever people,’ said he, ‘hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?’ (Deut 4:32,33). Alas! he who boasts himself in the works of the law, he doth not hear the law; when that speaks, it shakes Mount Sinai and writes death upon all faces, and makes the church itself cry out, A mediator! else we die (Exo 20:19; Deut 5:25-27, 18:15,19).
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