Object. Second. But what does the law promise, and what are the threats? Saying, "The man which doeth these things shall live," mark, he shall live, "by them," or in them (Rom 10:5; Gal 3:12).
Answ. 1. To break the Commandments is not to keep or fulfill the same, but thou hast broken them. Therefore, the promise doth not belong to thee by that covenant. 2. The promises of the law are conditional and not performed unless there is complete and continual obedience to every particular of it and without the least sin. "Do this"—mark, do this—and afterward thou shalt live; but if thou break one point of it once in all thy life, thou hast not done the law; therefore the promises following the law do not belong unto thee if one sin hath been committed by thee. As thus, I will give you a plain instance—"Set the case, there be a law made by the king, that if any man speak a word against him he must be put to death, and this must not be revoked, but must for certain be executed on the offender; though there be a promise made to them that do not speak a word against him, that they should have great love from him; yet this promise is nothing to the offender; he is like to have no share in it, or to be ever the better for it; but contrariwise, the law that he hath offended must be executed on him; for his sin shut him out from a share of, or in, the promises." So it is here that there is a promise made indeed, but to whom? It is to none but those that live without sinning against the law; but if thou, I say, sin one time against it in all thy lifetime, thou art gone, and not one promise belongs to thee if thou continue under this covenant. Methinks the prisoners at the bar, having offended the law, and the charge of a just judge towards them, do much hold forth the law, as it is a Covenant of Works, and how it deals with them that are under it. The prisoner, having offended, cries out for mercy; Good, my lord, mercy, saith he, pray, my lord, pity me. The judge saith, What canst thou say for thyself that sentence of death should not be passed upon thee? Why, nothing but this, I pray my lord be merciful. But he answers again, Friend, the law must take place, the law must not be broken. The prisoner said, Good, my lord, spare me, and I will never do so anymore. The judge, notwithstanding the man's outcries and sad condition, must, according to the tenor of the law, pass judgment upon him, and the sentence of condemnation must be read to the prisoner. However, it makes him fall dead to hear it if he executes the law as he ought to. And just thus, it is concerning the Law of God.
Object. Third. Ay, but sometimes, for all your haste, the judge doth also give some pardons and forgives some offenders, notwithstanding their offenses, though he is a judge.
Answ. It is not because the law is merciful but because the love of the judge is manifested, not the love of the law. I beseech you to mark this distinction; for if a man that hath deserved death by the law be, notwithstanding this, forgiven his offense, it is not because the law saith, "spare him"; but it is the love of the judge or chief magistrate that doth set the man free from the condemnation of the law. But mark; here the law of men and the Law of God do differ; the law of man is not so irrevocable; but if the Supreme please he may sometimes grant a pardon without satisfaction given for the offence; but the Law of God is of this nature, that if a man be found under it, and a transgressor, or one that hath transgressed against it, before that prisoner can be released there must be a total and complete satisfaction given to it, either by the man's own life or by the blood of some other man; for "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb 9:22); that is, there is no deliverance from under the curse of the Law of God; and therefore, however the law of man may be made of none effect sometimes by showing mercy without giving of a full satisfaction, yet the Law of God cannot be so contented, nor at the least give way, that the person offending that should escape the curse and not be damned, except some one do give a total and complete satisfaction to it for him, and bring the prisoner into another covenant—to wit, the Covenant of Grace, which is more accessible, and soul-refreshing, and sin-pardoning.
I say, therefore, you must understand that if there is a law made that reaches life, it must be taken away for the offense given by the offender against it. It is clear that if the man is spared and saved, it is not the law that doth give the man this advantage, but it is the mere mercy of the king, either because he hath a ransom or satisfaction some other way or being provoked to it out of his own love to the person whom he saves. Now, thou also having transgressed and broken the Law of God, if the law be not executed upon thee, it is not because the law is merciful, or can pass by the least offense done by thee, but thy deliverance comes another way; therefore, I say, however, it be by the laws of men where they are corrupted and perverted, yet the Law of God is of that nature, that if it had not thy own blood or the blood of some other man—for it calls for no less, for to ransom thee from the curse of it, being due to thee for thy transgression, and to satisfy the cries, the doleful cries, thereof, and ever for to present thee pure and spotless before God, notwithstanding this fiery law—thou art gone if thou hadst a thousand souls; for "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb 9:22); no forgiveness of the least sin against the law.
Object. Fourth. But, you will say, "I do not only repent me of my former life, and also promise to do so no more, but now I do labor to be righteous and to live a holy life; and now, instead of being a breaker of the law, I do labor to fulfill the same. What say you to that?"
Answ. Set the case, thou could walk like an angel of God; set the case, thou could fulfill the whole law, and live from this day to thy life's end without sinning in thought, word, or deed, which is impossible; but, I say, set the case it should be so, why, thy state is as bad, if thou be under the first covenant, as ever it was. For, first, I know thou dare not say but thou hast at one time or other sinned; and if so, then the law hath condemned thee; and if so, then I am sure that thou, with all thy actions and works of righteousness, canst not remove the dreadful and irresistible curse that is already laid upon thee by that law which thou art under, and which thou hast sinned against;. However, thou live the holiest life that any man can live in this world, being under the law of works, and so not under the Covenant of Grace, thou must be cut off without remedy; for thou hast sinned, though afterward, thou live never so well.
