4. They who are under the law are in a sad condition because they are under an administration that will never be contented with what the sinner does. If thou be under this covenant, work
as hard as thou canst, the law will never say, "Well done"; never
say, "My good servant"; no; but always it will be driving thee
faster, hastening of thee harder, giving thee fresh commands, which thou must
do, and upon pain of damnation not to be left undone. Nay, it is such a master
that will curse thee, not only for thy sins but also because thy good works
were not so well done as they ought to be.
5. They that are under this covenant or law, their
state is deplorable, because this law does command impossible things of him that
are under it; and yet does but right in it, seeing a man at first had in Adam
strength to stand, if he would have used it, and the law was given them, as I
said before when man was in his full strength; and therefore no inequality if
it commands the same still, seeing God that gave thee strength did not take it
away. I will provide you with a similarity for clearing it. Set the case that I
give to my servant ten pounds, with this charge, Lay it out for my best
advantage, that I may have my own again with profit; now if my servant,
contrary to my command, goeth and spends my money in a disobedient way, is it
any inequality in me to demand of my servant what I gave him at first? Nay, and though he has nothing to pay, I may lawfully cast him into prison and keep him there until I have satisfaction. So here, the law was delivered to the man at first when he was possibly fulfilling it; now, though a man has lost his strength, God is just commanding the same work to be done. Ay, and if they do not do the same things, I say, that is impossible for
them to do, it is just with God to damn them, seeing it was they that brought themselves into this condition; therefore, saith the Apostle,
"What things soever the law (or commands) saith, it saith to them who are
under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God" (Rom 3:19). And this is thy sad condition that art
under the law (Gal 3:10).
But if any should object, and say, But the law doth
not command impossible things of natural man,—
I should answer in this case as the Apostle did in
another very much like unto it, saying, "Understanding neither what they
say, nor of which they affirm." For doth not the law command thee to love
the Lord thy God with all thy soul, strength, and might,
etc., and can the natural man do this? How can those accustomed to doing evil do what is commanded in this particular way? "Can the Ethiopian
change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" (Jer 12:23).
Doth the law command thee to do good, and nothing
but good, and that with all thy soul, heart, and delight? Which the law as a
Covenant of Works calleth for; and canst thou, being carnal, do that? But no man hath understanding, if he should hear thee say so, but would say
that thou wast either bewitched or stark mad.
6. They that are under the law are in a sad condition because though they follow the law or Covenant of Works, I say, though they follow it, it will not lead them to Heaven; no, but contrariwise, it will lead them under the curse. It is not possible, saith
Paul, that any should be justified by the law, or by our following of it; for
by that "is the knowledge of sin," and by it we are condemned for the
same, which is far from leading us to life, being the ministration of death (2
Cor 3). And again, "Israel, which followeth after the law of
righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore?
Because they sought it not by faith, but by the law, and by the works
thereof" (Rom 9:30-32).
7. They that are under the law are in a sad
condition because they do not know whether ever they shall have any wages for
their work or not; they have no assurance of the pardon of their sins, neither
any hopes of eternal life; but poor hearts as they are, they work for they do
not know what, even like a poor horse that works hard all day, and at night
hath a dirty stable for his pains; so thou mayest work hard all the days of thy
life, and at the day of death, instead of having a glorious rest in the Kingdom
of Heaven, thou mayest, nay, thou shalt, have for thy sins the damnation of thy
soul and body in Hell to all eternity; forasmuch, as I said before, that the
law if thou sinnest, it doth not take notice of any good work done by thee,
but takes its advantage to destroy and cut off thy soul for the sin thou hast
committed.
8. They that are under the law are in a sad
condition because they are under that administration; upon whose souls God
doth not smile, they dying there; for the administration that God doth smile
upon His children through, is the Covenant of Grace, they being in Jesus
Christ, the Lord of life and consolation; but contrariwise to those that are
under the law; for they have His frowns, His rebukes, His threatenings, and
with much severity they must be dealt withal—"For they continued not in My
covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord" (Heb 8:9).
