Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 492

 

The reasons for this are as follows: first, because God is God, and second, because man is man.

First, Because God is perfectly just and eternally just, perfectly holy and eternally holy, perfectly faithful and eternally faithful; that is, without any variableness or shadow of turning, but perfectly continueth the same, and cannot as well cease to be God as to alter or change the nature of His Godhead. As He is thus the perfection of all perfections, He gave out His Law to be obeyed. Still, if any offend it, they fall into the hands of His eternal justice and so must drink of His irrevocable wrath, which is the execution of the same justice. I say, this being thus, the law is broken, justice takes place, and so faithfulness followed to see that execution be done, and also to testify that He is accurate, and doth denounce His unspeakable, insupportable, and unchangeable vengeance on the party offending.

Secondly, Because thou art not as infinite as God, but a poorly created weed that is here today and gone tomorrow, and not able to answer God in His essence, being, and attributes, thou art bound to fall under Him, for thy soul or body can do nothing infinite in such a way as to satisfy this God, which is a limitless God in all His attributes.

[Misery of man by this law.]

But to declare unto you the misery of man by this law to purpose, I do beseech you to take notice of these following particulars, besides what has been already spoken:—First, I shall show the danger of them because of the law, as they come from Adam; Second, as they are in their own persons, particularly under it.

[First, The danger of them because of the law, as they come from
Adam.]

1. As they come from Adam, they are sad because he left them a broken covenant. Or take it thus: because they did with him while they were in him break that covenant. O! This was the treasure Adam left to his posterity; it was a broken covenant, insomuch that death reigned over all his children, and doth still to this day, as they come from him, both natural and eternal death (Rom 5). It may be, drunkard, swearer, liar, thief, thou dost not think of this.

2. He did not only leave them a broken covenant but also made them sinners against it. He [Adam] made them sinners—" By one man's disobedience many were made sinners" (Rom 5:19). And this is worse than the first.

3. Not only so, but he did deprive them of their strength, by which at first they were enabled to stand, and left them no more than dead men. O helpless state! O, how beggarly and miserable are the sons of Adam!

4. Not only so, but also before he left them, he was the conduit pipe through which the devil conveyed his poisoned spawn and venom nature into the hearts of Adam's sons and daughters, by which they are at this day so strongly and so violently carried away, that they fly as fast to Hell, and the devil, because of sin, as chaff before a mighty wind.

5. In a word, Adam led them out of their paradise, that is one more; put out their eyes, that is another and left them to the leading of the devil. O sad! Canst thou hear this and not have thy ears to tingle and burn on thy head? Canst thou read this and not feel thy conscience begin to throb and dag? If so, it is because thou art either possessed with the devil or besides thyself.

[Second.] But I pass this and come to the second thing, which is the cause of their being in a sad condition, which is because of their being in their particular persons under it.

1. Therefore, they that are under the law are in a sad condition because they are under that which is more ready, through our infirmity, to curse than to bless; they are under that called the ministration of condemnation, that is, they are under that dispensation, or administration, whose proper work is to curse and condemn, and nothing else (2 Cor 3).

2. Their condition is sad who are under the law because they are not only under that ministration that doth condemn, but also that which doth wait an opportunity to condemn; the law doth not wait that it might be gracious, but it doth wait to curse and condemn; it came on purpose to discover sin, "The law entered," saith the Apostle, "that the offense might abound" (Rom 5:20) or appear indeed to be that which God doth hate, and also to curse for that which hath been committed; as he saith, "Cursed is every one that continued not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Gal 3:10).

3. They are in a sad condition because the administration they are under that is under the law doth always find fault with the sinner's obedience as well as his disobedience, if it is not done in a right spirit, which they that are under that covenant cannot do, because of their being destitute of faith; therefore, I say, it doth control them, saying, "This was not well done, this was done by the halves, this was not done freely, and that was not done perfectly, and out of love to God." Hence, some men, notwithstanding, labor to live as holy as ever they can according to the law. Yet, they do not live a peaceable life but are full of condemnings, full of guilt and torment of conscience, finding themselves to fail here and to fall short there, omitting this good which the law commands, and doing that evil which the law forbids, but never giveth them one good word for all their pains.

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.

Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 491

 

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 saved. 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 most minor 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 hath 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 most minor 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 couldst walk like an angel of God; set the case, thou couldst 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 dares 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 lives 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.

The reasons for this that hath been spoken are these—

First, The nature of God's justice calls for it—that is, it calls for irrecoverable ruin on those that transgress against this law, for justice gave it, and justice looks to have it entirely and continually obeyed, or else justice is resolved to take place, and execute its office, which is to punish the transgressor against it. You must understand that the justice of God is as unchangeable as His love; His justice cannot change its nature; justice is if it is pleased; and justice it is if it is displeased. The justice of God in this case may be compared to fire; there is a great fire made in some place; if thou do keep out of it, it is fire; if thou do fall into it, thou wilt find it fire; and therefore the Apostle useth this as an argument to stir up the Hebrews to stick close to Jesus Christ, lest they fall under the justice of God by these words, "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29); into which, if thou fall, it is not for thee to get out again, as it is with some that fall into a material fire; no, but he that falls into this, he must lie there for ever; as it is clear where he saith, "Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings, and with devouring fire?" (Isa 33:14). For justice once offended knows not how to show any pity or compassion to the offender, but runs on him like a lion, takes him by the throat, throws him into prison, and there he is sure to lie, and that to all eternity, unless infinite satisfaction be given to it, which is impossible to be provided by any of us the sons of Adam.

Secondly, The faithfulness of God calls for irrecoverable ruin to be poured out on those who shall live and die under this covenant. If thou, having sinned but one sin against this covenant, and shouldst afterward escape damning, God must be unfaithful to Himself and to His Word, which both agree as one. First, he would be unfaithful to Himself; to Himself, that is, to His justice, holiness, righteousness, wisdom, and power, if He should offer to stop the running out of His justice for the damning of them that have offended it. And secondly, He would be unfaithful to His Word, His written Word, and disown, deny, and break that, of which He hath said, "It is easier for Heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail," or be made of none effect (Luke 16:17). Now, if He should not, according to His certain declarations therein, take vengeance on those that fall and die within the threat and sad curses denounced, in that His Word could not be fulfilled.

Thirdly, Because otherwise he would disown the sayings of His Prophets, and gratify the sayings of His enemies; His Prophets say He will take vengeance; His enemies say He will not; His Prophets say He will remember their iniquities, and recompense them into their bosom; but His enemies say they should do well, and they shall have peace, though they walk after the imaginations of their own hearts, and be not so strict as the Word commands, and do not as it saith (Deu 29:19,20). But let me tell thee, hadst thou a thousand souls, and each of them was worth a thousand words, God would set them all on a light by fire if they fall within the condemning of His Word, and thou die without a Jesus, even the right Jesus; "for the Scriptures cannot be broken." What! Do you think God, Christ, Prophets, and Scriptures will all lie for thee? And falsify their words for thee? It will be but ill venturing thy soul upon that.

Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 490

 

Thus much now touching the law, and the severity of it upon the person that is found under it, having offended or broken any particular of it, either in thought, word, or action; and now, before I do proceed to the next thing, I shall answer four objections that do lie in my way, and also, such as do stumble most part of the world.

Four Objections.

Object. First. But you will say, Methinks you speak very harsh; it is enough to daunt a body. Set the case, therefore, that a man, after having sinned and broken the law, repented of his wickedness and promised to do so no more, will not God have mercy then and save a poor sinner then?

Answ. I told you before that the covenant, once broken, will execute upon the offender that which it doth threaten to lay upon him; and as for your supposing that your repenting and promising to do so no more may help well, and put you in a condition to attain the mercy of God by the law, these thoughts do flow from gross ignorance both of the nature of sin and also of the nature of the justice of God. And if I were to give you a description of one in a lost condition for the present, I would brand him out with such a mark of ignorance as this is.

Answ. 2. [The first answer is expounded by the second]. The law, as it is a Covenant of Works, doth not allow of any repentance unto life to those that live and die under it; for the law is once broken by thee, never speaks well unto thee, neither doth God at all regard thee, if thou be under that covenant, notwithstanding all thy repenting and also promises to do so no more. No, saith the law, thou hast sinned, therefore I must curse thee; for it is My nature to curse, even, and nothing else but curse, everyone that doth in any point transgress against Me (Gal 3:10). They brake My covenant "and I regarded them not, saith the Lord" (Heb 8:9). Let them cry, I will not regard them; let them repent, I will not regard them; they have broken My covenant, and done that in which I delighted not; therefore, by that covenant I do curse, and not bless; damn, and not save; frown, and not smile; reject, and not embrace; charge sin and not forgive it. They break My covenant, "and I regarded them not"; so that I say, if thou break the law, the first covenant and thou be found there, God looking on thee through that, He hath no regard on thee, no pity for thee, no delight in thee.

Object. Second. But hath not the law promises as well as threatenings? 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 so not performed unless there is complete and continual obedience to every particular of it, without the most minor 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 and 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 full 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 total 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.

Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 489

 

Fourth. Though thou shouldest fulfill this covenant or law, even all of it, for a long time, ten, twenty, forty, fifty, or threescore years, yet if thou do chance to slip and break one of them but once before thou die, thou art also gone and lost by that covenant; for mark, "Cursed is every one that continues not in all things," that continues not in ALL things, mark that, "which are written in the book of the law to do them." But if a man doth keep all the Law of God his whole lifetime and only sin once before he dies, that one sin is a breach of the law, and he hath not continued doing the things contained therein. For, so to continue, according to the sense of this Scripture, is to hold on without any failing, either in thought, word, or deed; therefore, I say, though a man doth walk up to the law all his lifetime, only at the very last sin one time before he dies, he is sure to perish forever, dying under that covenant. For, my friends, you must understand that the Law of God is "yea," as well as the Gospel; and as they that are under the Covenant of Grace shall indeed be saved by it, so, even so, they that are under the Covenant of Works and the law, they shall surely be damned by it, if continuing there. This is the Covenant of Works and the nature of it—namely, not to abate anything, no, not a mite, to him that lives and dies under it: "I tell thee," saith Christ, "thou shalt not depart thence," that is, from under the curse, "till thou hast paid the very last mite" (Luke 12:59).

Fifth. Again, you must consider that this law doth not only condemn words and actions, as I said before, but it hath authority to condemn the most secret thoughts of the heart, being evil; so that if thou do not speak any evil word, as swearing, lying, jesting, dissembling, or any other word that tended to, or savored of sin, yet if there should chance to pass but one vain thought through thy heart but once in all thy lifetime, the law taketh hold of it, accused, and also will condemn thee for it. You may see one instance for all in (Matt 5:27,28) where Christ saith, that though a man doth not lie with a woman carnally, yet if he doth but look on her, and in his heart lust after her, he is counted by the law, being rightly expounded, such a one that hath committed the sin, and thereby hath laid himself under the condemnation of the law. And so likewise of all the rest of the commands; if there be any evil thought do but pass through thy heart, whether it be against God or against man in the slightest measure, though possibly not discerned of thee, or by thee, yet the law takes hold of thee therefore, and doth by its authority, both cast, condemn, and execute thee for thy so doing. "The thought of foolishness is sin" (Prov 24:9).

Sixth. Again, the law is of that nature and severity, that it doth not only inquire into the generality of thy life as touching several things, whether thou art upright there or no; but the law doth also follow thee into all thy holy duties, and watch over thee there, to see whether thou dost do all things aright there—that is to say, whether when thou dost pray thy heart hath no wandering thoughts in it; whether thou do every holy duty thou does ideally without the least mixture of sin; and if it does find thee to slip, or in the slightest measure to fail in any holy duty that thou dost perform, the law taketh hold on that, and then find fault with that, to render all the sacred duties that ever thou didst unavailable because of that. I say, if, when thou art a hearing, there is but one vain thought, or in praying, but one vain thought, or in any other thing whatsoever, let it be civil or spiritual, one vain thought once in all thy lifetime will cause the law to take such hold on it, that for that one thing it doth even set open all the floodgates of God's wrath against thee, and irrecoverably by that covenant it doth bring eternal vengeance upon thee; so that, I say, look which ways thou wilt, and fail wherein thou wilt, and do it as seldom as ever thou canst, either in civil or spiritual things, as aforesaid—that is, either in the service of God, or in thy employments in the world, as thy trade or calling, either in buying or selling any way, in anything whatsoever; I say, if in any particular it find thee tardy, or in the slightest measure guilty, it called thee an offender, it accused thee to God, it puts a stop to all the promises thereof that are joined to the law, and leaves thee there as a cursed transgressor against God, and a destroyer of thy own soul.

Here I would have thee, by the way, for to take notice, that it is not my intent at this time to enlarge on the several commands in particular—for that would be very tedious both for me to write and thee to read; only thus much I would have thee to do at the reading hereof—make a pause, and sit still one-quarter of an hour, and muse a little in thy mind thus with thyself, and say, Did I ever break the law; yea or no? Had I ever, in all my lifetime, one sinful thought passed through my heart since I was born, yea or no? And if thou find thyself guilty, as I am sure thou canst not otherwise choose but do, unless thou shut thy eyes against thy every day's practice, then, I say, conclude thyself guilty of the breach of the first covenant. And when that this is done, be sure, in the next place, thou do not straightway forget it and put it out of thy mind, that thou art condemned by the same covenant; and then do not content thyself until thou do find that God hath sent thee a pardon from Heaven through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, the mediator of the second covenant. And if God shall but give thee the heart to take this, my counsel, I do make no question, but these words spoken by me will prove an instrument for directing thy heart to the right remedy for the salvation of thy soul.

Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 488

 

WHAT IT IS TO BE UNDER THE COVENANT OF WORKS.

SECOND. A second thing to be spoken to is this: to show what it is to be under the law as it is a Covenant of Works, to which I shall speak, and that this—

To be under the law as it is a Covenant of Works is to be bound, upon pain of eternal damnation, to fulfill, and that completely and continually, every particular point of the Ten Commandments, by doing them—Do this, and then thou shalt live; otherwise, "cursed is every one that continues not in all," in every particular thing or "things which are written in the book for the law to do them" (Gal 3:10). That man that is under the first covenant stands thus, and only therefore, as he is under that covenant or law. Through ignorance of the nature of that Covenant of Works, the law they are under, poor souls do not think their state to be half so bad as it is when, alas! There is none in the world besides themselves in such a sad condition, for they do not understand these things. He that is under the law, as it is a Covenant of Works, is like the man that is bound by the law of his king, upon pain of banishment, or of being hanged, drawn, and quartered, not to transgress any of the commandments of the king; so here, they that are under the Covenant of Works, they are bound, upon pain of eternal banishment and condemnation, to keep within the compass of the law of the God of Heaven. In this case, the Covenant of Works may be compared to the laws of the Medes and Persians, which, once made, cannot be altered. Daniel 6:8. You find that when there was a law made and given forth that none should ask a petition of any, God or man, but of the king only; this law is established by the king (verse 9). Daniel breaking of it, let all do whatever they can, Daniel must go into the lions' den (verse 16). So here, I say, there being a law given, and sealed with the Truth and the Word of God,—how that "the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Eze 18:4). Whosoever doth abide under this covenant, and dieth under the same, they must and shall go into the lion's den; yea, worse than that, for they shall be thrown into Hell, to the very devils.

But to speak in a few particulars for thy better understanding herein, know,

First, that the Law of God, or Covenant of Works, doth not contain itself in one particular branch of the law but doth extend itself into many, even into all the Ten Commandments, and those ten into very many more, as might be shown; so that the danger doth not lie in the breaking of one or two of these ten only, but it doth lie even in the transgression of any one of them. As you know, if a king should give forth ten particular commands to be obeyed by his subjects upon pain of death, now if any man doth transgress against any one of these ten, he doth commit treason, as if he had broken them all, and lieth liable to have the sentence of the law as indeed passed on him as if he had broken every particular of them.

Second. Again, you know the laws given forth by the king, which if a man keeps and obeys for a long time, yet if at last he slips and breaks those laws, he is apprehended and condemned by that law. These things are clear as touching the Law of God, as it is a Covenant of Works. If a man doth fulfill nine of the Commandments, and yet breaketh but one, that being broken will as surely destroy him and shut him out from the joys of Heaven as if he had actually transgressed against them all; for indeed, in effect, so he hath. There is a notable Scripture for this in the Epistle of James, Second Chapter, at the tenth verse, that runs thus:—"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all,"—that is, he hath in effect broken them all and shall have the voice of them all cry out against him. And it must need to be so, saith James, because "He that said," or that law which said, "Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law" (Verse 11). As thus, it may be thou didst never make to thyself a god of stone or wood, or at least not to worship them so greatly and so openly as the heathen do, yet if thou hast stolen, born false witness, or lusted after a woman in thy heart (Matt 5:28) thou hast transgressed the law, and must for sure, living and dying under that covenant, perish forever by the law; for the law hath resolved on that before-hand, saying, "Cursed is every one that continue not in ALL things"; mark, I pray you, "in all things"; that is the Word, and that seals the doctrine.

Third. Again, though a man doth not covet, steal, murder, worship gods of wood and stone, etc., if he does take the Lord's name in vain, he is forever gone, living and dying under that covenant. "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain"; there is the command. But what if we do? Then he saith, "the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." No; though thou live as holy as ever thou canst, and walk as circumspectly as ever any did, yet if thou dost take the Lord's name in vain, thou art gone by that covenant: "For I will not," mark "I will not," let him be in never so much danger, "I will not hold him guiltless that taketh My name in vain" (Exo 20:7). And so likewise for any other of the ten, do but break them, and thy state is irrecoverable if thou live and die under that covenant.

Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 487

 

[Further Arguments.] I could have spoken more fully about this, but it would not have been too tedious. I would have spoken what I had to say with as much brevity as possible. But before I pass it, I will, besides this, give you an argument or two more for the further clearing this, that the substance of the law delivered on Mount Sinai was supplied by the Lord to man in the garden. As, first, "death reigned over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression"—that is, though they did not take the forbidden fruit as Adam did, but had the transgression been no other, or had their sin been laid to the charge of none but those that did eat of that fruit, then those that were born to Adam after he was shut out of the garden had not had sin, in that they did not actually eat of that fruit, and so had not been slaves to death; but, in that death did reign from Adam to Moses, of from the time of his transgression against the first giving of the law, till the time the law was given on Mount Sinai, it is evident that the substance of the Ten Commandments was given to Adam and his posterity under that command, "Eat not of the tree that is in the midst of the garden." But yet, if any shall say that it was because of the sin of their father that death reigned over them, to that I shall answer, that although original sin be laid to the charge of his posterity, yet it is also for their sins that they actually committed that they were plagued. And again, saith the Apostle, "For where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom 4:15). For "sin is not imputed when there is no law; nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses." saith he (Rom 5:13,14). But if there had been no law, then there had been no transgression, and so no death to follow after as the wages thereof; for death is the wages of sin (Rom 6:23) and sin is the breach of the law; an actual violation in our particular persons, as well as an actual breach in our public person (1 John 3:4). 4

Again, there are no other sins than those against that law given on Sinai, for which those sins before mentioned were punished; therefore, the law given before by the Lord to Adam and his posterity is the same as that afterward given on Mount Sinai. Again, the conditions of that on Sinai and that in the garden are all one; the one saying, "Do this and live," the other saying the same. Also, judgment was denounced against men of both kinds; therefore, this law appeared to be the same as that on Mount Sinai.

Again, the Apostle speaks of two covenants—to wit, grace, and works—under which two covenants are made: some under one and some under the other. Now this to Adam is one, therefore that on Sinai is one, and all one with this; and that this is a truth, I say, I know, because the sins against that on Sinai were punished by God for the breach thereof before it was given there; so it doth plainly appear to be a truth; for it would be unrighteous with God for to punish for that law that was not broken; therefore it was all one with that on Sinai.

Now the law given on Sinai was for the more clear discovery of those sins that were before committed against it; for though the very substance of the Ten Commandments was shown in the garden before they were received from Sinai, yet they lay so darkly in the heart of man, that his sins were not so clearly discovered as afterward they were; therefore, saith the Apostle, the law was added (Gal 3:19). Or, more plainly, given on Sinai, on tables of stone, "that the offense might abound,"—that is, that it might the more clearly be made manifest and appear (Rom 5:20).

Again, we have a notable resemblance of this at Sinai, even in giving the law, for the law was given twice on Sinai to signify that. Indeed, its substance was given before. Secondly, the first tables that were given on Sinai were broken at the foot of the mount, and the others were preserved whole to signify that though it was the true law that was given before, with that given on Sinai, it was not so easy to be read and to be taken notice of, in that the stones were not whole, but broken, and so the law written thereon somewhat defaced and disfigured.

[Object.] But if any object and say, though the sins against the one be the sins against the other, and so in that they do agree, it does not appear that the same is the same Covenant of Works with the other.

Answ. That which was given to Adam in Paradise you will grant was the Covenant of Works; for it runs thus: Do this and live; do it not and die; nay, "Thou shalt surely die." Now, there is but one Covenant of Works. If I prove that that which was delivered on Mount Sinai is the Covenant of Works, all will be put out of doubt. Now that this is so it is evident—

1. Consider the two covenants are thus called in Scripture, the one the administration of death, and the other the administration of life; the one the Covenant of Works, the other of grace; but that delivered on Sinai is called the ministration of death; that, therefore, is the Covenant of Works. "But if," saith he, "the ministration of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious" (2 Cor 3:7).

2. The Apostle, writing to the Galatians, doth labor to beat them off from trusting in the Covenant of Works. Still, when he comes to give a discovery of that law or covenant—he laboring to take them off from trusting in it—he doth plainly tell them it is that which was given on Sinai (Gal 4:24,25). Therefore, that which was delivered in two tables of stone on Mount Sinai is the very same thing that was given before to Adam in Paradise, they running both alike; that in the garden saying, Do this and live; but in the day thou eats thereof—or dost not do this—thou shalt surely die.

And so is this on Sinai, as is evident when he saith, "the man which does those things shall live by them" (Rom 10:5). And in case they break them, even any of them, it saith, "Cursed is every one that continued not in all things which are written in the (whole) book of the law to do them" (Gal 3:10). Now this being thus cleared, I shall proceed.

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WHAT THE COVENANT OF WORKS IS, AND WHEN IT WAS GIVEN.

FIRST. What is this Covenant of Works, and when was it given? [What this covenant is.] The Covenant of Works or the law, here spoken of, is the law delivered upon Mount Sinai to Moses, in two tables of stone, in ten particular branches or heads; for this, see Galatians 4. The Apostle, speaking there of the law, and of some also that through delusions of false doctrine were brought again, as it were, under it, or at least were leaning that way (verse 21). He said, As for you that desire to be under the law, I will show you the mystery of Abraham's two sons, which he had by Hagar and Sarah; these two do signify the two covenants; the one named Hagar signifies Mount Sinai, where the law was delivered to Moses on two tables of stone (Exo 24:12; 34:1; Deu 10:1). Which is that, that whosoever is under, he is destitute of, and altogether without the grace of Christ in his heart at present. "For I testify again to every man," saith he, speaking to the same people, that "Christ has become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law," namely, that given on Mount Sinai—"ye are fallen from grace" (Gal 5:3,4). That is, not that any can be justified by the law, but this meaning is that all those who seek justification by the works of the law are not such as those who seek to be under the second covenant, the Covenant of Grace. Also, the Apostle, speaking again of these two covenants, saith, "But if the ministration of death," or the law, for it is all one, "written and engraved in stones," mark that, "was glorious, how shall not the ministration of the Spirit," or the Covenant of Grace, "be rather glorious?" (2 Cor 3:7,8). As if he had said, It is true, there was a glory in the Covenant of Works, and a very great excellency did appear in it—namely, in that given in the stones on Sinai—yet there is another covenant, the Covenant of Grace, that doth exceed it for comfort and glory.

[When it was given.] But, though this law was delivered to Moses from the hands of angels in two tables of stones on Mount Sinai, this was not the first appearing of this law to man; but even this in substance, though possibly not so openly, was given to the first man, Adam, in the Garden of Eden, in these words: "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen 2:16,17). Which commandment then given to Adam did contain in it a forbidding to do any of those things that were and are accounted evil, although at that time it did not appear so plainly, in so many particular heads, as it did when it was again delivered on Mount Sinai; but yet the very same. And that I shall prove thus—

God commanded Adam in Paradise to abstain from all evil against the first covenant and not from some sins only. Still, if God had not commanded Adam to refrain from the sins spoken against in the Ten Commandments, He had not commanded to abstain from all but from some; therefore, it must be that He then commanded to abstain from all sins forbidden in the law given on Mount Sinai. Now that God commanded to abstain from all evil or sin against any of the Ten Commandments when He gave Adam the command in the garden, it is evident that He did punish the sins that were committed against those commands that were then delivered on Mount Sinai before they were delivered on Mount Sinai, which will appear as follow.

The First, Second, and Third Commandments were broken by Pharaoh and his men; for they had false gods which the Lord executed judgment against (Exo 12:12); and blasphemed their true God (Exo 5:2) which escaped not punishment (Exo 7:17-25). For their gods could neither deliver themselves nor their people from the hand of God, but "in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, He was above them" (Exo 18:11).

Again, some judge that the Lord punished the sin against the Second Commandment, which Jacob was in some measure guilty of in not purging his house from false gods, with the defiling of his daughter Dinah (Gen 34:2).

Again, we find that Abimelech thought the sin against the Third Commandment so great that he required no other security of Abraham against the fear of mischief that might be done to him by Abraham, his son, and his son's son, but only Abraham's oath (Gen 21:23). The like we see between Abimelech and Isaac (Gen 31:53). The like we find in Moses and the Israelites, who durst not leave the bones of Joseph in Egypt, because of the oath of the Lord, whose name, by so doing, would have been abused (Exo 13:19).

And we find the Lord rebuking His people for the breach of the
Fourth Commandment (Exo 16:27-29). And for the violation of the Fifth, the curse came upon Ham (Gen 9:25-27). And Ishmael dishonoring his father in mocking Isaac was cast out, as we read (Gen 21:9,10). The sons-in-law of Lot, for slighting their father, perish in the overthrow of Sodom (Gen 19:14).

The Sixth Commandment was broken by Cain, and so dreadful a curse and punishment came upon him that it made him cry out, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Gen 4:13).

Again, when Esau threatened to slay his brother, Rebecca sent him away, saying, "Why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?" hinting unto us that she knew murder was to be punished with death (Gen 27:45) which the Lord Himself declared likewise to Noah (Gen 9:6).3 Again, a notable example of the Lord's justice in punishing murder we see in the Egyptians and Pharaoh, who drowned the Israelites' children in the river (Exo 1:22), and they were drowned in the sea (Exo 14:27).

The sin against the Seventh Commandment was punished in the Sodomites, etc., with the utter destruction of their city and themselves (Gen 19:24,25). They suffer "the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7). Also, the male Shechemites were all put to the sword for the sin committed by Hamor's son (Gen 34:25,26).

Our first parents sinned against the Eighth Commandment in taking the forbidden fruit, bringing the curse on themselves and their posterity (Gen 3:16). Again, the punishment due to the breach of this Commandment was by Jacob accounted death (Gen 31:30,32). And also by Jacob's sons (Gen 44:9,10).

Cain sinning against the Ninth Commandment, as in Genesis 4:9, was therefore cursed as to the earth (Verse 11). And Abraham, though the friend of God, was blamed for false-witness by Pharaoh and sent out of Egypt (Gen 12:18-20), and both he and Sarah reproved by Abimelech (Gen 20:9,10,16).

Pharaoh sinned against the Tenth Commandment and was plagued with great plagues (Gen 12:15,17). Abimelech coveted Abraham's wife, and the Lord threatened death to him and his, except he restored her again; yea, though he had not come near her, yet for coveting and taking her, the Lord fast closed up the wombs of his house (Gen 20:3,18).

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"FOR YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE" (Rom 6:14).

[THE WORDS OF THE TEXT OPENED, AND THE DOCTRINES LAID DOWN.]

In the three former chapters, the Apostle is pleading for the salvation of sinners by grace without the works of the law, to the end, he might confirm the saints, and also that he might win over all those that did oppose the truth of this doctrine, or else leave them the more without excuse; and that he might so do, he taketh in hand, first, to show the state of all men naturally, or as they come into the world by generation, saying, in the Third Chapter, "There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none that understand; there is none that doeth good," etc. As if he had said, It seems there is a generation of men that think to be saved by the righteousness of the law; but let me tell them that they are much deceived, in that they have already sinned against the law; for by the disobedience of one, many, yea all, were brought into a state of condemnation (Rom 5:12-20). Now, in the Sixth Chapter, he doth, as if he had turned him round to the brethren, and said, My brethren, you see that it is clear and evident that it is freely by the grace of Christ that we do inherit eternal life. And again, for your comfort, my brethren, let me tell you that your condition is wondrous safe, in that you are under grace; for, saith he, "Sin shall not have dominion over you"; that is, neither the damning power, neither the filthy power, to destroy your souls: "For ye are not under the law"; that is, you are not under that that will damn you for sin; "but" you are "under grace," or stand thus in relation to God, that though you have sinned, yet you shall be pardoned. "For ye are not under the law, but under grace." If any should ask what the meaning of the word "under is," I answer it signifies you are not held, kept, or shut up by it to appear before God under that administration, and none but that; or thus, you are not now bound by the authority of the law to fulfill it and obey it, to have no salvation without you so do; or thus, if you transgress against anyone tittle of it, you by the power of it must be condemned. No, no, for you are not so under it; that is, not thus under the law. Again, "For ye are not under the law." What is meant by the word "law"? The word "law" in Scripture may be taken in more ways than one, as it might be primarily cleared. There is the law of faith, the law of sin, the law of men, and the law of works, otherwise called the Covenant of Works or the first or old covenant. "In that He saith a new covenant," which is the grace of God, or commonly called the Covenant of Grace, "He hath made the first old," that is, the Covenant of Works, or the law (Heb 8:13). I say, therefore, the word "law" and the word "grace," in this Sixth of the Romans, do hold forth the two covenants which all men are under; that is, either the one or the other. "For ye are not under the law"—that is, you to whom I do now write these words, who are and have been effectually brought into the faith of Jesus, you are not under the law, or under the Covenant of Works. He doth not apply these words to all, but to some, when he saith, "But ye"; mark, ye, ye believers, ye converted persons, ye saints, ye that have been born. (YE) "for ye are not under the law," implying others are in their natural state and have not been brought into the Covenant of Grace by faith in Jesus Christ.

The words, therefore, being thus understood, there is discovered these two truths in them—DOCTRINE FIRST. That there are some in Gospel times that are under the Covenant of Works. DOCTRINE SECOND. That there is never a believer under the law, as it is the Covenant of Works, but under grace through Christ. "For ye," you believers, you converted persons, ye "are not under the law but under grace"; or, for you are delivered and brought into or under the Covenant of Grace.

DOCTRINE FIRST.

For the first, THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW, OR UNDER THE COVENANT OF WORKS, see, I pray you, that Scripture in the Third of the Romans, where the Apostle, speaking before of sins against the law, and of the denunciations thereof against those that are in that condition, he saith, "What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law"; mark, "it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God" (Rom 3:19). That is, all those that are under the law as a Covenant of Works, that are yet in their sins, and unconverted, as I told you before. Again, he saith, "But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Gal 5:18). Implying again that those who are sinning against the law or the works of the law, either as it is the old covenant, these are under the law, and not under the Covenant of Grace. Again, he saith, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse" (Gal 3:10). That is, they that are under the law are under the curse; for mark, they that are under the Covenant of Grace are not under the curse. Now, there are but two covenants; therefore, it must be that they under the curse are under the law, seeing those under the other covenant are not under the curse but under the blessing. "So, then, they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham," but the rest are under the law (Gal 3:9). Now I shall proceed to what I intend to speak unto. FIRST. I shall show you what the Covenant of Works, or the law, was when it was first given, together with its nature. SECOND. I shall show you what it is to be under the law, or Covenant of Works, and the miserable state of all those under it. THIRD. I shall show you who they are under this covenant or law. FOURTH. I shall show you how far a man may go and yet be under this covenant or law.

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Thirdly, Then, in the next place, fly in all haste to Jesus Christ, thou being sensible of thy lost condition without Him, secretly persuading of thy soul that Jesus Christ standeth open-armed to receive thee, to wash away thy sins, to clothe thee with His righteousness, and is willing, yea, heartily willing, to present thee before the presence of the glory of God and among the innumerable company of angels with exceeding joy. This being thus, in the next place, do not satisfy thyself with these secret and first persuasions, which do or may encourage thee to come to Jesus Christ; but be restless till thou dost find by blessed experience the glorious glory of this the second covenant extended unto thee and sealed upon thy soul with the very Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that thou mayest not slight this, my counsel, I beseech thee, in the second place, consider these following things—

First, If thou dost get off thy convictions, and not the right way (which is by seeing thy sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ), it is a question whether ever God will knock at thy heart again or not; but instead say, such a one "is joined to idols, let him alone" (Hosea 4:17). Though he is in a natural state, "let him alone." Though he is in or under the curse of the law, "let him alone." Though he is in the very hand of the devil, "let him alone." Though he is a-going post-haste to Hell, "let him alone." Though his damnation will not only be for sins against the law but also for slighting the Gospel, "let him alone." My Spirit, My ministers, My Word, My grace, My mercy, My love, My pity, My ordinary providences, shall no more strive with him; "let him alone." O sad! O miserable! Who would slight convictions on their souls, which (if not slighted) tend so much for their good?

Secondly, If thou shalt not regard how thou do put off convictions but put them off without the precious blood of Christ being savingly applied to thy soul, thou art sure to have the misspending of that conviction to prove the hardening of thy heart against the next time thou art to hear the Word preached or read. This is commonly seen, that those souls that have not regarded those convictions that are at first set upon their spirits do widely, and that by the just judgments of God upon them, grow harder, more senseless, more seared and sottish in their spirits; for some, who formerly would quake and weep, and relent under the hearing of the Word, do now for the present sit so senseless, so seared, and hardened in their consciences, that indeed if they should have hell-fire thrown in their faces, as it sometimes cried up in their ears, they would scarcely be moved; and this comes upon them as a just judgment of God (2 Thess 2:11,12).

Thirdly, If thou do slight these, or those convictions that may be set upon thy heart by the reading of this discourse, or hearing of any other good man preach the Word of God sincerely, thou wilt have the stifling of these or those convictions to account and answer for at the day of judgment; not only thy sins, that are commonly committed by thee in thy calling and everyday discourse but thou shalt be called to a reckoning for slighting convictions, disregarding of convictions, which God used as a unique means to make poor sinners see their lost condition and the need of a Saviour. Now, I might add many more considerations besides these. To the end, thou mayest be willing to tend and listen to convictions, as,

First, Consider thou hast a precious soul, more worth than the whole world, which is commonly worked upon by convictions if ever it is saved.

Secondly, This soul will go to Hell if thou shalt be a slighter of convictions.

Thirdly, If that goes to Hell, thy body must go thither too and never return. "Now consider this, ye that" are apt to "forget God," and His convictions, "lest He tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver" (Psa 50:22).

But if thou shalt be such a one that shall, notwithstanding the reading of thy misery, and also of God's mercy, shall persist to go on in thy sins, know, in the first place, that here thou shalt be left, by the things that thou read, without excuse; and in the world to come to thy damnation will be exceedingly aggravated for thy not regarding of them, and turning from thy sins, which were not only reproved by them but also for rejecting of that Word of Grace that did instruct thee how and which way thou shouldst be saved from them. And so farewell; I shall leave thee and this discourse to God, who I know will pass a righteous judgment upon that and thee. I am yours, though not to serve your lusts and filthy minds, yet to reprove, instruct, and, according to that proportion of faith and knowledge which God hath given me, to declare unto you the way of life and salvation. Your judging, railings, surmising, and disdaining of me that I shall leave till the fiery judgment comes, in which the offender shall not go unpunished be he you or me; yet I shall pray for you, wish well to you, and do you what good I can. And that I might not write or speak in vain, Christian, pray for me to our God with much earnestness, fervency, and frequently, in all your knockings at our Father's door, because I do very much stand in need thereof; for my work is excellent, my heart is vile, the devil lieth at watch, the world would fain be saying, "Aha, aha, thus we would have it"; and of myself, keep myself I cannot; trust myself I dare not; if God does not help me, I am sure it will not be long before my heart deceives me, and the world would have their advantage of me, and so God be dishonored by me, and thou also ashamed to own me. O, therefore, be much in prayer for me, thy fellow! I trust in that glorious grace conveyed from Heaven to sinners, by which they are sanctified here in this world but shall be glorified in that which is to come, unto which the Lord of His mercy brings us all.

John Bunyan. _

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Let this, therefore, learn thee thus much: he that hath not seen his lost condition hath not seen a safe condition; he that did never see himself in the devil's snare did never see himself in Christ's bosom. "This my Son was dead and is alive again: he was lost and is found." "Among whom we also had our conversation in time past." "But now are (so many of us as believe) returned unto" Jesus Christ, "the" chief "Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

I say, therefore, if thou do find in this treatise, in the first place, something touching the nature, end, and extent of the law, do not thou cry out, therefore, all of a sudden, saying, "Here is nothing but the terror, horror, and thundering sentences of the law."

Again, if you find something of the freeness and fullness of the Gospel in the second part of this discourse, do not say either, "Here is nothing but grace, therefore, surely, an undervaluing of the law." No; but read it entirely through, and so consider of it; and I hope thou shalt find the two covenants—which all men are under, either the one or the other—discovered, and held forth in their natures, ends, bounds, together with the state and condition of them that are under the one, and of them that are under the other.

There be some that through ignorance do say how that such man as preach terror and amazement to sinners are beside the book, and are ministers of the letter—the law, and not of the Spirit—the Gospel; but I would answer them, citing them to the Sixteenth of Luke, from the nineteenth verse to the end; and (1 Cor 6:9,10; Gal 3:10; Rom 3:9-19) only this caution I would give by the way, how that they which preach terror to drive souls to the obtaining of salvation by the works of the law, that preaching is not the right Gospel preaching; yet when saints speak of the sad state that man is in by nature, to discover to souls their need of the Gospel, this is honest preaching. He that doth do so, he doth the work of a Gospel minister (Rom 3:9-25).

Again, others say, because we do preach the free, complete, and exceeding grace discovered in the Gospel, therefore we make void the law; when indeed, unless the Gospel be held forth in the glory thereof without confusion, by mingling the Covenant of Works in addition to that, the law cannot be established. "Do we then make void the law through faith," or preaching of the Gospel; nay, stay, saith Paul, "God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Rom 3:31).

And verily, he that will indeed establish the law, or set it in its own place, for so I understand the words, must be sure to hold forth the Gospel in its right color and nature; for if a man be ignorant of the nature of the Gospel and the Covenant of Grace, they, or he, will be very apt to remove the law out of its place, and that because they are ignorant, not knowing "what they say, nor of which they affirm."

And let me tell you, if a man is ignorant of the Covenant of Grace and the bounds and boundlessness of the Gospel. However, he speaks and makes mention of the name of the Father, and of the Son, and also of the name of the new covenant and the blood of Christ, yet at this very time, and in these exact words, he will preach nothing but the law, and that as a Covenant of Works.

Reader, I must confess it is a wonderfully mysterious thing, and he had need have a wiser spirit than his own that can rightly set these two covenants in their proper places, that when he speaks of the one, he doth not jostle the other out, of its place. O, to be so well enlightened as to speak of the one—that is, the law—for to magnify the Gospel; and also to speak of the Gospel to establish, and yet not to idolize the law, nor any particular thereof! It is rare to be heard and found in very few men's breasts.

If thou shouldst say, What is it to speak to each of these two covenants to set them in their proper places and use the terror of the one to magnify and advance the glory of the other? To this, I shall answer also, read the ensuing discourse, but with an understanding heart, and it is like thou wilt find a reply therein to the same purpose, which may be to thy satisfaction.

Reader, if thou do find this book empty of fantastical expressions and without light, vain, whimsical, scholar-like terms, thou must understand it is because I never went to school to Aristotle or Plato but was brought up at my father's house, in a very mean condition, among a company of poor countrymen. But if thou find a parcel of plain, yet sound, accurate, and home sayings, attribute that to the Lord Jesus His gifts and abilities, which He has bestowed upon such a poor creature as I am and have been. And if thou, being a seeing Christian, dost find me coming short, though rightly touching at some things, attribute that either to my brevity or, if thou wilt, to my weaknesses, for I am full of them. A word or two more, and so I shall have done with this.

First, and the first is, Friend, if thou do not desire the salvation of thy soul, yet I pray thee to read this book over with serious consideration; it may be it will stir up in thee some desires to look out after it, which at present thou mayest be without.

Secondly, If thou dost find any stirrings in thy heart by thy reading such an unworthy man's works as mine are, be sure that in the first place thou give glory to God, and give way to thy convictions, and be not too hasty in getting them off from thy conscience; but let them so work till thou dost see thyself by nature void of all graces, as faith, hope, knowledge of God, Christ, and the Covenant of Grace.