6o The Covenant of-Works Chap. 9. ( mand, from a threat to conclude a power to keep offfrom the thing threatened,is offo ce as long as the perfon under command keeps himfelf in the fame ftation and ftrength as when the corn- mand was given. But applying this to man in his fallen eftate (who had finned away his abilities,) the ftrength of it is wholly loft. The command ofGod retains its perfection when we are under the power of corruption. The Law is nothing abated, though we be weakened. 3. It appeares in the work it felf which was charged upon man upon performance of which he was to expert happineffe. There is no more explicitelymentioned then that negative precept:Of the tree of knònnledge of good and evil thou 'bait not eat ; the day that thous eateft, thous fbalt fusrely die. This all may yield might eafily have been kept, if the command had been heeded, or the menace ob- ferved. The Jews at their worff could obferve the commands of :son - licet meats, and this was a command of like nature ; yet this was not all unto which man was tied, being made in the image of God, he had clear light to difcerne good from evil : and' as all yet retaine darkly and obfcurely ; fo he had the Law written in his heart clearly; Adultery, Murder (though no otherwife con- demned, then by that light which he had by creation) in that e- ffate had been fin. The former pofitive Law was evil becaufe forbidden; take away the prohibition, and there had been no fin in eating. Thefe are forbidden, becaufe evil : The Law imprint- ed by creation, being prefùppofed, there needed no further Law to make them finful. They that never had the written Law , are condemned for thefe practices, by that Law which by nature is written in their hearts. But againff thefe there was in nature an Antipathy; mans pure nature had them in abhorrency. As now there needs no Law more then nature doth fuggeff, to forbid the eating of poifon, feeding on duff , or carrion : So then there needed no more Law to condemne thefe pratices; fo that obedi- ence was in mans power muff neceffarily be yielded. The conditions of the Covenant of Grace are not performed, but by fpecial grace ; a power from God muff concurre for their_ work in man ; man bath no abilities in himfelf to anfwer what God requires; and if he rife not up to the termes of this Covenant, till he raife hi.lfelf, he (hall never attain the conforts of ir. As the Covenant was vouchfafed of grace fo grace muff make. The condìt' -. onsin the Co- venant of Grace are not performed without fpeci all affiutance. us.
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