Hopkins - HP BR75 .H65 1710

A SE R M.O N ON G A L A T I ANS iii. 1 o. For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curfe: For it is written, Curfed is every one that contmu th not in all Things which are written in the Book oJ the Law touo them. THE Law confiRs of Two Parts, a Syflem o_f Precepts, and th< ~ ·r.nion and Enforcement of thofePrecepts, by Promrfes aod r hrearnings. According to the Firfi it is the Rule of our Obedience, and fhews what we ought to render ucw God; according to the Second it is the Rule of Divine Jufi.ice, and fhews w~at God will render umo us. I have already confidered the Precepts of the Law, and mpart treated of thofe Important Duties, both of Piety to-- wards God, and ofLove and llquity towards Men, that are tummarily comprehended in them. The Sanf.Hon of this Law is Twofold. Firfl, A Promife of Life and Happinefs to the Obfervers of ir. Rom. 10. 5· Mofts defctibeth the Rigbuoufnefs which is of zhe Law, that the il1an that dotb thafc Things fballlivc by them. And again, Gal. 3· n. The Man that dotb them jha/1 live in tbtm1 i.e. by them. Which we have once more confirmed to us, Ezek. 20. rr. Igave tbem my Statuter, and my Judgmtnu, ubicb if a Man do bejha/1 even live in tbtm. All which Places are trankribed from that of Mofes, Levir. 18. 5· Ye foal/ hup my Statuter, and my Judgmentr; which if a Man do he jhalllive in them, or by rbem. But becaufe our Natures are wofully degenerated from thei r Primitive Excellency, and we have contraaed fuch an Impotency, that the fame Obedience which in our upright Eftate was both eafie and delightful, is now become irkfome and impoffible, (as I have demonftrared to you in the la!! Subjetl I treated of, ) therefore we can re· 'eive no Confoladon from this Promife~ not entenain any Hopes of Life and Sah•ation, according to the Tenour of this Covenant of Works: For all have jinned, and are come jbort of the Glory of God. The Precepts of the Law convince us of Sin, and our Sins convioce 'US that we have no Right w the Promife of the Law. And therefore as I have endeavoured to promote the Convitlion of Sin, by reprefenting to you the infinite Defe8:s, Irregularities, and Contrarieties, of our A a ions, compared with the Divine Commands; fo now likewifc I fhall en· deavour to convince of that Wrath which is due unto the Tranfgtelfors of the. Law. - For there is a Second San£Hon of the Law, by the Threatnings of a moft heavy and tremendousCurfe againO: all that tranfgrefs it; a Curfe that will blaft and Wither their Souls for ever. And this we have in the Words of my Text, Cutfcd is every one r»ho, &c. The great Defign of the Apofile in this Chapter, and indeed in th is whole Epi· file, is to demon!lrate that Jufti ficarion cannotpoffibly be obtained by the Rigbteou fnefs of the Law, nor according w the Termsof tbe Firft Covenant, Do 1hi.r and Jive. And among many <lthers, one of the ftrongeft Argumen[S he makes ufe of to prove this his Alfertion !yes coucb'd in thefe Words which we are now con· fidering. Whc,reiu

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