DISCOVERY OF FORGIVENESS. 81 the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good; was then that which is good made death unto me l God forbid: but sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good, that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sin- ful." Wherever the blame fails, the soul cannot but acquit the law, and confess that what it says is right. Now, though the authority and credit of a witness may go very far in a doubtful matter, when there is a con- . currence- of more witnesses it strengthens the testi- mony; but nothing is so prevalent to beget belief, as when the things spoken are themselves just and good, not liable to any reasonable exception. And so is it in this case ; unto the authority of the law, and concur- rence of conscience, is added the reasonableness and equity of the thing itself, even in the judgment of the sin- ner ; namely, that every sin shall be punished, and every transgression receive a meet recompense of reward. 13ut yet farther : what the law says, it speaks in ¿lie name and auihorily of God: what it says, then, must be believed, or we make God a liar. It comes not in its own name, hut in the name of Hirn who appointed it. You will say then, Is it so indeed 1 Is there no forgive - ness with God 1 for this is the constant voice of the law, which you say speaks in the name and authority of God, and is therefore tobe believed. I answer briefly, with the apostle, "What the law speaks, it speaks to them that are under the law :" itdoth not speak to them that are in Christ, whom the:" law of the Spirit of life bath set free from the law of sin and death." But to them that are under the law it speaks, and it speaks the very truth ; and it speaks in the name of God, and its testimony is tò be received. It says there is no forgiveness in God to them that are under the law; and they that flatter themselves with a contrary persuasion, will find them- selves wofully mistaken at the great day. 4*
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