liS THE DIFFERENC.E. BETIi'EEN.TFIE [DISC. IV, several texts .of scripture, some of which have been. be- fore mentioned, to prove that no man bath perfectly fulfilled the demands of the law, and consequently, that all mankind lie under a sentence of condemnation, ac- cording to the law of God. James iii. Q. For in many things we.offendall. And chap. ii. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet (fend in one point, he is guilty ofall, because he dishonours that authority which bath enacted all. Rom. ii. 9. Tribulation and an- guishupon every soul of man that loth evil. And chap. üí. 9, 10, 19, .20, 23. Are we better than they ? _No, in no wise; for we have before proved both Jews and gentiles, that they are all under sin, as it is written there is none righteous, no, not one. Now we know, that what things soever the law saith; it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty bore God. There- före by the deeds of the law there shall noflesh bejusti- fied'in his sight, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. . Gal. iii. 10, 11. Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book ofthe law to do them. But that no man isjus- tired by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for thejust shall live byfaith. A REnr.\-ß,c. Here by the way we may take notice, what is condem- nation, and what is justification by the law of God.,, It is the sentence of God as it stands in the written law, or in the law of nature pronouncing the creature, whether he be righteous or guilty, according to such different characters which are found upon him. It is not any new act put forth by God himself towards his creatures, but the constant sentence of his own law, declaring such, a person righteous according to his performance of the law, or such, a person guilty according to his, non-per- formance of it. In like manner justification by the gospel is not a new act in God, but the sentence of his gospel, pronouncing: humble penitents and believers in Christ pardoned, forgiven, and accepted unto eternal "life. According to the different cfaracters of men, the word of God, i. e. his law or his gospel, pronounces
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