SF.itg1ON XVIII. 25'7 I grant indeed, that the apostle cites these descriptions of the lawof works out of thebooks of Moses, and therefore some persons would supposehim only to mean the particular law given to the Jews at mount Sinai, and not the general covenant of works made with Adam, and with all mankind in him. But to this I give these two answers : 1. The laws of works, which the apostle speaks of in the epistle to the Romans, particularly in thesecond and third chap- ters, cannot signify merely the Jewish law ; for it is such a law as includes all the heathenworld, as appears plain ; Rom. ii. 14, 15. and by which the heathens as well as the Jews were condem- ned, and could never be justified ; Rom. iii. 20. By the deeds of the lazy shall no flesh bejustified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin ; therefore this must be a law that extended to all mankind, since it stops every mouth, and proclaims the whole world guiltybefore God. 2. The law given to the Jews, or the covenant of Sinai, so far as it is purelypolitical; was indeed a covenant of works ; and their continuance in, or rejection ont of the land of Canaan, depended upon their ownworks, their obedience or disobedience to this law, as it is often expressed in the writings of Moses : And upon this account it is used sometimes by the apostles as a very proper emblem or representative of the covenant of works madewith our first father Adam, who was tohave enjoyedor for- feited some earthly or heavenly paradise, according to his obedi- ence or disobedience. It is plain then, that though St. Paul may cite the law of Moses to shew the nature of a law ofworks in ge- neral, yet it does not follow that he means only the law or co- venant of Sinai ; and it is as plain, by his including the Gentiles under it, that he does notmean the lawof Sinai, but the original law or covenant of works made with all mankind in Adam their -father and their head, and of which the law of Sinai was apro - per emblem or figure. All laws of works therefore are insufficient for the salvation of sinful man, and his restoration to God's favour and image, and eternal life. The law of Sinai was a law of works, promi- sing an earthly Canaan to the obedientJews: The law of inno- cency in Eden was a law of works, promising life and immorta- lity to obedient mankind. But they have been both wretchedly Jaroken ; man was turned out of paradise, and the Jews out of Canaan, because of disobedience. But now the gospel whereby the Jews or Gentiles are to be saved, "or to obtain eternal life, re- quires faith in the mercy and promises of God in and through Jesus .Christ ; and by this means it saves us, though our obedi- ence be far short of perfection: This was the way whereby the Jews themslves were saved under the Old Testament : for the s2
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