420 RUIN AND RECOVERY, ÓdC. wretchedly forsaken of God who made us, or fallen under his heavy displeasure even from the beginning of life, will evidently appear both from the express witness of scripture concerning our sinfulness, from the necessity of renewing grace, and from the light of nature surveying the heathen world. First, there are many represensations in scripture of some universal degeneracy and corruption that has come upon all the song and daughters of Adam, and which have been largely sup- ported. by many writers who have explained these texts, viz. Gen. vi. 5. Every imagination of the thoughts ofthe heart of man is only evil continuallyy; and chapter.viii..21. it is added, that it is evil from his youth. Psal. xiv. 3. . The Lord looked down front heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God: They are all , gone aside; there is none that doth good ; no, not one. Eccles. vii. 20. There is not a just man upon the earth wha doth good and sinneth not. Isa. lüi. 6. 411 we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way. Different wanderings,, but all are wanderers. Rom. iii. 10. 12. There is wine righteous; no, not one: There is none that dothgood; no, slot one. Ver. 19. Every mouth is stopped,, and all the world become guilty before God.., And -ver. 23. All are fallen short of the glory of God, because all have sinned*. , 2 Cor. v. 14. * If St:Paul had 'not used such strong expressions here, as plainly include 'every individual of mankind, yet his argument requires this sense ;. for other- wise there wouldbe some who would not *ant the salvation of Christ; whereas it is his great design to prove, that all men are condemned by the law, and stand in need of this salvation, without any exception at all. Objection. Some have asserted this law, which requires perfect obedience, and which Condemns the sinner to death, to have been abrogated as soon as Adam sinned, and that another covenant, even the covenant of grace was substituted and introduced, even before the sentence of death was pronounced upon Adam. 'Answer. This objection has been Often and effectually refuted ;. and it is very easy to show, that thy law by which all mankind are bound under condem- _ nation, can never be said to be abrogated, while it holds men, or binds them under guilt and death. " It is that law which now brings indignation and wrath upon every soul that does amiss,''.Rom. ii. 9. " That law which is written in the heart of min by nature," verse 15. 1.' The same law which whosoever offends in onepoint, is guilty of all," Jam. ii. 10. " That law by which is the knowledge .of sin, and by whichno flesh shall be justified, for all have broken it; Rom. iii. 19, 20, 25. ".It is that law which curseth every one who continueth not in all things there required, and from whose curse Christ bath redeemed the Gentiles as well as the Jews," Gal. M. 10, Il, 15. This is the original law of works. And thoughall mankind may be said perhaps to be under the covenant of grace in those general proposals of repentance and trust in the divine mercy, which are made to fallen men by their own reasonings, or by divine revelation, yet none are freed from the curse and condemnation of the original broken law, but those who have accepted of this covenant of grace by sincere repentance and faith or trust in themercy of God. - Now this is but a very small part of mankind, for thereare " few that-shall be saved." And till this covenant of grace is thus ans. cepted, every son and daughter of Adam, of mature years, are condemned as actual sinners by this law. This law therefore stands is full force against all, be. sides Sincere penitents, and such as are justified by the gospel.
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