164 An E.gpofation upon Chap.5. withall, and make anfwer to a fecret obje&ion made in the behalf of the Law. The objeaion is this, that if the obedi- ence ofChriti be our full righteoufneffe before God, without the workes of the Law, then to what end doth the Law ferve? To which the Apoftle doch iirft propound his anfwer barely (verfe 2o.) and nakedly; that the Law was given; Firll,to increafe our guiltinefs. Second- ly, that the grace of Chrift thereby be- comes more glorious; the which the Apollie doth inlarge by a comparifon ot contraries(verfe 2 t.)tin and death let againft righteoufnefs and life,as contra- ry one to the other; the film of which compariCon is thus much : that as finne prevails to make all guilty of death, fo the righteoufnefs ofChrill being freely given to the beieevers, Both prevaile much more to make them partakers ofe- ternall life. T i t.t. Now exponed the words,what it meant by the Law ? S t L. The morali Law, contained in the ten Commandements. Ti M. In what meaning is it faid,it en, tred thereupon? S r L. The Apoftle meaneth that it came in and entred upon //dams offence, which had made us guilty ofdeath, that we might become more guilty. Some expound and fay, it entred befide the promifeot grace,as the more principal] Do &tine. Tim. Was this the purpofe of God ingi- ving the Law to increafe our guiltineffè ? S IL. No, not fo; the Apoftle doth not note the intention of God, with what purpofè he gave it, but the event that did follow the giving of the Law, that thereby our offence did more a- bound. T t M. In what refpehia is offence and fzti Paid to abound by the Law? S I L. In thefe refpe &s : Firfybecaufe a Law being given , fin was made more grievous now by the breach of it. Se- condly,fin is more furred up and irrita- ted by the Law, our nature defiring the things that are forbidden it. Thirdly, the Law doth afford us a cleerer fight and knowledge of our fins, which were more rnanifetied unto us by the Law, as may bee made plaine unto us by there comparifons. Firft, of a Claire, which makes us fee the fpdts of our face what they be, and how foule they be. Second- ly, of a Candle, which doth difcover unto us the things in a roome which lye out of order,and could not bee efpied in the dark. So by the Law we come to un- derfland what our finnes bee, and how grievous they are. T i se Tel us now what it meant by Grace? Si L. The favour ofGod, in the free forgivenefs of all fin lies by the merit of Chrift his obedience. T t m. In wi,otjènf it it faid,that grace abounded? Si L.In refpet of us and of our know- ledge : for by the forgivenefs of our ma- ny and great fins, the mercy and favour ot God in Chrift,did appear moll mani- feftly unto ps,and is more fully and fa- moufly known. Ta m. B) what f:militude may this be de- dared unto us ? Si L. Of a skilful] Surgeon or Phyfi- tian, who by curing and healing great and defperate wounds and difeafes,doth not get more skill,but doe more mani- feft their skill which they had. Second- ly,of a moil kind Prince or father, who by pardoning fore great faults of their Children or Subje&s, doe fo much the more make known the clemency, and kindnefs,by how much their offence was more heinous : in likemanner the more and fouler the finnes be which bee for- given us of God, the more plentifully doch he declare his grace. From whence we learne : Firft, that wonderfull is the wifdonie and goodneffe of God, that can turne filch a thing as finne is, to the praife of his grace; as David, fall, Pfal. 5t. i. and Peter,denyall, Luke 22.3.2. Secondly, it affordeth a great comfort to great fanners, fo as they fede their fins and beleeve in Chrift ; for whatfo- ever their fins bee, there is mercy with God, more then to countervaile them . Grace in Chrift is more able to fave. then Adams fn to condemne. Thirdly, God fuffereth men to abound in finne, with a meaning not to defiroy them therefore
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