This law falls under a double consideration, but im neither of them was designed to give power or strength against sin :—
1. As i was given unto mankind in the state of innocency; and- it did then absolutely and exactly declare the whole duty of man, whatever God in his wisdom and holiness did require of us. It was God’s ruling of man according to the principle of the righteousness wherein he was created. But it gave no new aids against sin; nor was there any need that so it should do. It was not the ordinance of God to administer new or more grace unto man, but to rule and govern him according to what he had received; and this it continueth to do for ever. It claims and continues a rule over all men, according to what they had and what they have; but it never had power to bar the entrance of sin, nor to cast it out when it is once enthroned.
2. As tt was renewed and enjoined unto the church of Israel on Mount Sinai, and with them unto all that would join themselves unto the Lord out of the nations of the world. Yet neither was it then, nor as such, designed unto any such end as to destroy or de- throne sin by an administration of spiritual strength and grace. It had some new ends given then unto it, which it had not in its ori- ginal constitution, the principal whereof was to drive men to the promise, and Christ therein; and this it doth by all the acts and powers of it on the souls of men. As it discovers sin, as it irritates and provokes it by its severity, as it judgeth and condemneth it, as it denounceth a curse on sinners, it drives unto this end; for this was added of grace in the renovation of it, this new end was given unto it. In itself it hath nothing to do with sinners, but to judge, curse, and condemn them.
544 OF THE DOMINION OF SIN AND GRACE.
There is, therefore, no help to be expected against the dominion of sin from the law. It was never ordained of God unto that end; nor doth it contain, nor is it communicative of, the grace necessary unto that end, Rom. viii. 3.
Wherefore, those who are “under the law” are under the dominion of sin. “The law is holy,” but it cannot make them holy who have made themselves unholy; it is “just,” but it cannot make them so,— it cannot justify them whom it doth condemn; it is “good,” but can do them no good, as unto their deliverance from the power of sin. God hath not appointed it unto that end. Sin will never be de- throned by it; it will not give place unto the law, neither in its title nor its power.
Those who are under the law will at some seasons endeavour to shake off the yoke of sin, and resolve to be no longer under its power; as,—
1. When the law presseth on their consciences, perplexing and disquieting them. The commandment comes home unto them, sin reviveth, and they die, Rom. vii. 9, 10; that is, it gives power to sin to slay the hopes of the sinner, and to distress him with the ap- -prehension of guilt and death: for “the strength of sin is the law,” 1 Cor. xv. 56;—the power it hath to disquiet and condemn sinners is in and by the law. When it is thus with sinners, when the law presseth them with a sense of the guilt of sin, and deprives them of all rest and peace in their minds, they will resolve to cast off the yoke of sin, to relinquish its service, that they may be freed from the urgency of the law on their consciences; and they will endeavour it in some instances of duty and abstinence from sin.
2. They will do the same under surprisals with sickness, pain, dangers, or death itself, Then they will cry, and pray, and promise to reform, and set about it, as they suppose, in good earnest. This case is fully exemplified, Ps. Ixxviii. 34-87; and it is manifest in daily experience amongst multitudes. There are few who are so seared and profligate but at such seasons they will think of return- ing to God, of relinquishing the service of sin, and vindicating them- selves from under its dominion. And in some it worketh a lasting change, though no real conversion doth ensue; but with the most this “ goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”
3. The same effect is produced in many by the preaching of the word. Some arrow of conviction is fastened in their minds, whereon their former ways displease them, and they judge it is better for them to change the course of their lives, and to relinquish the service of sin. These resolutions for the most part abide with them according to the society which they have or fall into. Good society
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may much help them in their resolves for a time, when by that which is evil and corrupt they are presently extinguished.
4, Sometimes merciful, endearing providences will have the same effect on the minds of men not obdurate in sin. Such are deliver- ances from imminent dangers, sparing the lives of near relations, and the like.