thought is punishable by our Judge g. Omissions of duty will entail on us the same judgments11. A violation of the law in one point ensures condemnation as truly, though not as severely, as a rejection of the whole1. One single transgression brought misery on the whole world k; and this was agreeable to the terms of the Adamic covenant1. St. Paul speaks of this penalty as still in force m. He even cites the very words of the text in proof of the doctrine which we deduce from them". Hence the law is called " a ministration of death."]
None, however, will cordially assent to the truth of this doctrine till they see ground for,
II. A confession of its reasonableness —
The law, both in its extent and sanctions, is highly reasonable0. That one sin may reasonably subject us to condemnation appears,
From analogy —
[Offences in civil society are rated according to the dignity of the person against whom they are committed p. Now sin is committed against an infinitely great and good God. Hence it contracts an inexpressible malignity. Moreover one act of treason is punished with death. Nor is this judged unreason- able in human governments. Why then may not the death of the soul be annexed to every instance of rebellion against God q?]
From the nature of sin —
[Sin dishonours God, takes fart with Satan, and unfits for heaven. Are these such light evils, that they not only may, but
s Eccl. xii. 14. h Matt. xxv. 30. * Jam. ii. 10.
k Rom. v. 12, 18, 19. > Gen. ii. 17.
m Rom. vi. 23. It is not said that death is the wages of much or heinous sin, but of sin, i. e. of any and every sin.
n Gal. iii. 10.
° We would not be understood to make the doctrine depend on its reasonableness, and much less on our statement of its reasonableness : we only wish to vindicate it from the objections which unhumbled reason would bring against it. If we were not able to urge one reason in its defence, it were quite sufficient to say, ' God has revealed it, and therefore it must be reasonable ; ' for nothing can be unreason- able which proceeds from him.
P Should we strike an inferior, an equal, a superior, a benefactor, a parent, a sovereign, the offence would proportionably rise ; so that, what in one case might be expiated by a small fine, in another would be counted worthy of death.
9 Is not God's majesty to be regarded as well as man's ? and his government to be supported as well as man's ?