Rom. v. 20, 21. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound : that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
FROM eternity God determined to glorify his grace : for this end he permitted sin to enter into the world. The publication of his law also promoted
the same end : it served to shew how awfully sin had abounded, and consequently to magnify that grace which destroyed sin. To this effect the Apostle speaks in the text and the words preceding it.
We shall endeavour to shew, I. How sin has abounded —
The transgression of Adam was of a very malignant nature.
[In the whole preceding context that sin in particular is referred to, and it may well be considered as of a crimson dye. It argued a contempt of God's goodness, which had bestowed so much upon him3: it argued a doubt of his veracity, which was engaged to inflict the penalty b: it argued a rejection of his authority, which forbad the eating of that fruit0 : It argued an attempt to invade the peculiar prerogatives of God d. Surely in this single transgression sin greatly abounded.]
But sin spread also over the whole world —
[Adam begat sons " in his own fallen likeness." All his descendents inherited his corruption0, and cast off the yoke which their Maker had imposed upon them: there was not so much as one single exception to be found f. On this very account God once destroyed all but one family.]
It had moreover prevailed in every heart to an awful degree —
[Every faculty of men's souls was debased by it. The understanding was blinded, the will made obstinate, the con- science seared : all the " members of their bodies also were made instruments of unrighteousness." There was not an imagination of their thoughts that was not evilg.]
It even took occasion from the holy law of God to rage the more.
[God gave his law to discover and repress sin : but sin would not endure any restraint : it rose like water against the dam that obstructs its progress11, and inflamed men both against the law, and against him who gave it. Thus, in using so good a law to so vile a purpose, it displayed its own exceeding sinfulness1.]
But God did not altogether abandon our wretched world —
a Gen. ii. 8, 9. b Gen. iii. 4. c Gen. ii. 17.
d Gen. iii. 5. e Job xiv. 4. f Ps. xiv. 2, 3.
s Gen. vi. 5. h Rom. vii. 8. ' Rom. vii. 13.