[We all are under the law. The law was given to man in Paradise. It was written in his heart, when he came out of his Creator's hands. We all, therefore, are under it ; and, consequently, " every mouth must be stopped, and all the world become guilty before Godd."
If this inference be not true, I would ask, which of the premises is erroneous ?
Does the law require less than I have stated ? If any one think so, let him tell me where God has dispensed with any one of its commandments ? Where has he authorized us to alienate from him any measure of that love which he had required in his law ? or where has he lowered the standard of our love to man ; and permitted us to act otherwise towards him, than we, in a change of circumstances, should think it right that he should act towards us ?
If the requirements of the law are not reduced, are its sanctions altered ? Has God any where revoked them ? Has he not, on the contrary, expressly said, " The soul that sinneth, it shall diee?"
If its requirements are not altered, nor its sanctions revoked, can you say you are not under it ? The whole race of man- kind are under it : and must continue under it, till they lay hold on that better covenant which God has given us in his Gospel.
There is, then, no possibility of evading the inference that is here drawn ; namely, that as many as are under the law, and consequently the whole race of mankind, are under the curse. O ! remember this, ye old ; it curses you : ye young ; it curses you : ye moral ; it curses you. There is not a child of man to whom it does not say, " Thou art cursed."]
Who, then, must not see,
1. The folly of seeking to be justified by the works
of the law ?
[If you had sinned but once, and then only in thought, you would be cursed, as a violator of God's law; and, conse- quently, be without hope of obtaining salvation by it. For, if you would be saved by it, you must first atone for your offences against it ; and then obey it perfectly in future. But which of these can ye do ? If ye were to shed rivers of tears, they could never wash away one sin. The whole race of mankind would never be able to atone for one sin. And suppose your past offences forgiven ; which of you, for a single day or hour, could fulfil the law perfectly in future ? Know, that this would be an hopeless attempt ; and that, consequently, " by the works
d Rom. hi. 19. e Ezek. xviii. 20.