life unto the law of death;
the gospel unto the law, the second covenant unto the first. Thus it is
then, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, full of grace and truth, did
come in man's stead, when the law and sentence of death was passed upon
all mankind, and there was no expectation, from the terms of the first
covenant, that there should be any dispensation or mitigation of the
rigour of it. He obtains this, that so many as God had chosen unto life,
their sins and their punishment might be laid on him. And so he took part
of our flesh, for this end, that he might be made a curse for us, and so
redeem us from the curse. Thus, having satisfied justice, and fulfilled
the sentence of death, by suffering death,--"Him hath God exalted to be a
Prince and a Saviour," and the head of all things. In compensation of this
great and weighty work given him by his Father, all judgment is committed
to him, and so he sends out and proclaims another law in Zion; another
sentence, even of life and absolution, unto all, and upon all them that
shall believe in his name. Thus you see the law of death abrogated by a
new law of life, because our Lord and Saviour was made under the law of
death, and suffered under it, and satisfied it, that all his seed might be
freed from it, and might come under a life-giving law. So that it appears
to be true, that was said at first, "there is no condemnation to them that
are in Christ,"--there is no law, no justice against them.

But then another difficulty as great as the former is in the way. Though
such a law and sentence of life and absolution be pronounced in the
gospel, in Christ's name, yet we are dead in sins and trespasses. We
neither know nor feel our misery, nor can we come to a Redeemer. As there
was a law of death above our head, so there is a law of sin within our
hearts, which rules and commands us; and there is neither will nor ability
to escape from under it. It is true, life and freedom is preached in
Christ, to all that come to him for life. To all that renounce sin's
dominion is remission of sin preached. But here is the greatest
difficulty,--how can a dead soul stir, rise, and walk,--how can a slave to
sin, and a willing captive, renounce it, when he hath neither to will nor
to do? Indeed, if all had been purchased for us, if eternal life and
forgiveness of sins had been brought near us, and all the business done to
our consent, and that only wanting; if these had been the terms, I ha