Chapter 8: Three Conclusions Arising from the Former Doctrine Concerning the Burden Under the Law
You have a notable example of this in the words of Paul, who experienced it in himself. In Romans 7:5, he says, "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." And again, in verse 8, "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence." It took occasion by the commandment. There are many people who are made worse by hearing the law revealed to them until God, by the grace of the Gospel, pleases to overcome their hearts.
Now, when you put all these points together, and a soul becomes enlightened to understand them, do you not think such a soul will be burdened? Is it not a burden to be in this condition? Is it possible for the soul to have any rest in this state? You may say these things are hard to grasp. But first, if you understood the infinite holiness of God and His infinite justice, with whom you have to deal, and if you understood the perfect condition in which God created man at the beginning, these things would be clearer to you.
Present before your soul the infinite holiness and justice of the great God with whom you must deal. Then, consider the perfect state in which God made man in his innocence. Once you see these things, everything will be clearer. And if these things were preached to you alone, without any further teaching, they would indeed seem harsh.
But they are all part of the greater invitation of Christ.
Chapter 8
Three Conclusions Arising from the Former Doctrine Concerning the Burden Under the Law:
Namely, 1. That Man by Nature is in an Evil Case.
2. That It Is a Mighty Work to Save a Soul.
3. That Those Vain Thoughts by Which Men Think to Pacify Their Consciences Will Stand Them in No Stead.
Now, upon hearing these things, we may rightly draw the following conclusions.
First, certainly, man is in an ill case by nature. It is observed of the people of Israel, when Pharaoh increased their bondage, that the Scripture tells us the people saw they were in an ill case. So, when we understand the condition we are in under this bondage, we may conclude that indeed man is in an ill case by nature.
Secondly, another conclusion may be drawn: that it is a mighty work to save a soul. It is not a trivial matter for a soul to be saved; great things must be done by God to save a soul. Many people confess that they are sinners and cry to God for mercy, thinking it is all done once they have asked. But if you understood the condition you are in by nature, and the righteousness of God, you would conclude that it is a mighty work of God to save any soul, and you would realise your need to seek after salvation earnestly and in good time.
Thirdly, hence follows this conclusion: those vain thoughts that men have to pacify their consciences and quiet their hearts will be of no use. For instance, many reason like this: "I am not as bad as others." What if you are not? If you are under the law, you are condemned a thousand times over. You might say you do some good things, sometimes go to church, and pray to God. But what is that
compared to keeping the entire law? If you are in your natural state, reasoning in this way shows that you are seeking salvation by your own deeds. For someone to say, "I do what I can, and I am truly sorry that I cannot do better," will not enable you to stand with comfort before the infinitely righteous God. You must know the state you are in under the law and how you are condemned by it. These are not arguments that can bring rest to your soul. If they could, Christ would never have called in this manner.
You must know that your condition is such that neither the angels in heaven nor men on earth can give rest to your soul. If you understood this, you would be convinced: "Well, I see that there is a burden upon me, even though I have not been fully aware of it; it is such a burden that will press me down to eternal misery, and now I see that I need Christ."
Certainly, if congregations were aware of this burden of the law, how their souls would rejoice in the Gospel and praise the Lord that their ears are blessed to hear such good news: "Come to me, and I will give you rest." I appeal to you: is the opening up of the law not useful in bringing you to Christ? There are many frivolous spirits who call those ministers who seek, out of conscience, to do good to souls and draw them out of their natural state, "legal men," "legal preachers," and such names. But I appeal to your consciences—after knowing these things, will you not come to understand the way to Christ better than you did before? If I had mentioned the name of Christ five hundred times over and over again, would you have come to understand the mystery of God in Christ as much as by hearing what the difference is between the first covenant of works and being under the law? And by learning that Christ came into the world to deliver us from this first covenant?