e obedience. There is no man breathing, how blameless soever he
be before the world, but must fall down as guilty before God in many
things, yea, in all things. But the law being thus obliterated out of
men's consciences, as he lost ability to obey, so he lost almost all
conscience of sin and disobedience. He not knowing his charge and
obligation, could not accuse himself for falling in rebellion. Therefore
it pleased the Lord to cause the law to be written in tables of stone in
mount Sinai. He transcribes the commandments over again, that all the
world may see their obligation, and how infinitely short they have come in
their subjection, and how just their condemnation may be. For this
purpose, the Lord causes proclaim the old bond in the ears of men with
great majesty and authority, as it became the Lawgiver, that all may
become guilty, and stop their mouth before God, Rom. iii. 19. He would
once have all men knowing that they are under infinite breaches of his
commandments, that they may see themselves also subject to his judgment.
Now, what do you think of a soul that stands at the foot of this mountain,
and hears a dreadful accusation read against it, to all which the
conscience within must subscribe unto, and both together pronounce the
person guilty and liable to eternal punishment? I say, what can such a
soul do, who has with trembling heard his voice? Satisfaction there cannot
be given for an infinite offence against an infinite nature. The curse and
sentence which was the sanction and confirmation of this commandment is
just, and there appears no way how, without violation of God's justice, it
can be repealed. Obedience to these commandments is now both impossible
and unprofitable;--impossible, I say, because of the weakness and
wickedness of the flesh, that has no ability nor willingness but to offend
and disobey; and unprofitable, because it cannot at all relax the former
sentence of condemnation. Now obedience, being a present duty, cannot pay
old debts, or satisfy for our former rebellions, and so it must leave a
man to seen condemnation. I fear this is a puzzle that all consciences
must come unto here, or elsewhere. Here is a strait indeed.

But yet there is an enlargement, there is a way found out of bringing the
soul out of the miry clay, and deep pit of misery; and it is this, God
hath found out a ransom for himself, without our procurement, or consent,
or knowledge. He hath provided a satisfaction to hi