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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 503 

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 Here I would have thee, by the way, for to take notice, that it is not my intent at this time to enlarge on the several commands in particular—for that would be very tedious both for me to write and thee to read; only thus much I would have thee to do at the reading hereof—make a pause, and sit still one-quarter of an hour, and muse a little in thy mind thus…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 502

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 Third. Again, though a man doth not covet, steal, murder, worship gods of wood and stone, etc., if he does take the Lord’s name in vain, he is forever gone, living and dying under that covenant. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain”; there is the command. But what if we do? Then he said, “The LORD will not hold him guiltless that take…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 501

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 [WHAT IT IS TO BE UNDER THE COVENANT OF WORKS.] SECOND. A second thing to be spoken to is this: to show what it is to be under the law as it is a Covenant of Works, to which I shall speak, and that thus— To be under the law as it is a Covenant of Works is to be bound, upon pain of eternal damnation, to fulfill, and that completely and continually, every…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 500

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 [Further Arguments.] I could have spoken more fully about this, but it would not have been too tedious. I would have spoken what I had to say with as much brevity as possible. But before I pass it, I will, besides this, give you an argument or two more for the further clearing of this, that the substance of the law delivered on Mount Sinai was delivered by…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 499

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 2. They may attain a great deal of honor in the said company of professors, that which may be accounted honor, insomuch that they may be put in trust with church affairs and bear the bag, as Judas did. I speak not this to shame the saints, but, being beloved, I warn them; yet I speak this on purpose that it might, if the Lord will, knock at the door of the…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 498

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 WHAT MEN MAY ATTAIN THAT ARE UNDER THIS COVENANT OF WORKS. [FOURTH] Quest. “But seeing you have spoken thus far, I wish you would do so much as to show in some particulars, both what men have done, and how far they have gone, and what they have received, being yet under this covenant, which you call the ministration of condemnation.” Answ. This is a…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 497

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 2. Thou canst not be saved by the righteous Law of God, the first covenant, because that, together with this thy miserable state, by original and actual sins, before thou didst follow the law, since thy turning to the law thou hast committed several sins against the law—”In many things we offend all.” So that now thy righteousness to the law being mixed with…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 496

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 [WHO ARE THEY THAT ARE UNDER THE COVENANT OF WORKS.] Second. They are under the law and do not only break and disobey the law but follow after the law as hard as ever they can, seeking justification thereby—that is, though a man should abstain from the sins against the law. Labor to fulfill the law and give himself up to the law, yet if he looks no further…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 495

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 Fourth, A fourth end why the Lord did give the law it was, because they that die out of Jesus Christ might not only have their mouths stopped, but also that their persons “might become guilty before God” (Rom 3:19). And indeed this will be the ground of silencing, as I said before, they finding themselves guilty, their consciences backing the truth of the…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 494

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 First, God did give the law that sin might abound, not that it should take away sin in any, but to discover the sin which is already begotten, or that may be hereafter begotten, by lust and Satan (Rom 5:20). I say, this is one proper work of the law, to make manifest sin; it is sent to find fault with the sinner, and it doth also watch that it may do so, and…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 493

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 5. They that are under this covenant or law, their state is deplorable, because this law doth command impossible things of him that is under it; and yet doth but right in it, seeing man at first had in Adam strength to stand, if he would have used it, and the law was given them, as I said before when man was in his full strength; and therefore no inequality…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 492

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 This is because God is God, and man is man. First, Because God is perfectly just and eternally just, perfectly holy and eternally holy, perfectly faithful and eternally faithful; that is, without any variableness or shadow of turning, but perfectly continues the same, and cannot as well cease to be God as to alter or change the nature of His Godhead. As He…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 491

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 I say, therefore, you must understand that if there is a law made that reaches life, it must be taken away for the offense given by the offender against it. It is clear that if the man is spared and saved, it is not the law that doth give the man this advantage, but it is the mere mercy of the king, either because he hath a ransom or satisfaction some other…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 490

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 Thus much now touching the law, and the severity of it upon the person that is found under it, having offended or broken any particular of it, either in thought, word, or action; and now, before I do proceed to the next thing, I shall answer four objections that do lie in my way, and also, such as do stumble most part of the world. Four Objections. Object.…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 489

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 Fourth. Though thou shouldest fulfill this covenant or law, even all of it, for a long time, ten, twenty, forty, fifty, or threescore years, yet if thou do chance to slip and break one of them but once before thou die, thou art also gone and lost by that covenant; for mark, “Cursed is every one that continues not in all things,” that continues not in ALL…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 488

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 WHAT IT IS TO BE UNDER THE COVENANT OF WORKS. SECOND. A second thing to be spoken to is this: to show what it is to be under the law as it is a Covenant of Works, to which I shall speak, and that this— To be under the law as it is a Covenant of Works is to be bound, upon pain of eternal damnation, to fulfill, and that completely and continually, every…

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Works of John Bunyan: THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED. 487

by Thomas Sadler, oil on canvas, 1684 [Further Arguments.] I could have spoken more fully about this, but it would not have been too tedious. I would have spoken what I had to say with as much brevity as possible. But before I pass it, I will, besides this, give you an argument or two more for the further clearing this, that the substance of the law delivered on Mount Sinai was supplied by the…