A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 12
Verſe 12. For as many as hauehave ſinned without the Law, ſhall periſh alſo without the Law: and as many as hauehave ſinned in the Law, ſhall be iudged by the Law.
NOw followeth the proofe, and explanation of what was generally propounded.
They that ſinned without the Law, &c. Senſe.This ſeemes a paradoxe; no Law and yet tranſgreſſionfRom. 4.15.? and eueryevery ſinne is an anomie, the breach of ſome Lawg1 Ioh. 3.4.: Anſ. It is true, where there is no law at all, there can be no tranſgreſſion; but of lawes of God wee may thus diſtinguiſh, according to the different manner of their deliuerie; there is a law written, and there is the law vnwritten: which commonly we call, the law of Nature: written in euerie mans heart: they differ not in ſubſtance, but in circumſtance touching manner of deliuerie. The meaning of the words then is this, they that ſinned without the law written, ſhall periſh without the law written, that is, without imputation of the writing of the law; that ſhall lay no more guilt or aggrauation on their conſciences, in as much as the Lord vouchſafed not that merciemercy vntounto them; neither requires more of any, then hee committed vntounto them: but ſee wee the obſeruations.
Firſt, hence it is eaſily collected, that euen ſuch as ſinne of inuincible ignorance, Obſer. in reſpect of the ſcripture, are for their ſinnes culpable of damnation, Luke 12.47.48.
Reaſons: firſt, God made man righteoushEccl. 7.31.: ſecondly, amongſt no people leaues himſelfe without teſtimonieiAct. 14.16.: hauing laid open before euerie mans eyes, the great booke of his creatureskRom. 1.20., and giuen them Reaſon, and vnderſtanding, whereby, in diſcourſe, they may ariſe from the creatures to the CreatorlIoh. 1.9., euen in things knowne naturally, there is in all, eyther malitious corruptionmIude 10.; or wilfull omiſſion, Rom. 1.21.
Vſe. Whence it is as eaſily inferred, that the plea of ignoramus, will not ſerue turne at the day of reckoning and accounts; eſpecially for vsus in the Church, to whom the law written hath been committed: ſurely, if any ſhould be excuſed for ignorance, it ſhould be the Gentiles: and euen they ſinning, periſh: and yet, euen this the beſt pillar of hope and confidence, our poore people hauehave; and heare what a company of Figge leaues they hauehave ſowed together, to hide this their nakednes: firſt, one ſaith he hath that knowledge that GOD hath giuen him: Anſ. Not ſo: for hee gaue thee more in Adam nGen. 1.27. Col. 3.10.: ſecondly, Gods gifts are to be meaſured, according to the meanes vouchſafed: and meanes plentifull hauehave been granted vntounto our people, which if we refuſe to make vſe of, we cannot blame God for not giuing, but our ſelues, for not receiuing what the Lord tendered vntounto vsus.
A ſecond, pretends multiplicitie of worldly buſineſſes, Anſ. See Luke 14.18. Mat. 6.33. Pro. 8.18.
A third, not booke-learnd: Anſ. Firſt, the booke of the creatures lyeth open: ſecondly, the fault thine owne: thirdly, euen without booke-learning, may a comfortable meaſure of knowledge be attained by attendance to the publike miniſterie, conference, prayer, &c.
A fourth, obſcuritie of Scriptures; which yet are plaine: firſt, in things neceſſarie: ſecondly, to Gods childreno2 Cor. 4.4.: thirdly, hauing will to vnderſtandpPro. 8.18.: fourthy, and vſing the helpes the Lord hath prouided, Ier. 3.15. Mal. 2 7. Epheſ 4.11.12.13.
A … that their guides ſhall anſwere for them. Anſ. Not if they hauehave beene skilfull, and induſtriousqEzech. 3.19. Gal. 6.5., ſecondly, if blind or malicious ſeducers, they ſhall periſh with thee but not without thee. Mat. 15.14.
Reaſons de…ading ignorance: firſt, that none excuſeth, no not inuinc…ble whollyrLuke 12.48.: ſecondly, no ſeruice done in ignorance, pleaſeth God, thou…h done in greateſt heate of deuotionsRom. 10.2. Eccleſ. 4.17.: thirdly, ignorance makes vaſſals of Sathant2 Tim. 2.25.26.: fourthly, excludes from ſaluation, Ioh. 17.3. 2 Theſ. 1.8.
Shall peri…h without the law.] That is vvithout imputation of the breach of the law as it vvas written.
Now here it may be demanded, whether the breach of the whole Morall law, ſhall not be imputed to the Nations, to whom it was not committed in writing? but onelyonly the breach of ſo much as was knowne vntounto them by that diuine light, that remained to them afer the fall? Anſ. I take it yes; that euerie breach of euerie Morall precept, is imputable to euerie child of Adam, Reaſon, becauſe wee were all created in him righteousuEccleſ. 7.31., and had by creation the knowledge of the whole law Morall, Col 3.10.
It may againe be demanded, whether infidelitie in reſpect of the Goſpell, ſhall be imputed to the Gentiles, vntounto whom it was not reuealed? Anſ. I thinke no; becauſe, that is no doctrine knowne by nature, neither had Adam the knowledge thereof reuealed vntounto him; but by eſpeciall grace, after the fall, when he ſtood in eſteeme of a priuate perſon.
And they that ſinned in the Law.] That is, the Iewes to whom the perfect Doctrine of the law was renewed in writing ſhall be iudged by the law, &c. quatenus, it was written, and redeliuered vntounto them.
Obſer. Now theſe two poſitions compared, afford this obſeruation: that where are leſſe meanes, ſhall be lighter vengeance, where greater meanes of knowledge and obedience, heauier damn…tion for tranſgreſſionvvMat. 11.21 22.23.24.: eaſier for Tyrians, and Sydonyans, Sodomites, and Gomorheans, then for the people of Capernaum, Corazin and Bethſaida. Reaſon, becauſe to them fewer, to theſe greater meanes of repentance vouchſafed.
Meanes are of two ſorts; firſt, out…ard, as creatures, ſcriptures, preaching, ſacraments, afflictions, &c ſecondly, inward, naturall reaſon, wit, capacitie, Arte, &c. acquired by education, 2. ſupernaturall, the ſpirit of God, the beſt ſchoolemaiſter.
Reaſon; as ſinnes hauehave more or leſſe of wilfulnes, ſo are they more or leſſe haynous in the ſight of GodL… ….4.5.6.: ſecondly, euen humane equitie requires little, vvhere little; more, where more is committed. Luke 12.48.
Ʋſe 1 Now I would our people would take this doctrine to heart, that, comparing themſelues with their forefathers that liued in the times of darkneſſe, and ignorance, in the midſt of this glorious ſunneſhine of the truth, pleaſe themſelues in this, that they equall their predeceſſors in knowledge: our fathers (ſay they) had not halte that preaching, or knowledge that wee hauehave attained: and yet no doubt, were many of them ſaued. To which wee may anſwere; that how ſo euer their little knowledge, and more affection, might ſteed them: yet ſhall it not ſuffice vsus, to attaine to their mediocritie; in as much as the Lord hath dealt more bountifully with vsus, in vouchſafing vsus more plentifull meanes of knowledge, then he granted them; and therfore may iuſtly expect at our hands greater meaſure of fruits, then at theirs: to whom men commit little, they require the leſſe; to whom more, they expect moreLuke 12.48.: and that might ſerue them for ſaluation, which ſhall not ſteede vsus.
Secondly, let vsus all be admoniſhed, to be in ſome Ʋſe 2 meaſure anſwerable to thoſe meanes the Lord hath vouchſafed vntounto vsus; compare our ſelues with the Gentiles, that were before Chriſt; with our forefathers in times of Poperie; with Turkes, Pagans, Papiſts at this day; with other congregations in our owne Church; and wee ſhall ſee, the Lord hath been rich in his grace towards vsus, in reſpect of them; and let it be our ſhame, that they ſhould outſtrip, or keepe pace with vsus in obedience: ſo for perſonall gifts, as wit, memorie, leaſure, &c. know we, that according to our meanes, the Lord expects a proportion of knowledge, and practiſe: neither will it ſuffice, that we equall others of leſſe meanes, &c.
Thirdly, let no man ſwell with conceit of his great Ʋſe 3 meanes, or abundance of knowledge: greater cauſe of humiliation, then of pride, hauehave all ſuch: in as much as the Lord expects a greater meaſure of obedience from them, then from others: apply theſe things.
Before wee paſſe from this place, it ſhall not be amiſſe to propound one doubt, that perhaps may diſquiet weake conſciences: ſhall they all periſh that ſin in the law? and that ſinne without law? who then ſhall be ſaued? Anſ. To this the anſwere is, that the Goſpell points at a remedie for this rigour of the law; theſe ſentences are legall, and the Goſpell onelyonly reueales exceptions: ſuch as theſe: firſt, except Chriſt ſatisfie: ſecondly, except faith apprehend his ſatisfactionzIoh. 3.10. Gal. 3.13.: and thus muſt all legall ſentences be vnderſtood.
It was the Apoſtles diſcretion, Obſer. to conceale theſe Euangelicall exceptions, becauſe hee here dealt with men puft vp with conceit of their owne righteouſneſſe, Mat. 19.17.
Ʋſe. And it warrants the like wiſedome and practiſe in a miniſter, whiles he is to deale with iuſt…c…aries men vnhumbled in reſpect of their vnrighteouſneſſeaIona. 3.4. Act. 2.36.37. Iud 23.: words of comfort muſt be miniſtred in ſeaſon: Iſay 50.4. vvhichwhich ſeaſon may as well be preuented, as ouerſhipt.