Dead to the law
But a careful observer of the apostle’s discourse, will not be content with these slight explications of it. And the more he weighs the words, the more convinced he will be that St. Paul by the law mentioned in this chapter, does not mean either the ancient law of Rome, or the ceremonial law of Moses. This will clearly appear to all who attentively consider the tenor of his discourse. He begins the chapter, Do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law, to them who have been instructed in it from their youth) That the law has dominion over a man, as long as he lives? (Romans 7:1). (What the law of Rome only, or the ceremonial law? No surely; but the moral law) For, to give a plain instance, the woman that has a husband, is bound by the (moral) law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband is dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband, (Romans 7:2). So then, if while her husband lives, she is married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is married to another man. (Romans 7:3). From this particular instance the apostle proceeds to draw that general conclusion. Therefore, my brethren, by a plain parity of reason, you also have become dead to the law, the whole Mosaic institution, by the body of Christ offered for you, and bringing you under a new dispensation: that you should without any blame be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, and has thereby given proof of his authority to make the change, that you should bring forth fruit to God. (Romans 7:4). And this we can do now, whereas before we could not: For when we were in the flesh, under the power of the flesh, that is, of corrupt nature, (which was necessarily the case till we knew the power of Christ’s resurrection) the motions of sin, which were by the law, which were shown and inflamed by the Mosaic law, not conquered, did work in our members, broke out various ways, to bring forth fruit to death. (Romans 7:5). But now we are delivered from the law, from that whole moral as well as ceremonial economy; that being dead whereby we were held: that entire institution being now as it were dead, and having no more authority over us, than the husband when dead has over his wife: that we should serve him who died for us and rose again; in newness of spirit, in a new spiritual dispensation, and not in the oldness of the letter, (Romans 7:6), with a bare outward service, according to the letter of the Mosaic institution.
1771 text
2. But a careful observer of the apostle’s discourse, will not be content with these slight explications of it. And the more he weighs the words, the more convinced he will be that St. Paul by the law mentioned in this chapter, does not mean either the ancient law of Rome, or the ceremonial law of Moses. This will clearly appear to all who attentively consider the tenor of his discourse. He begins the chapter, Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to them that know the law, to them who have been instructed therein from their youth) That the law hath dominion over a man, as long as he liveth? ver. 1. (What the law of Rome only, or the ceremonial law? No surely; but the moral law) For, to give a plain instance, the woman that hath an husband, is bound by the (moral) law to her husband as long as he liveth. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband, ver. 2. So then, if while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, tho’ she be married to another man. ver 3. From this particular instance the apostle proceeds to draw that general conclusion. Wherefore, my brethren, by a plain parity of reason, ye also are become dead to the law, the whole Mosaic institution, by the body of Christ offered for you, and bringing you under a new dispensation: that ye should without any blame be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, and hath thereby given proof of his authority to make the change, that ye should bring forth fruit unto God. ver. 4. And this we can do now, whereas before we could not: For when we were in the flesh, under the power of the flesh, that is, of corrupt nature, (which was necessarily the case till we knew the power of Christ’s resurrection) the motions of sin, which were by the law, which were shewn and inflamed by the Mosaic law, not conquered, did work in our members, broke out various ways, to bring forth fruit unto death. ver. 5. But now we are delivered from the law, from that whole moral as well as ceremonial œconomy; that being dead whereby we were held: that intire institution being now as it were dead, and having no more authority over us, than the husband when dead hath over his wife: that we should serve him who died for us and rose again; in newness of spirit, in a new spiritual dispensation, and not in the oldness of the letter, ver. 6. with a bare outward service, according to the letter of the Mosaic institution.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 34 in the 1771 Works. Romans 7:12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.