Son of God: for its condition and promise are connected, when it says on this wise, “_Do_ this, and _live_.” But man’s original guilt and practical disobedience, incurring a double forfeiture of the promised reward, the law possesseth an eventual incapacity of _making righteous_: and this is, what the apostle says, “the law could not do,” Rom. viii. 3, or το αδυνατον του νομου is, the _impossibility of the law_. So that, whoever seeks justification by it, seeks an _impossibility_; and by having recourse to its obligation of perfect obedience, and failing notwithstanding in a fulfilment of that obligation, he lays himself open to the full force of its condemning sentence, its penal sanctions, and tremendous curse. “As many as are of the works of the law, are under the CURSE.” Gal. iii., 10. 5. But, since, according to numerous testimonies of scripture; agreeably to the purity, spirituality, and indispensable requirements of the law; and consistently with the universal depravity of human nature; man cannot, without the highest arrogance, and even blasphemy, lay any claim to personal merit: how then is he to become _righteous_? This is an inquiry of infinite importance; since it is declared, that “the _unrighteous_ shall not inherit the kingdom of God;” and since, without an exemption from guilt and an interest in a positive righteousness, man can have no scriptural ground to hope for a deliverance from death or a title to life; to expect the favor of God here, or to claim his kingdom hereafter. In illustrating this point, it will be necessary to consider, how a man’s person may be righteous towards God, and how his works may so justify his religious profession before the world, as to vindicate his character from the imputation of hypocrisy, and demonstrate the genuineness of his faith.