2. In this expression the apostle does not appear to speak of its effects; but rather of its nature: as St. _James_ speaking of the same thing under another name, says, _The wisdom from above_ (which is no other than this law, written on our heart) _is first pure_, chap. iii. 17. ἁγνὴ, chaste, spotless, internally, and essentially holy. And consequently, when it is transcribed into the life, as well as the soul, it is (as the same apostle terms it,) chap. i. 27. θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ ἀμίαντος. _Pure religion and undefiled_; or, the pure, clean, unpolluted worship of God. 3. It is indeed, in the highest degree, pure, chaste, clean, holy. Otherwise it could not be the immediate offspring, and much less the express resemblance of God, who is essential holiness. It is pure from all sin, clean and unspotted from any touch of evil. It is a chaste virgin, incapable of any defilement, of any mixture with that which is unclean or unholy. It has no fellowship with sin of any kind. For _what communion hath light with darkness_? As sin is in its very nature enmity to God, so his law is enmity to sin. Therefore it is, that the apostle rejects with such abhorrence, that blasphemous supposition, that _the law_ of God _is_ either _sin_ itself, or the cause of sin. God _forbid_, that we should suppose, it is the cause of sin, because it is the discoverer of it: because it detects the hidden things of darkness, and drags them out into open day. ’Tis true, by this means, (as the apostle observes, ver. 13.) _sin appears to be sin_. All its disguises are torn away, and it appears in its native deformity. ’Tis true likewise, that _sin by the commandment becomes exceeding sinful_. Being now committed against light and knowledge, being stript even of the poor plea of ignorance, it loses its excuse as well as disguise, and becomes far more odious both to God and man. Yea, and it is true, that _sin worketh death by that which is good_, which in itself is pure and holy. When it is dragged out to light, it rages the more: when it is restrained, it bursts out with greater violence. Thus the apostle, (speaking in the person of one, who was convinced of sin, but not yet delivered from it) _sin taking occasion by the commandment_, detecting and endeavouring to restrain it, disdained the restraint, and so much the more _wrought in me all manner of concupiscence_, ver. 8. All manner of foolish and hurtful desire, which that commandment sought to restrain. Thus _when the commandment came, sin revived_, ver. 9. It fretted and raged the more. But this is no stain on the commandment. Though it is abused it cannot be defiled. This only proves, that _the heart_ of man _is desperately wicked_. But _the law_ of God is _holy_ still.