What is the second vse?
It is inward or secret, which smiteth the conscience of man, & doth detect, conuince and condemne sin, and bringeth man forth to Gods iudgement seate, and maketh him subiect to the sentence of Gods curse. Of this vse it is saide, Rom. 3.20. By the lavv, is the knowledge of sinne. And chap. 7.9. I liued sometimes vvithout the law; (that is, through my security, I felt not the iudgement of the Law) but when the commaundement came, sinne reuiued, and I became dead that is, I vnderstood I was worthy of death and damnation. In respect of this vse, the Lavv, is said to worke vvrath, Rom. 4.15. be∣cause it denounceth the wrath of God, and proclaimeth vs subiect to Gods anger. And 2. Cor. 3. The Law is the ministerie of death, that is, it causeth by the acknowledgement of sinne, to vnderstand, that wee are worthy of death, that is condemnation.
This property the law hath in it not by any fault in it self (for in the owne nature it is good and holy) but through the fault of our cor∣rupt nature. For as the touch stone is not gold, but a meanes to discouer pure Gold from counterfaite, so the lawe is not the cause of sin, but a touchstone discouering iust from vniust, Rom. 7.5.7.
This vse serueth to terrifie them that are desperate and forlorne, and to bring them in awe, who are not desperate, and to prepare them to seeke remedy, and to receiue that remedy which is offe∣red to them in Christ. In which respect the law is said to haue bin our Schoole-master, to bring vs to Christ, Gal. 4.24. For where as it reproued all men of vnrighteousnesse, it likewise admonisheth thē that righteousnes was to be sought in Christ, except they would rather perish.
An example of this vse we haue in Dauid after hee heard him∣selfe rebuken by Nathan* 1.1, and in Ezechiah who saith Esai. 38.13. Like a Lyon he hath broken all my bones. And Act. 2.14.23.37. When