M.  Dost thou then determine that no mortal man is justified before God by the law?

      S.  No man.  For the ^pscriptures do also pronounce the same.

      M.  Why then did God make such a law as requireth a perfection above our ability?

      S.  In making the law, God respected not so much what we were able to perform, which by our own fault ^qare very weak, as what was meet for his own righteousness.  And forasmuch as none but the highest ^rrighteousness could please God, it behoved that the rule of life which he set out should be thoroughly perfect.  Moreover, the law requireth nothing of us but that we are bound to perform.  But since we are far from due ^sobeying the law, men can have no sufficient or lawful excuse to defend themselves before God; and so the law accuseth all men for guilty, yea, ^tand condemneth them before the judgment-seat of God: and that is the cause why Paul calleth the law the ministry of death and damnation.

      M.  Doth then the law set all men in this most remediless estate?

      S.  The unbelieving ^uand the ungodly the law doth both set and leave in such case as I have spoken, who, as they are not able to fulfil the least jot of the law, so have they no affiance at all in God through Christ.  But among the godly the law hath other uses.

      M.  What uses?

      S.  First, the law, in requiring so ^xprecise perfectness of life, doth shew to the godly as it were a mark for them to level at, and a goal to run unto, that, daily profiting, they may with earnest endeavour travel toward the highest uprightness.  This purpose and desire the godly, by the guiding of God, do conceive.  But principally they take heed, so much as they are able to do and attain to, that it may not be said that there is any notorious fault in them.  Secondly, whereas the law requireth things far above ^yman’s power,and where they find themselves too weak for so great a burden, the law doth raise them up to crave strength at the Lord’s hand.  Moreover, when the law doth continually ^zaccuse them, it striketh their heart with a wholesome sorrow, and driveth them to the repentance that I spake of, and to beg and obtain pardon of God through Christ, and therewithal restraineth them, that they trust not upon their own innocency, nor presume to be proud in the sight of God, and is always to them as a bridle to withhold them in the fear of God.  Finally, when beholding by the law, ^aas it were in a glass, the spots and uncleanness of their souls, they learn thereby that they are not able to attain perfect righteousness ^bby their works: by this mean they are trained to humility, and so the law prepareth them and sendeth them to seek righteousness in Christ.

      M.  Then, as far as I perceive, thou sayest that ^cthe law is as it were a certain schoolmaster to Christ, to lead us the right way to Christ, by knowing of ourselves, and by repentance and faith.

      S.  Yea, forsooth.