"Wherefore Then Serveth the Law?"

Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law?

"And if, from this unanswerable, and conclusive reasoning, the question should arise in any man's mind, wherefore then serveth the law? The answer (saith Paul) is direct: It was added because of transgressions, until Christ the seed should come. That is to show the heinousness of sin, and the holiness of God: and thereby more fully prove, the infinite importance of redemption by Christ. And nothing could so effectually manifest the desperately wicked state of man's nature by the fall as when held forth in the glass of God's holy law. For precepts to holiness act as a bridle upon our corrupt affections, and we thereby discover our propensities the stronger to offend: just as pent up waters, swell, and grow more violent, the more they are restrained. And hence the law was added, to show poor fallen man the awful state to which by sin he is reduced; and the more powerfully to show the necessity of Christ. Reader! it would be always blessed if men so viewed the holiness of God's law, and their total inability to perform it. Jesus, and his complete salvation would then be valued as the one only ordinance of heaven, whereby we must be saved."

- from Robert Hawker's "Poor Man's Commentary" on Galatians 3:15-20