Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the…Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the…

1. It's of great consequence in what sense we use the Word [Law.]¹

1. 11. The Law, according to the use of the word in the Scripture, is not only a strict […] of things to be done by way of command; but denoteth any heavenly doctrine, whether it be promise, or precept.1. The Law, according to the use of the word in the Scripture, is not onely a strict 〈…〉 of things to be done by way of command; but denoteth any heavenly doctrine, whether it be promise, or precept.

He that distinguisheth well, teacheth well. Now I observe a great neglect of this in the books written about these points; and, indeed, the reason why some can so hardly endure the word [Law] is, because they attend to the use of the word in English; or the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew], and Lex, as it is defined by Tully and Aristotle, which understand it a strict rule only of things to be done, and that by way of mere command. But now the Hebrew word [Greek or Hebrew] doth comprehend more; for that doth not only signify strictly what is to be done, but it denoteth largely any heavenly doctrine, whether it be promise, or precept: and hence it is, that the Apostle calleth it, The law of faith (which in some sense would be a contradiction, and in some places, where the word Law is used absolutely, it's much questioned, whether he mean the Law or the Gospel) and the reason why he calls it a law of faith, is not (as Chrysostom would have it) because hereby he would sweeten the Gospel, and, for the words sake, make it more pleasing to them; but happily, in a mere Hebraism, as signifying that in general, which doth declare and teach the will of God.

He that distinguisheth well, teacheth well. Now I observe a great neglect of this in the books written about these points; and, indeed, the reason why some can so hardly endure the word [Law] is, because they attend to the use of the word in English; or the Greek word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, and Lex, as it is defined by Tully and Aristotle, which understand it a strict rule only of things to be done, and that by way of meere command. But now the Hebrew word doth comprehend more; for that doth not only signifie strictly what is to be done, but it denoteth largely any heavenly doctrine, whether it be promise, or precept: and hence it is, that the Apostle calleth it, The law of faith (which in some sense would be a contradiction, and in some places, where the word Law is used absolutely, it's much questioned, whether he mean the Law or the Gospel) and the reason why he calls it a law of faith, is not (as Chrysostome would have it) because hereby he would sweeten the Gospel, and, for the words sake, make it more pleasing to them; but happily, in a meere Hebraisme, as signifying that in generall, which doth declare and teach the will of God.