A discourse of the true nature of the Gospel demonstrating that it is no…

Luther tells us, ^aThat all Justiciaries esteem Christ to be a new Legislator, and judg the Gospel to be no other than a Book which contains new Laws concerning Works; as the Turks dream about their Alcoran: But there are Laws enough in Moses. The Gospel therefore is a preaching concerning Christ, that he forgives Sins, gives Grace, justifies and saves Sinners. But now that Precepts are found in the Gospel; those are not the Gospel, but Expositions of the Law, and Appendixes of the Gospel.

1. aSic omnes Justiciarii existimant Christum esse novum quendam Legislatorem, & judicant Evangelium nihil aliud esse, quam librum, qui contineat novas Leges de operibus, ut Turcae de suo Alcorano somniant; sed satis Legum est in Mose. Ideo Evangelium est praedicatio de Christo, quod remittat peccata, donet gratiam, justificet, & salvet peccatores. Quod autem praecepta in Evangelio reperiuntur, ista non sunt Evangelium, sed expositiones Legis & Appendices Evangelii. Luther. plenior Comment. in Galat. 2. 17. Fol. 42. pag. 1. in Tom. 4. oper.

Now any one would think, that this Luther would never call the Gospel a Law; and yet so he doth, expounding a little after the 19th Verse, and is before cited by me. And in what Sense he means the Gospel to have that Name, he informs us plainly, in his Comment on Isa. 2. 3. Out of Zion shall go forth the Law.^b This is the Cause (says he) of the Multiplication of the Church, and of the Amplification of Christ's Kingdom, viz. the Preaching of the Gospel: For he here promiseth a new Word. For unless he signified a new Doctrine, what need was there at length to promise a Law, which had been made so many Years before? And he manifestly signifies the difference, in that he adds, out of Zion: As if he should say, I first gave a Law in Sinai, I will now give another in Mount Zion, which shall not be a Doctrine of Works, but of Faith; not of Laws, but of Grace; not accusing, but bestowing pardon of Sins, &c.