Well then, when we meet with the word Law, if we would not be imposed on by the mere Sound of a Word, we must carefully view the Text on all sides, and survey and consider all its Circumstances. When what is proper to the Gospel is attributed to the Law, the word Law is not to be apprehended in the strict Sense, as signifying a Rule of Duty, and threatening Penalties to the Disobedient; or as importing a Doctrine of Works, but a Doctrine of Grace. Thus when the Law is said to turn the Soul, and to rejoice the Heart, Psal. 19. 8, 9. since these are not the Effects of the Law, as a Doctrine of Works; for that rather effects a Sense of Wrath, than any hope in the Heart of a guilty condemned Sinner; and its Efficacy is more suited to wound him with anxious Fears, or tormenting Despair, rather than to comfort him, Rom. 4. 15. we must by no means conceive a proper Law, consisting of Precepts and Menaces, to be meant, but the Doctrine of the Mercies of God in Christ, which only can have those Virtues and Influences. And so when the Apostle too calls the Gospel a Law of Faith, since he makes the Righteousness of the Law opposite to the Righteousness which is of Faith, Rom. 10. 4, 5, 6. and Rom. 3. 20, 21, 22. he must consequently mean not a Law in the strict Sense, not a Doctrine of Works, but of pure Grace. And by this Rule we are to proceed; when we find the Gospel called a Law, we are not to understand it in the strict meaning, as a Rule of Duty with a Sanction, which is the proper and peculiar Nature of the Moral Law, but as a revealed Instruction to us, what the Mind of God is concerning our Recovery and Salvation by Christ. And when we hear of the Precepts and Threatenings of the Gospel, and read them in that part of the Bible which we ⟨p. 41⟩call the New Testament, whether in the Sermons of our Saviour, or in the Writings of the Apostles, we are not to surmise presently, that these are any Parts of the Gospel, properly so titled, as it is a Word of Grace, and the Doctrine of our Redemption by Jesus, tho they are contained in that Book to which we commonly give that Name: For this would be to perplex our Notions of Things which are entirely distinct in their Natures and Idea's, and to jumble them so confusedly together, that we should not be able, upon sight, to discern and know one from the other.
Well then, when we meet with the word Law, if we would not be impos'd on by the meer Sound of a Word, we must carefully view the Text on all sides, and survey and consider all its Circumstances. When what is proper to the Gospel is attributed to the Law, the word Law is not to be apprehended in the strict Sense, as signifying a Rule of Duty, and threatning Penalties to the Disobedient; or as importing a Doctrine of Works, but a Doctrine of Grace. Thus when the Law is said to turn the Soul, and to rejoice the Heart, Psal. 19. 8, 9. since these are not the Effects of the Law, as a Doctrine of Works; for that rather effects a Sense of Wrath, than any hope in the Heart of a guilty condemned Sinner; and its Efficacy is more suted to wound him with anxious Fears, or tormenting Despair, rather than to comfort him, Rom. 4. 15. we must by no means conceive a proper Law, consisting of Precepts and Menaces, to be meant, but the Doctrine of the Mercies of God in Christ, which only can have those Virtues and Influences. And so when the Apostle too calls the Gospel a Law of Faith, since he makes the Righteousness of the Law opposite to the Righteousness which is of Faith, Rom. 10. 4, 5, 6. and Rom. 3. 20, 21, 22. he must consequently mean not a Law in the strict Sense, not a Doctrine of Works, but of pure Grace. And by this Rule we are to proceed; when we find the Gospel call'd a Law, we are not to understand it in the strict meaning, as a Rule of Duty with a Sanction, which is the proper and peculiar Nature of the Moral Law, but as a revealed Instruction to us, what the Mind of God is concerning our Recovery and Salvation by Christ. And when we hear of the Precepts and Threatnings of the Gospel, and read them in that part of the Bible which we ⟨p. 41⟩call the New Testament, whether in the Sermons of our Saviour, or in the Writings of the Apostles, we are not to surmise presently, that these are any Parts of the Gospel, properly so titled, as it is a Word of Grace, and the Doctrine of our Redemption by Jesus, tho they are contain'd in that Book to which we commonly give that Name: For this would be to perplex our Notions of Things which are entirely distinct in their Natures and Idea's, and to jumble them so confusedly together, that we should not be able, upon sight, to discern and know one from the other.
