Vindiciæ legis

First, you must still remember, that the word Law may be used ¹in divers senses; and, before this or that be asserted of it, you must clear in what sense you speak of the Law. Not to trouble you again with the several acceptions of the word, which you must have always in your eye, take notice at the present, of what a large or restrained signification the word Law is capable of: for we may either take the word Law for the whole dispensation and promulgation of the Commandments, Moral, Judicial, and Ceremonial: Or else more strictly, for that part which we call the Moral Law; yet with the preface and promises added to it: and in both these respects the Law was given as a Covenant of grace (which is to be proved in due time:) Or else most strictly, for that which is mere mandative and preceptive, without any promise at all: And in this sense, most of those assertions which the Learned have concerning the difference between the Law and the Gospel, are to be understood; for, if you take (as for the most part they do) all the precepts and threatenings scattered up and down in the Scripture, to be properly the Law; and then all the gracious promises, wheresoever they are, to be the Gospel, then it's no marvel if the Law have many hard expressions cast upon it. Now this shall be handled on purpose in a distinct ⟨p. 140⟩question by it self, because I see many excellent men peremptory for this difference: but I much question, whether it will hold, or no.

First, you must still remember, that the word Law may be used ¹in divers senses; and, before this or that be asserted of it, you must cleare in what sense you speak of the Law. Not to trouble you againe with the severall acceptions of the word, which you must have alwaies in your eye, take notice at the present, of what a large or restrained signification the word Law is capable of: for we may either take the word Law for the whole dispensation and promulgation of the Commandements, Morall, Judiciall, and Ceremoniall: Or else more strictly, for that part which we call the Morall Law; yet with the preface and promises added to it: and in both these respects the Law was given as a Covenant of grace (which is to be proved in due time:) Or else most strictly, for that which is meere mandative and preceptive, without any promise at all: And in this sense, most of those assertions which the Learned have concerning the difference between the Law and the Gospel, are to be understood; for, if you take (as for the most part they do) all the precepts and threatnings scattered up and downe in the Scripture, to be properly the Law; and then all the gracious promises, wheresoever they are, to be the Gospel, then it's no marvell if the Law have many hard expressions cast upon it. Now this shall be handled on purpose in a distinct