SECTION IV.

THE PROPER PLACE AND STATION OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL.

NOTE, That in the four following Paragraphs, as well as in the three preceding Sections, by Law, is mostly understood the doctrine of the Covenant of Works; and by GOSPEL, the doctrine of the Covenant of Grace.

PARAGRAPH I.

The Place and Station of Law and Gospel in general.

WHEN We the sacred record view,

Or divine Test'ments Old and New,
The matter in most pages fix'd
Is law and gospel intermix'd.

Yet few, ev'n in a learn'd age,
Can so resolve the sacred page;

As to discern with equal eye,

Where law, where gospel, sever'd lie.

One divine text with double clause

May speak the gospel's voice and law's :*

* Ex. gr. Lev. xx. 7, 8. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you. 1 John

Hence men to blend them both are apt,
Should in one sentence both be wrapt.

But that we may the truth pursue,
And give both law and grace their due,
And God the glory there display'd;
The foll'wing rules will gives us aid.

Where'er in sacred writ we see
A word of grace or promise free,
With blessings dropt for Jesus' sake,
We these for gospel news may take :

But where a precept strict we find
With promise to our doing join'd,

iv. 7. Beloved let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God. Rom. v. 21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Chap. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Mark xvi. 15, 16. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. John iii. 18. He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God, &c.

Or threat'ning with a wrathful frown,
This as the law we justly own.

PARAGRAPH II.

The Place and Station of Law and Gospel in particular: where the difference is noted between the Gospel largely viewed in its dispensation, and strictly in itself, and between the Gospel and faith receiv ing it.

WOULDST thou distinctly know the sound
Of law and grace, then do n't confound
The dispensation with the grace;
For these two have a distinct place.

The gospel thus dispens'd we see,
Believe and thou shalt saved be;

If not, thou shalt be damn'd to hell,
And in eternal torments dwell.

Here precepts in it are dispens'd,
With threat'nings of damnation fenc'd;
The legal sanction here takes place,
That none may dare abuse free grace.

Yet nor does that command of faith,
Nor this tremendous threat of wrath,

Belong to gospel strictly so,

But to its dispensation do.

The method of dispensing here,
Does law and gospel jointly bear;
Because the law's subservient

Unto the gospel's bless'd intent.

Precepts and threat'nings both make way, The gospel blessing to convey;

Which differs much (though thus dispens'd)
From laws and threats whereby 't is fenc'd.

Believe, and thou shalt saved be,
Is gospel, but improperly ;
Yet safely men may call it thus,
Because 't is so dispens'd to us.

But sure, the gospel news we sing,
Must be some other glorious thing,
Than precepts to believe the same,
Whatever way we blend their name.
The gospel treasure's something more
Than means that do apply the store:
Believing is the method pav'd,
The gospel is the thing believ'd.

The precious thing is tidings sweet
Of Christ a Saviour most complete
To save from sin, and death, and wrath;
Which tidings tend to gender faith.

Faith comes by hearing God's record
Concerning Jesus Christ the Lord,
And is the method Heav'n has blest
For bringing to the gospel rest.

The joyful sound is news of grace,
And life to Adam's guilty race,

Through Jesus' righteousness divine,

Which bright from faith to faith does shine.

The promise of immortal bliss
Is made to this full righteousness:
By this our right to life is bought,
Faith begs the right, but buys it not.

True faith receives the offer'd good,
And promise seal'd with precious blood:
It gives no title to the bliss,

But takes th' intitling righteousness.

This object great of saving faith,

And this alone the promise hath ;