Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
... The law is a doctrine which commandeth & forbiddeth, requiring doing and avoiding. Under it therefore are contained all precepts, threatnings, promises upon conditions of our doing & avoiding &c. The Gospel is a doctrine which always offereth and giveth, requiring on our behalf, not as of worthiness or as a cause but as a certificate unto us, & therefore under it is contained all the free and sweet promises of God: as I am the lord thy God &c.
In those that be of years of discretion, it requireth faith, not as a cause, but as an instrument whereby we our selves may be certain of our good husband Christ, and of his glory: and therefore when the conscience feeleth it self disquieted for fear of God’s judgment against sin, she may in no wise look upon the doctrine pertaining to the old man, but to the doctrine only that pertaineth to the new man, in it not looking for that which it requireth, that is Faith, because we never believe as we should: but only on it which it offereth, which it giveth that is, on God’s grace & eternal mercy and peace in Christ. So shall she be in quiet, when she looketh for it altogether out of herself in God’s mercy in Christ Jesus: in whose lap if she lay her head with saint John, then is she happy and shall find quietness in deed. ...
For more, see John Bradford on law and gospel.
In those that be of years of discretion, it requireth faith, not as a cause, but as an instrument whereby we our selves may be certain of our good husband Christ, and of his glory: and therefore when the conscience feeleth it self disquieted for fear of God’s judgment against sin, she may in no wise look upon the doctrine pertaining to the old man, but to the doctrine only that pertaineth to the new man, in it not looking for that which it requireth, that is Faith, because we never believe as we should: but only on it which it offereth, which it giveth that is, on God’s grace & eternal mercy and peace in Christ. So shall she be in quiet, when she looketh for it altogether out of herself in God’s mercy in Christ Jesus: in whose lap if she lay her head with saint John, then is she happy and shall find quietness in deed. ...
For more, see John Bradford on law and gospel.