“We are to take heed, when we read the Scriptures, we do not take the gospel for the law, nor the law for the gospel, but labour to discern and distinguish the voice of the one from the voice of the other.
And if we would know when the law speaks, and when the gospel speaks, let us consider and take this for a note, that when in Scripture there is any moral work commanded to be done, either for eschewing of punishment, or upon promise of any reward, temporal or eternal— or else when any promise is made with the condition of any work to be done, which is commanded in the law—there is to be understood the voice of the law.
Contrariwise, where the promise of life and salvation is offered unto us freely, without any condition of any law, either natural, ceremonial, or moral, or any work done by us, all those places, whether we read them in the Old Testament, or in the New, are to be referred to the voice and doctrine of the gospel; yea, and all those promises of Christ coming in the flesh, which we read in the Old Testament; yea, and all those promises in the New Testament, which offer Christ upon condition of our believing on his name, are properly called the voice of the gospel, because they have no condition of our mortifying annexed unto them, but only faith to apprehend and receive Jesus Christ; as it is written, Rom. 3:22, “For the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all that believe.”
Briefly, then, if we would know when the law speaks, and when the gospel speaks, either in reading the word, or in hearing it preached; and if we would skillfully distinguish the voice of the one from the voice of the other, we must consider:—
Law: The law says, “Thou art a sinner, and therefore thou shalt be damned,” Rom. 7:2; 2 Thess. 2:12.
Gospel: But the gospel says, No; “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;” and therefore, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,”” 1 Tim. 1:15; Acts 16:31.
Law: Again the law says, “Knowest thou not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God; be not deceived,” 1 Cor. 6:9. And therefore thou being a sinner, and not righteous, shalt not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gospel: But the gospel says, “God has made Christ to be sin for thee who knew no sin; that thou mightest be made the righteousness of God in him, who is the Lord thy righteousness,” Jer. 23:6.
Law: Again the law says, “Pay me that thou owest me, or else I will cast thee into prison,” Matt. 18:28, 30.
Gospel: But the gospel says, “Christ gave himself a ransom for thee,” 1 Tim. 2:6; “and so is made redemption unto thee,” 1 Cor. 1:30.
Law: Again the law says, “Thou hast not continued in all that I require of thee, and therefore thou art accursed,” Deut. 27:6.
Gospel: But the gospel says, “Christ hath redeemed thee from the curse of the law, being made a curse for thee,” Gal. 3:13.
Law: Again the law says, “Thou are become guilty before God, and therefore shalt not escape the judgment of God,” Rom. 3:19; 2:3.
Gospel: But the gospel says, “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son,” John 5:12.”
–Edward Fisher, The Marrow of Modern Divinity (Fearn, Scotland, UK: Christian Heritage, 1645/2009), 340-341.
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