The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

DOCT. VIII. In what things most especially the Go∣spel differs from the Law.

ANd it appears sufficiently by what hath been said, That we confound not the Law with the Go∣spell: For, although we confesse that God is the Authour of the Law, as well as the Gospel; and again, thatb 1.1 the Law of it self is holy and just, and good, as well as the Gospell: yet we believe that there is a great deal of difference between them; and that not onely, because that was delivered to the Iews onely; whereas the Go∣spell belongeth unto all nations: nor

yet onely, because that was tempo∣ratie, and to last onely untill Christ; whereas the Gospel is everlasting: not yet onely, because, that was de∣livered by Moser, and expounded by the Prophets, whereas the Gospel was brought unto us by Christ, and published unto the whole world by the Apostles: Not for these reasons onely, I say, but more especially for these which follow: First, because the matters of the Law consists in commandments, with curses irre∣vocable added thereunto, if they be broken in the least part. It hath in∣deed the promises not onely of earth∣ly and temporall blessings; but also of heavenly and eternall: but yet they are all with a condition of most perfect righteousnesse and obedience, and not of free grace. But the Gospel is properly the message of glad ti∣dings, freely setting before us Christ our Redeemer, freely pardoning and forgiving sins, and saving us: not requiring any thing at our hands for the attainment of salvation, but one∣ly true faith in Christ, which we can∣not have without repentance to∣gether

with a care to do Gods will, as we declared before. Secondly, be∣cause the Law did not enable us for the doing of that which it required; for it gave us no power whereby we might be saved▪ and so was insuffi∣cient, anda 1.2 a killing letter, andb 1.3 the ministration of wrath and death, ra∣ther stirring up sin, then taking it a∣way. But the Gospel requireth no more of us, then it enableth us to performe, and so communicateth really unto us what is offered: for∣asmuch as the holy Ghost worketh thereby in the elect, at the preaching thereof, stirring up in them true faith, whereby to lay hold on Christ when he is offered unto them, and together with him everlasting salvation. Forc 1.4 faith cometh by hearing of the Go∣spel: but obedience cometh not by hearing the Law: For the holy Ghost at the hearing of the Law did not en∣able them to keep it, whosoever heard the same: whereas it doth stirre up faith in the elect at the hea∣ring of the Gospel. For which cause, as the Law is called the killing letter, so the Gospel is called the quickning

Spirit, or thea 1.5 Spirit giving life: And therefore it is a true and effectuall in∣strument and meanes unto salvation to every one that believeth. From whence followes a third difference, which is this, that the Law was not wrote in the hearts of men: but in tables of stone, so that there was not any change in men wrought thereby: But the Gospel is wrote in the hearts of the elect by the holy Ghost, and worketh in themb 1.6 a change, and true renovation, being used by the holy Ghost as an instrument of our sancti∣fication and salvation.

Notes

• b 1.1

  Rom. 7.12.
• a 1.2

  1 Cor. ••.6.
• b 1.3

  7.
• c 1.4

  Rom. 10.17.
• a 1.5

  2 Cor. 3.6.
• b 1.6

  2 Cor. 3.18.