Classic Poem

The law supposing I have all,
Does ever for perfection call.
The gospel suits my total want,
And all the law can seek does grant.

The law could promise life to me,
If my obedience perfect be:
But grace does promise life upon
My Lord's obedience alone.

The law says, Do, and life you'll win;
But grace says, Live, for all is done;
The former cannot ease my grief;
The latter yields me full relief.

By law convinc'd of sinful breach;
By gospel-grace I comfort reach:
The one my condemnation bears;
The other justifies and clears.

The law shews my arrears are great;
The gospel freely pays my debt:
The first does me the bankrupt curse;
The last does bless and fill my purse.

The law will not abate a mite;
The gospel all the sum will quite:
There God in threat'nings is array'd,
But here in promises display'd.

The law and gospel disagree,
Like Hagar, Sarah, bond and free:
The former's Hagar's servitude;
The latter Sarah's happy brood.

To Sinai black, and Zion fair,
The word does law and grace compare.
Their cursing and their blessing vie
With Ebal and Gerizzam high.

The law excludes not boasting vain,
But rather feeds it to my bane:
But gospel-grace allows no boasts,
Save in the King, the Lord of hosts.

The law still irritates my sin,
And hardens my proud heart therein;
But grace's melting pow'r renews,
And my corruption strong subdues.

The law with thunder, Sinai-like,
Does always dread and terror speak:
The gospel makes a joyful noise,
And charms me with a still, calm voice.

The legal trumpet war proclaims,
In wrathful threats, and fire, and flames:
The gospel-pipe, a peaceful sound,
Which spreads a kindly breath around.

The law is weak through sinful flesh;
The gospel brings recruits afresh:
The first a killing letter wears;
The last a quick'ning spirit bears.

The law that seeks perfection's height,
Yet gives no strength, nor offers might;
But precious gospel-tidings glad
Declare where all is to be had.

From me alone the law does crave,
What grace affirms in Christ I have:
When therefore law-pursuits enthrall,
I send the law to grace for all.

The law brings terror to molest,
The gospel gives the weary rest.
The one does flags of death display,
The other shews the living way.

The law by Moses was exprest;
The glorious gospel came by Christ:
The first dim nature's light may trace;
The last is only known by grace.

The law may rouse me from my sloth,
To faith and to repentance both:
And though the law commandeth each,
Yet neither of them can it teach.

Nor will accept for current coin
The duties which it does enjoin:
It seeks all, but accepts no less
Than constant, perfect righteousness.

The gospel, on the other hand,
Although it issue no command,
But strictly view'd, does whole consist
In promises and offers blest;

Yet does it many duties teach,
Which legal light could never reach;
Thus faith, repentance, and the like,
Are fire that gospel-engines strike.

They have acceptance here through grace,
The law affords them no such place:
Yet still they come through both their hands,
Through gospel-teachings, law-commands.

The law's a house of bondage sore;
The gospel opes the prison-door:
The first me hamper'd in its net;
The law at freedom kindly set.

The precept craves, the gospel gives;
While that me presses, this relieves;
And or affords the strength I lack,
Or takes the burden off my back.

The law requires on pain of death;
The gospel courts with loving breath:
While that conveys a deadly wound;
This makes me perfect, whole, and sound.

Their viewing how diseas'd I am,
I here perceive the healing balm:
Afflicted there with sense of need,
But here refresh'd with meet remede.

The law's a charge for what I owe;
The gospel my discharge to show:
The one a scene of fears doth ope;
The other is the door of hope.

An angry God the law reveal'd;
The gospel shows him reconcil'd:
By that I know he was displeas'd;
By this I see his wrath appeas'd.

The law thus shews the divine ire,
And nothing but consuming fire.
The gospel brings the olive-branch,
And blood the burning fire to quench.

The law still shews a fiery face;
The gospel shews a throne of grace;
There Justice rides alone in state;
But here she takes the mercy-seat.

In Sum .

Lo! in the law Jehovah dwells,
 But Jesus is conceal'd;
Whereas the gospel's nothing else
 But Jesus Christ reveal'd.