——威廉·珀金斯(William Perkins, 1558-1602),A Commentary on Galatians (《加拉太书注释》), London: 1617, p.306
The two Testaments are the Covenant of works, and the Covenant of grace, one promising life eternal to him that doth all things contained in the law; the other to him that turns and believes in Christ. And it must be observed, that Paul says,they are two, that is, two in substance, or kind. And they are two, sundry ways. The law, or covenant of works, propounds the bare justice of God, without mercy; the covenant of grace, or the Gospel, reveals both the justice and mercy of God, or the justice of God giving place to his mercy. Secondly, the law requires of us inward and perfect righteousness, both for nature and action; the Gospel propounds unto us an imputed justice resident in the person of the Mediator. Thirdly, the law promises life upon condition of works; the Gospel promises remission of sins and life everlasting upon condition that we rely ourselves on Christ by faith. Fourthly, the law was written in tables of stone, the Gospel in the fleshy tables of our hearts.Jer.31.33. 2Cor.3.3. Fifthly, the law was in nature by creation; the Gospel is above nature, and was revealed after the fall. Sixthly, the law hasMoses for a Mediator,Deut.5.27. But Christ is the Mediator of the new Testament.Heb.8.6.Lastly, the law was dedicated by the blood of beasts,Exod.24.5. and the new Testament by the blood of Christ.Heb.9.12.
Here then falls to the ground a main pillar in Popish religion, which is, that the law ofMoses, and the Gospel, are all one law for substance; and that the difference lies in this, that the law ofMoses is dark and imperfect, and the Gospel or the law of Christ more perfect: because he has (as they say) added counsels to precepts. Again, the law (they say) without the Spirit, is the law properly, and with the Spirit, it is the Gospel. But all this is false which they teach. For the two Testament the law and the Gospel, are two in nature, substance, or kind: and the difference lies not in the presence or absence of the Spirit.
— William Perkins,A Commentary on Galatians, London: 1617, p.306
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