…a minister of the gospel may often preach the law to his hearers and yet not deserve to be called a legal preacher. He cannot preach the gospel faithfully and successfully unless he preaches the law in subservience to it. If he is a faithful and able minister of the New Testament, he will preach the law as a covenant of works and will press it on the consciences of secure sinners and self-righteous formalists. He will denounce the tremendous curse of it on those who continue under it and who rely securely on their own works for a title to eternal life in order to tear away every pillow of carnal security on which they repose themselves and to show them the vanity of every lying refuge. In proportion also as he is faithful, he will preach the law as a rule of life to them who believe. He will press on them the spiritual performance of every duty and a holy abhorrence of every sin. He will exhort them to perform all their duties from evangelical principles in a holy manner and to holy ends. Now if he preach the law in that manner, no man will be disposed to fix the odious character of a legal preacher on him but one who either is grossly ignorant or is an enemy both of the law and of the gospel.

John Colquhoun | A Treatise on the Law and Gospel (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books), 121–22.

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Post authored by:

• Tony Phelps

  

  Tony grew up in Rhode Island. He was educated at BA (University of Rhode Island) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He worked in the insurance industry for ten years. He planted a PCA church in Wakefield, RI where he served for eleven years. In 2015–18 he pastored Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Colorado Springs. He is currently pastor of Living Hope (OPC). Tony is married to Donna and together they have three children.

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