The Law and Gospel Distinguished
The Law commands, and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe
But 'tis the Gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do His will
The Law discovers guilt and sin
And shows how vile our hearts have been
Only the Gospel can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace
What curses does the Law denounce
Against the man that fails but once
But in the Gospel Christ appears
Pardoning the guilt of numerous years
My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the Law
Fly to the hope the Gospel gives
The man that trusts the promise lives
Isaac Watts
1674-1748
