“The Omission of Law-Preaching.”
By Christian Secretary
PRESIDENT FINNEY taught that the grace of the gospel is equal to the demands of the law; but the pretty general impression is that grace has expunged those demands, and that moral government and moral probation consist in gospel opportunities of getting good to ourselves; and not believing so as to grasp and enjoy it is about the whole of sin. The omission of law-preaching—I do not mean the preaching of law penalty, but of law precept—strongly favors this impression. And, therefore, gospel grace is an unappreciated and despised thing to multitudes, because the reason for grace in the precept (as well as the penalty) of the law is a thing unnoticed and unknown. So, as to penalty, the doctrine of mercy is lifeless when the terrific reality of divine justice is conceded, vindicating his teaching about grace. Mr. Finney said: “Let the law be exalted. Let it be magnified, and made honorable. Let it be shown to be strict, and pure, and perfect as its Author; spread out its claims over the whole field of human and angelic accountability; carry it like a blaze of fire to the deepest recesses of every human heart; exalt it as high as heaven; and thunder its authority to the depths of hell; stretch out its lines upon the universe of mind; and let it, as it well may, thunder death and terrible damnation against every kind and degree of iniquity. Yet let it be remembered forever that the grace of the gospel is co-extensive with the claims of the law. Then, and therefore, as a conversion-worker and as a seminary instructor, he exalted Christ. No man more.” Is not this divine philosophy sadly ignored? How did Christ preface his discourse to Nicodemus about the love of God in the gift of his Son?—With the doctrine, “Verily, verily, ye must be born again.” He came to call convicted sinners to repentance; sin-sick sinners to the Great Physician.—Christian Secretary.