The Grace of Law: A Study in Puritan Theology

by Ernest F. Kevan

In this study, Ernest Kevan investigates the works of numerous seventeenth-century theologians to provide an overview of a Puritan understanding of the law in relationship to the life of the Christian. After describing the Puritans and the antinomian controversy that developed among them, Kevan demonstrates how the orthodox view among the Puritans regarded the moral law as an expression of God's majesty established as a guide for man's blessedness and a measure to expose sin. He then proceeds to show how the law relates to God's people after the fall in the context of the covenant of grace. Great care is used to explain the relation of Christ's work to the law, the ongoing moral obligation Christians have to the law, the idea of gospel obedience, and the Christian's freedom from the law's condemnation. Although the Puritans saw law and grace as opposing principles regarding one's justification, they did teach about how God ultimately uses the law in the life of the believer for His gracious purposes.

Genres: Theology, Law, Church History

294 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1983

Reviews

[John Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally Ernest Kevan's doctoral dissertation where he dives deep into the Puritan writers of the 16th and 17th centuries to reveal the doctrinal teachings that these historical writers had on the relationship between the Law of God has given in the Old Testament with the Truth of the Saving Grace of Christ's work in the cross. While the book was difficult to read at times, the author expected you to know a certain level of Greek and writers in the 16th and 17th centuries didn't care too much about spelling, which slowed down my reading at times. However, where this book excels in was through a deep theological dive into the truths of the relationship between the Law of God and the Grace of the Gospel. Kevan also breaks down many critiques that were issued against the Puritan writers about the supposed legalism of the Puritans and how grace abounded all the more in their writings. One particular quote from the book towards the end summarizes things pretty well for me. Kevan writes, "In the theological confusion of the seventeenth century, the Puritans found themselves opposing the Antinomians on the one hand and the Neonomians on the other. Both these parties, however, were moved by the same praiseworthy desire to state the Christian doctrine of sanctification in a way that would preserve it from abuse. The former desired to secure it against legalism and the latter against libertinism. The Puritans resisted both these extremes and expounded the truth of sanctification in terms of the paradox of active-passivity, or a working out in active godliness of that which had been worked in by the renewing and enabling grace of God. They taught that in the work of sanctification the believer was neither self-indulgently-passive nor self-sufficiently-active. The Puritans held that Christian liberty freed the believer, not from the Law, for for the Law; so that although he is no longer "under" the Law, he is, nevertheless, still "in" the Law. This, they taught, was freedom itself. The Puritans believed that this freedom in the Law - a freedom dependent on the Law - was effected by the Holy Spirit who applied the saving merits of Christ's death to the believer and then wrote the Law within his heart. Love for the Law thus gave power to keep it." May that be an encouragement to those who struggle with the Law of God in the Christian faith for freedom is waiting. This book can help the reader see that.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"IN this age which seems to be without moral standards, and in which the words right and "wrong' have lost their absoluteness, the necessity for a return to a stable conception of Law is indisputable. This is recognized by educationalists, lawyers, politicians, and all who take a morally healthy view of the needs of mankind. The British Prime Minister, speaking at Brighton on the I4 October, 1961, referred to the need to rekindle at all levels of society "the old faith that makes a clear distinction between right and wrong'." - Foreword

A 1963 London Bible College Doctoral Thesis does not make for light reading, but it deserves 5 stars for outstanding scholarship. I heartily concur with the author's conclusions on the Puritans and their teaching on law and gospel, so it was an enlightening and edifying read as well.

His research into Puritan writings is massive, including much that is out of print, and quotations are many, so I got lots of gems that I might have never encountered on my own.

"But I should think that believers as they are creatures, are bound to obey God in all things, and that Christ came not to take off the obligation to duty and obedience, but to take off the obligation to wrath and punishment."

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know you’re going to get some good scholarship when you flip to the back of the book and find the bibliography is 20 pages long, and that the footnotes take up 1/4-1/2 of each page in the book. Yes, it requires concentration. This is not your modern evangelical garden variety five minute devotion at lunch reading. Set aside prime time for this (when your brain is able to engage). It’s worth the read.

And on a personal note...it’s nice to finally get to the point in your own reading where you recognize most of the cited authors and/or works, find you’ve already covered many of them directly, and have even more lined up in your “to-be-read” mental queue. A few more decades, and I may finally get to the place I qualify for “has scratched the surface” standing. Gold star!

[Logan Almy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent study of the Puritan view of the law and how the majority of Puritan theologians steered clear of the extremes of Antinomianism and Neonomianism. Particularly striking is Kevan's treatment of the Mosaic Covenant as an administration of the covenant of grace as this is a convoluted subject in Puritan studies and quite the quagmire for the student of biblical theology.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Argin Gerigorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best survey book of what the Puritans believed on the topic of "Law and Gospel".

Kevan wrote this book in 1964 but with the confusion sweeping Christianity all across on this topic, this book is just as relevant today as it was back then, and much more needed.

Dr. Kevan focuses almost entirely on the Puritan doctrines although not neglecting to quote Reformers for clarification and comments on specific Scriptural texts.

He has over 1600 footnotes in a little under 300 page book! Now that is scholarship! He interacts (through the voice of the Puritans) with some of the minority positions (antinomianism, neonomianism) of that time and give the unanimous, consensus view of the orthodox Puritans. Even within the Westminster Confession, although a bit off topic, there are minority positions (Erastianism, denial of active obedience, etc) but the majority view was what was agreed upon and written down as a standard of Reformed orthodoxy. Same with the doctrine of the covenants in general and the issue of law and gospel in specific.

With the rise of Klohortian (Kline/Horton) covenantalism and the antithesis between law and gospel even in sanctification, 2 kingdom theology, and high church, Christianity has lost its full orbed nature. This book attempts to bring us back to our Reformed roots.

Here are some quotes and Puritans on the nature of the old and new covenants

James Ussher: the Decalogue "proceedeth from him who is not only the Lord our Maker, but also our God and Savior" (pg. 115) indicating that the Law was given in the category of grace.

John Ball says "neither can it be proven that ever God made the covenant of works with the creature fallen: but whensoever the Scripture speaks of Gods entering into Covenant with man fallen it must be understood of the Covenant of Grace" pg. 115

Henry Burton writes, "the Law given by the Redeemer in Mount Sina was not that first covenant of works (pg. 116)

Samuel Rutherford says "The Law as pressed upon Israel was not a covenant of works, it was the covenant made with Abraham, which was a covenant of grace" pg. 116.

Lastly William Strong writes, "The Lord's intention in giving the Law was double, unto the carnal Jews to set forth to them the old covenant which they had broken; and yet unto the believing Jews it did darkly shadow and set forth unto the the covenant of grace made with Christ...it was to the carnal Jews plainly a covenant of works, not in God's intention, but by their own corruption." pg. 129

Overall this book deserves a 5/5 stars because of its research and clear doctrinal stance regarding this all to important topic.

Thank you Dr. Kevan!

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty solid and cumulative explanation of the Puritan's teachings concerning the nature of law to the New Covenant believer. I learned a lot from this book and appreciated very much its in-depth look at different issues. Because it goes through so many issues relating to the Law, it's rather concise, and thus can be difficult at times to understand since it doesn't spend much time elaborating on some potentially-confusing points and is targeted to a more academic audience. In addition to this, some sections of the book seemed rather neonomian, and while in others Kevan presented a more balanced view toward the Law, I didn't feel like he did a great job with showing how some beliefs could be held side-by-side.

Nevertheless, despite these issues, this was a great book describing the Puritan conflict with antinomianism that I learned a lot from and hope to read again sometime in the future.

Rating: 4.0 Stars (Very Good).

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for those who desire to better understand what the seventeenth century British Puritan theologians taught about the law of God (a basic perspective which is held today by those churches which utilize the Westminster Confession of Faith or the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith). In shows both areas of uniformity and areas of great diversity. It has extensive quotes, but also some really good synthesis and analysis of the material. When Kevan wrote this book (which must have been before 1965), the extensive quotations were necessary because of the difficulty of obtaining some of the sources. Paper and digital publishing of the Puritans have come a long way since then and some of the sources are quite a bit easier to obtain, but the frequent brief quotes are used to great effect.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first introduction into the world of the Puritans, years ago. I have read it a couple of times and remember how insightful this book was in placing the Law in its proper place in the Old and New Testaments, highlighting its purpose to the converted and unconverted. One Puritan writer, and the name escapes me, but stated that the purpose of the Law was to break you down as a hammer shatters bones, or something to that effect. That left a lasting impression on me, especially in light of Paul's idea that the law was our pedagogue. The heavy hitters are cited (e.g Baxter, Owen, Burroughs, to name a few). This book was published by Kistler's now defunct Soli Deo Gloria publishing.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful book discussing the role of the law in justification and sanctification (3rd use of the law of God) in Puritan theology. I disagreed with the author's view of the Mosaic covenant as a covenant of grace rather than a covenant of works, but for the most part the book was very useful in better understanding some of the discussions between antinomians and neonomians regarding the law of God, which we often overlook on modern books written on antinomian ism, especially since some modern books arguing against antinomianism risk being neonomian and undermining justification sola fide.

[Michael Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful analysis of the Puritan doctrine of the relationship of grace and law. Not an overly tedious book and was extremely well structured.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great treatise from a modern author