“It is true, indeed, that man was at first created perfect and upright, with powers commensurate to all the requisitions and demands of that law which his Creator placed over him-making his obedience the condition of eternal life. Any other supposition would be incompatible with the holiness and rectitude of the Divine character. But it is also equally true that the law which his Creator placed over him, and which in his original state of rectitude he had full power to obey, was a perfect rule, comprehending the whole of human duty at all times and in all conditions of our race. Hence when he fell into a state of condemnation and sin and a Saviour was revealed, this law immediately fastened upon him the duty of believing in this Saviour, repenting of sin, and performing all other duties appropriate to his condition as a fallen and helpless creature under a dispensation of grace — duties which he originally had the power to perform, but has lost it by his own fault. Hence to the fallen and helpless sinner the law is purely a revelation of wrath.

On the contrary, the Gospel, as contradistinguished from the law, is purely a revelation of mercy. As the former is a ministration of condemnation and death, so the latter is a ministration of justification and life. And as the former contains no promise for the guilty and helpless sinner; so the latter contains no precept. Nay, instead of revealing a new law with proper precepts and penalties, the Gospel reveals and proposes for the sinner’s acceptance a complete righteousness-a righteousness which satisfies all the penalties and fulfills all the precepts of the old law as a condition of life, and which, without any other law conditions, entitles the sinner to the full reward of perfect obedience; that is to a full and complete salvation. Hence, instead of commanding faith and repentance as new law duties, the Gospel promises them as gracious benefits; and instead of demanding them as the conditions of a salvation to be obtained, it reveals and proposes them as the fruits, evidences and parts of a salvation already obtained.” — William Wishart, Marrow Doctrines Explained and Vindicated (1883)