The Puritans can help us link doctrine to application. Most of their published works consist of edited series of sermons. Puritan sermons usually followed a pattern containing the announcement of the text, introduction to the context, exposition of the text, systematic development and defense of some doctrines taught by the text, and, finally, the improvement, or uses, to be made of those doctrines. Puritan preachers drew a line from the Bible to doctrine to application.

Joel R. Beeke and Terry D. Slachter, Encouragement for Today’s Pastors: Help from the Puritans, 94.

English Annotations (1645)

2 Timothy 3:15, 16

English Annotations (1645)

Luke 16:29, 31

English Annotations (1645)

Romans 11:36

English Annotations (1645)

John 17:21, 22

But when we speak of the dominion of the Mediator as spiritual, it is necessary to guard against supposing that it can have no sort of connection with the world, or with things that are secular. Such an idea it is not at all our intention to convey . . . Because the dominion of Christ is spiritual in its nature, to conclude that everything connected with his kingdom must be spiritual also, and that nothing earthly or secular can have any relation to it, is an inference alike illogical in reasoning and unsupported by fact.

William Symington, Messiah the Prince, 42.

No government, however good in itself, can be expected to be successful, which is administered by a known profligate. It is wisely required that he that ruleth over men must be “just, ruling in the fear of the Lord.” It were unreasonable to expect principles to be acted upon, and laws to be obeyed, which are inculcated by persons who are themselves violating them every day.

William Symington, Messiah the Prince, 26.

The Savior of his people, and the conqueror of their foes, are not incompatible features.

William Symington, Messiah the Prince, 10.

God’s law is best understood in the context of love. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

Dennis J. Prutow, Public Worship 101, 228.

For the Christian, therefore, endeavoring to keep the law was not to be construed as evidence of being under the law as a covenant of works. But a man under the covenant of grace should equally endeavor to keep God’s law. There is no contradiction between the grace of the gospel and the usage of the law in the life of the believer. Grace and law are complementary to each other, because it is the Spirit of Christ, given in grace, who subdues and enables man’s otherwise stubborn and rebellious will “to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God revealed in the law requireth to be done.” (WCF 19.6, 7)

Andrew A. Woolsey, Unity and Continuity in Covenantal Thought: A Study in the Reformed Tradition to the Westminster Assembly, 89.