Dispensation - Definition - Isaac Watts

THE public dispensations of God towards men, are those wise and holy constitutions of his will and government, revealed or some way manifested to them, in the several successive periods or ages of the world, wherein are contained the duties which he expects from men, and the blessings which he promises, or encourages them to expect from him, here or hereafter; together with the sins which he forbids, and the punishments which he threatens to inflict on such sinners: Or, the dispensations of God may be described more briefly, as the appointed moral rules of God’s dealing with mankind, considered as reasonable creatures, and as accountable to him for their behaviour, both in this world and that which is to come. Each of these dispensations of God may be represented as different religions, or, at least, as different forms of religion, appointed for men in the several successive ages of the world………..

And under every dispensation, whether in innocency, or since the fall, there has been some further revelation of the mind, and will of God to men, some new doctrine or duty, precept or prohibition given for men to believe or obey, beside or beyond the mere dictates of the light of reason, or mere natural religion; and these are called positive laws or commands, as the others are called natural or moral………..

In each of these constitutions or dispensations, there is also generally some outward visible emblem appointed of God, to be a sign, seal or pledge of these blessings to be bestowed on man by God himself; and there is some visible ceremony, some outward action or abstinence enjoined on men, as a seal or pledge of their acceptance of, and compliance with this constitution of God.

These two things have been often joined in one and the same emblem, when it is considered on one side as appointed by God, and on the other as to be performed by man. Such a double use had all the sacrifices of atonement in the dispensations of grace before Christ. The divine appointment of them sufficiently denotes the mercy of God, and the actual performance of them, testifies that those men accepted of God’s covenant, and consented to it, that is in a way of outward profession.

Isaac Watts, The Works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, vol. 3 (London; Leeds: William Baynes; Thomas Williams and Son; Thomas Hamilton; Josiah Conder; Edward Baines, 1812), 333-334.

Website Editor Note: Isaac Watts was not a true dispensationalist because of his eschatology. I simply include him because he spelled out dispensations and describes them as economies or administrations of God. He describes God’s revelation and man’s responsibility in the dispensations he delineated. Watts shows that the conceptual thoughts of biblical dispensations greatly preceded John Nelson Darby and C.I. Scofield by over 100 years.