John 1:17 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

The law — Working wrath and containing shadows: was given — No philosopher, poet, or orator, ever chose his words so accurately as St. John. The law, saith he, was given by Moses: grace was by Jesus Christ. Observe the reason for placing each word thus: The law of Moses was not his own. The grace of Christ was. His grace was opposite to the wrath, his truth to the shadowy ceremonies of the law. Jesus — St. John having once mentioned the incarnation John 1:14,) no more uses that name, the Word, in all his book.