which I feel, and which can only lead to final perdition? Aud the answer to the question is, "The grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Can a more weighty question be asked? Can an answer be given, which better deserves to be thoroughly considered?

The question is, Who shall deliver us? The answer: "The grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." The " grace of God" means ⚫ the favour of God: at present, therefore, the answer stands in general terms. We are only informed, that we are rescued from this state of moral difficulty, of deep religious distress, by the favour of God, through Jesus Christ. It remains to be gathered, from what follows, in what particularly this grace of favour consists. St. Paul, having asked the question, and given the answer in general terms, proceeds to enlarge upon the answer in these words," There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them, who are in Christ Jesus, who walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. There is now no condemnation: but of whom, and to whom is this spoken?

It is to them, who, first, are in Christ Jesus; who, secondly, walk not after the flesh; who, thirdly, walk after the Spirit.

And whence arises this alteration and improve ment in our condition and our hopes; this exemption, or rather deliverance, from the ordinary state of man? St. Paul refers us to the cause. "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death," which words can hardly bear any other significa tion than this, viz. "that the aid and operation of God's Spirit, given through Jesus Christ, hath subdued the power which sin had obtained and once exercised over me." With this interpretation the whole sequel of St. Paul's reasoning agrees. Every sentence almost, that follows, illustrates the interpretation, and proves it to be the true one. With what, but with the operation and the cooperation of the Spirit of God, as of a real, efficient, powerful, active Being, can such expressions as the following be made to suit?" If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none

of

of his." "If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you."

Spirit that dwelleth in you."

ceived the spirit of adoption."

66

By his

"Ye have re

"The Spirit

itself beareth witness with our Spirit." All which expressions are found in the eighth chapter, namely, the chapter following the text, and all indeed, within the compass of a few verses. These passages either assert or assume the fact, namely, the existence and agency of such a Spirit; its agency, I mean, in and upon the human soul. It is by the aid, therefore, of this Spirit, that the deliverance so earnestly sought for is effected; a deliverance represented as absolutely necessary to be effected in some way or other. And it is also represented, as one of the grand benefits of the christian dispensation. "What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh

but after the Spirit." Which passage I expound

3 H

pound thus: a mere law, that is, a rule merely telling us what we ought to do, without enabling us, or affording us any help or aid in doing it, is not calculated for such a nature as ours: " it is weak through the flesh:" it is ineffectual by reason of our natural infirmities. Then what the law, or a mere rule of rectitude (for that is what any law, as such, is,) could not do, was done under the christian dispensation and how done? The righteousness of the law, that is, the righteousness, which the law dictated, and which it aimed, as far as it could, to procure and produce, is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; is actually produced and procured in us, who live under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit. By this Holy Spirit we have that assistance, which the law could not impart, and without which, as a mere rule, though ever so good and right a rule, it was weak and insufficient, forasmuch as it had not force or strength sufficient to produce obedience in those who acknowledged its authority.

To

To communicate this so much wanted assistance was one end and effect of Christ's coming. So it is intimated by St. Paul, "what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did:" that is, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, namely, sending him by reason, or on account of sin, condemned sin in the flesh; vouchsafed, that is, spiritual aid and ability, by which aid and ability sin, and the power of sin, might be effectually opposed, encountered, and repelled.