of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk, cot after the flesh, but after the Spirit." They will then reason with the Apostle, "If one died for all, then were all dead, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Christ that died for them and rose again."

Thus "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the com. mandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm xix. 7, 8.

The law of God is useful in shewing us what we ought to be, holy in heart and in life. "Be ye holy," says God in the law, "for I am holy." The necessity, propriety and utility of this requisition would never have been doubted, had we not by the fall become depraved as well as guilty. We were originally made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness and true holiness. The law of God would to us, continuing in that state, have been pleasant, natural and agreeable. In our fallen state it is not so. "The carnal mind is enmity against God, and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." To the regenerate, however, it is a glass in which they see genuine character and conduct reflected, and that every regenerate man will say, with the Apostle, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man." The gospel calls sinners, not

righteous and holy men; but it does not call them to continuance in sin, but to repentancewe are called, not to sin, but to holiness. "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto he called you by our gos. pel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Je sus Christ." Thes. ii. 13, 14. "Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." This is the object of God the Father in our election, of God the Son in our rødemption, and of God the Spirit in our sanctification. Eph. 1. 4. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love." 1 Pet. 1, 18. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." This redemption Jesus wrought, that he might present us faultless, without spot of pollution, or wrinkleof the old nature, and for this purpose he gives us of his holy spirit to take of the things that are his, and shew them unto us. This Holy Spirit sanctifies the redeemed of the Lord by the truth of the Lord. Sanctify them through the truth; thy word is truth." John xvii. 17. Their high thoughts are brought low; every imagination is

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brought into the obedience of faith, an obedience which the first commandment clearly requires, They are cleansed in their whole character, for that faith, by which they live, works by love, and purifies their heart. 1 Pet. 1, 22. • Seeing ye have purified your souls, in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." Contemplating these facts and principles, the believer will imitate the Apostle and say "Not as though I had attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. iii. 12, 13, 14. The law is so exceeding broad and spir itual, that, whatever be a man's previous attainments, he will, when he compares himself with this model, seem to have attained nothing. The Christian will therefore be humble and yet not despair. Encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, he will lay aside every weight and the sin which doth most easily beset him and he will run, with patience, the race set before him. He will look to Jesus the Author and finisher of his faith He will make mention of his righteousmess, lean upon his strength and hope in his salvation; so will he run that he may obtain, He

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will not, however, run at random-he will not fight as those that beat the air. He will have the law of the Lord in his heart and in his hand, the guide of his conduct. In perusing this, and seeking the illumination of the Spirit, he will be constantly saying, Lord what wouldst thou have me to do? While faithful ministers preach to such characters, they will confute all the calum, nies of the adversaries, who charge gospel ministers with saying, "Let us continue in sin that grace may abound." They will shew in their doctrine, and in the practice of their people, that they do not make void the law through faith, but that they establish the law. What! shall we continue in sin? Nay, how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? This law will be a delightful manual in their christian journey. It will point out the duty of every relation and every station of life. Understanding it, and by grace, walking according to it, they will have as much comfort as if God was, in bodily shape, walking with them, and showing them the road; or saying in an audible voice, "This is the way walk ye in it." Shall they not then, in keeping. his commandments, have a great reward? Hear what he says to his disciples and through them to all faithful ministers. Matth. xxviii. 19, 20. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son; and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world Amen."

The law not only continues in its sanction, but is in many respects, now in gospel times, more strict, and the violation of it more severely pun-ished than in former times.

God requires of men obedience according to the opportunities they have of knowing his law. Thus "in times of ignorance, God winked at those things, but will now have all men every where to repent." "The servant, that transgresseth, not knowing his masters will, shall be beaten with few stripes; but he that knoweth, and yet doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. Sin is the transgression of the law. Were man then, so circumstanced, that he could know nothing about it, neither by natural or supernatural revelation, he would then be clear. "Where there is no law, there is no transgresion: When the law is exhibited in its spirit, as well as in its letter in the gospel dispensation, the transgression of the law becomes far more criminal, and its sanction will be far more terrible.

Has Nineveh been judged for the sins of its inhabitants, when we can hardly find its scite ?

Have Tyre and Sidon, those wealthy mercantile cities, been punished, when fishermen dry their nets upon the rocks where once they stood.

Have Sodom Gomorrah and the cities of the plain been judged, when they were consumed by fire from heaven, and are now submersed with the noisome waters of the Dead sea? Far more terrible judgments, however, await the cities of those nations who have enjoyed, and yet not