therefore under the highest possible obligation not to re- lapse into their former state of pollution and condemnation. In the name of the Lord Jesus^ and by the Spirit of our God. These clauses are not to be restricted to the preceding word, as though the meaning were, 'Ye have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' They belong equally to all three of the preceding terms. The believers were indebted for the great change wliich they had experienced ; for their washing, sanctification, and justifica- tion, to Christ and to the Holy Ghost. The Spirit had ap- plied to them the redemption purchased by Christ. In the name of the lord Jesus. " The name of God," or " of Christ," is often a periphrase for God or Christ himself. To call upon the name of God is to call on God. To baptize unto the name of Christ, and to baptize unto Christ, are interchanged as synonymous expressions. So here, to be justified or sanctified in the name of Christ, means simply by Christ ; see John 20, 31, "That believing ye might have life through his name." Acts 10, 43, "That through his name whoso believeth in him might have remission of sins." Though these forms of ex- pression are substantially the same as to their import, yet the " name of God " means not strictly God himself j but God as known and worshipped. The Holy Ghost is called the Spi- rit of our God ; that is, the Spirit of our reconciled God and Father, by whom that Spirit is sent in fulfilment of the prom- ise of the Father to the Son. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law in order that we might receive the prom- ise of the Spirit, Gal. 3, 13. 14.
Abuse of the principle of Christian liberty. Ys. 12-20.
The principle of Christian Hberty, or the doctrine that " all things are lawful," is to be limited in its application to things indifferent ; first, by considerations of expediency ; and secondly, by regard to our own spiritual freedom, v. 12. From that principle it is legitimate to infer, because of the adapta- tion of the stomach to food, that all things suited for food are lawful. The one is obviously designed for the other, during the temporary condition of the present life. But no such ap- plication of the principle is allowable in the case of fornica- tion; because the body is not designed for that end, but belongs to the Lord, with whom it stands in an indissoluble connection, so that he who raised him up will also raise up our