II. CORINTHIANS 5, 17. 141

umencement of a new state of being. Eph. 1, 19. In Gal. 6, 15. Rom. 8, 9, and elsewhere, the same effects are ascribed to union with Christ. If we are miited to him so as to be inter- ested in the merits of his death, we must also be partakers of his life. This is the foundation on which the apostle builds his whole doctrine of sanctification as developed ii;i the sixth and seventh chapter of his epistle to the Romans. The word • /catvo's, new^ unimpaired^ uncontaniinated^ is an epithet of ex- cellence ; a new song, a new name, new heavens, new earth, the new Jerusalem, the new man, a new creature, are scrip- tural expressions which will occur to every reader. In the margin of the English Bible this clause is rendered. Let him he a new creature. This is in accordance with Calvin's view of the passage. "If any man would be in Christ, i. e. if he would be of consequence in Christ's kingdom, let him become a new creature." He supposes that the apostle refers to the ambition of the false teachers, whom he tells that if they wish to attain the influence to which they aspire, they must like him be entirely changed from selfishness to devotion to Christ. There is nothing in the words to require this, and every thing in the context is opposed to it. The apostle is detailing his own experience, unfolding the principles on which he acted, and showing the effect which the apprehension of the love of Christ had on him and must have on others. K any man is in Christ he is thereby made a new creature. In the Old Testa- ment, Is. 43, 18. 19. 65, 17, the effects to be produced by the coming of the Messiah are described as a making all things new. The final consummation of the Redeemer's kingdom in heaven is described. Rev. 21, 5, in the same terms. "He that sat upon the throne said. Behold, I make all things new." The inward spiritual change in every believer is set forth in the same words, because it is the type and necessary condition of this great cosmical change. What would avail any con- ceivable change in things external, if the heart remained a cage of unclean birds ? The apostle therefore says that if any man is in Christ he experiences a change analogous to that l^redicted by the prophets, and like to that which we still an- ticipate when earth shall become heaven. " Old things are passed away; behold, aU things have become new." Old opinions, views, plans, desires, principles and afifections are passed away ; new views of truth, new principles, new appre- hensions of the destiny of man, and new feeUngs and purposes fill and govern the soul.