interpretation, therefore, is on the whole to be pre- ferred.
V. 22. Sanctification includes dying to sin, or mor- tification of the flesh, and living to righteousness; or as it is here expressed, putting off the old man and putting on the new man. The obvious allusion is to a change of clothing. To put off, is to renounce, to re- move from us, as garments which are laid aside. To put on, is to adopt, to make our own. We are called upon to put off the works of darkness, Rom. 13, 12, to put away lying, Eph. 4, 25; to put off anger, wrath, malice, &¢., Col. 3, 8; to lay aside all filthiness, James 1, 21. On the other hand, we are called upon to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 13, 14, Gal. 8, 27; the armour of light, Rom. 13,12; bowels of mercy, Col. 3, 12; and men are said to be clothed with power from on high, Luke 24, 49; with immortality or incorrup- tion, &e., 1 Cor. 15, 53. As a man’s clothes are what strike the eye—so these expressions are used in refer- ence to the whole phenomenal life—all those acts and attributes by which the interior life of the soul is man- ifested ;—and not only that, but also the inherent prin- ciple itself whence these acts flow. For here we are said to put off the old man, that is, our corrupt nature, which is old or original as opposed to the new man or principle of spiritual life. Comp. Col. 3, 9, “Lie not one to another, seeing you have put off the old man with his deeds.” Rom. 6, 6, “ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him.” What is here called “the old man” Paul elsewhere calls himself, as in Rom.