the
the law that it is good :" and again, " I delight in the law of God after the inward man !" He does, it is true, speak of himself as " dead to the law ;" and of the law as dead with respect to him ; and from thence, that the marriage bonds, by which the law and we were formerly united, are for ever dissolved. But what use does he teach us to make of this liberty ? Does he speak of it as freeing us from all moral restraints ? No ; but as a reason for our giving up ourselves henceforth in a marriage union to Christ as our second husband, that we may bring forth fruit unto God^. Now then, we would ask, Were David and Paul right ? If so, what must we think of the sentiments of these deluded people ? Are they more spiritual than David ? or have they a deeper insight into the Gospel than Paul ? The very circumstance of their discarding all the exhortations of St. Paul, and casting behind them all his practical instructions, demonstrates, that they are, for the present at least, " given up to a delusion, to believe a lie." Some of them, we trust, do not practically live adcording to these principles ; and, where this is the case, we hope that God, in his mercy, will sooner or later give them to see their errors : but, if they practically carry into effect their principles, they will have reason to curse the day that ever they were born.
To the younger part of our audience we will beg permission to suggest a few hints on this important subject.
You, when you go into the world, will be in danger
of being ensnared by people of this stamp. There is
something very imposing in the idea of glorifying the
Lord Jesus Christ, and of making him '' all in all."
The devout mind is delighted with this thought; and
is easily induced to regard with jealousy any thing
that may be supposed to interfere with it. But be
not wise above that which is written ; and let nothing
tempt you to imagine, that you can honour Christ by
setting aside any of his commandments. It is by
your love to his commandments that you are to
approve
^ Rom. vii. 1 — 4. with Gal. ii. \g. VOL. IV. F F
434 PSALMS, cxix, 128. [426,
approve yourselves his Disciples ; and however delighted you may be with the visions of Mount Tabor, you must never forget that you have work also to do in the plain'. We are far from wishing any one to be working* from self-righteous principles, or in a legal spirit : nor would we utter a word that should discourage the fullest confidence in God. It is our privilege, doubtless, to trace all our mercies up to his everlasting love, and to view them all as= secured to us by covenant and by oath'': but then it is no less our privilege to fulfil God's will, and to resemble the holy angels, of whom it is said, that " they do his commandments, hearkening to the voice- ©f his word." Beware then lest ye ever be led off from this ground. Rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the propitiation for your sins, as your all-prevailing Advocate, and as your living Head : but, whilst yon' believe in him, and love him, and rejoice in him, let your faith, and love, and joy, stimulate you to a holy and unreserved obedience. If he has "set your heart at liberty," let the effect be to " make you run with more enlargement the way of his commandments."
Lastly, we may derive from our text a direction to those who ivoiikl adorn the Gospel. " Esteem all God's precepts to be right, and hate every false way." If God has enjoined any thing, do not ask whether the world approves of it; nor, if he have forbidden any thing, inquire of the world, whether you shall abstain from it. The world are as inadequate judges of Chris- tian morality, as they are of Christian principles : both the one and the other are " foolishness to the natural man." Of all the sublimer precepts, whether evangelical or moral, they are ready to say, " This is a hard saying, who can hear it ?" But let no true Christian " consult with flesh and blood." Let him rather say with David, *' Away from me, ye wicked : I will keep the commandments of my God." Does God call you to "live no longer to yourselves, but unto him ?" or, Does the Lord .lesus Ciu'ist bid you " follow i = im without the camp, bearing his reproach ;"