Three things it suggests to us ; namely, An answer to those who misrepresent the Gospel — A reproof to those who would abuse the Gospel — and A direction to those who would adorn the Gospel.
First, we may derive from hence an anszver to those who misrepresent the Gospel. It has in all ages been a favourite argument against the Gospel, that it super- sedes the necessity of good works, and opens the flood-gates of licentiousness. It was urged repeatedly against St. Paul himself; who on that account set himself to answer it with all imaginable care : " Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" And again, " Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace ?" To both these questions he answers with holy indignation, " God forbid!" And, when his enemies went so far as to affirm, that he gave men a licence to sin, saying, " Let us do evil that good may come ;" he scorned to return any other answer than this, " Their damnation is just." And it were greatly to be wished, that those who now so confidently repeat these accusations against the followers of St. Paul, would reflect on the guilt they incur, and the danger to which, by such calum- nies, they expose themselves. To this present hour the same objections are made to all those statements which resemble Paul's. If we deny to good works the office of justifying the soul, we are represented as denying the necessity of them altogether. Though these objections have been refuted a thousand times, and should be refuted ten thousand times more, the enemies of the Gospel will still repeat them with as much confidence as ever. Let them, however, look into our text, and see what David's principles were. Of all the Old Testament saints, there was not one who more determinately sought to be justified by the righteousness of Christ without any works of his own, than he. Hear what is said of him by St. Paul, in confirmation of the very sentiments which Paul himself maintained ; " To him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is