John viii. 36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall
be free indeed.
WE are exceedingly backward to acknowledge our true state and condition. In consequence of this we disregard the remedy provided for us, and deprive ourselves of all the blessings of salvation. Neverthe- less our gracious Saviour endures us with much long- suffering, and repeats to us the overtures of love and mercy. Thus he acted towards those who denied their need of freedom3: thus also he addresses him- self to us at this time.
a He might have shewn that their assertions were false : for their ancestors had been in bondage both in Egypt and in Babylon ; and at that very time the whole nation was under the Roman yoke. But
cr,2
It will be profitable for us to consider — I. In what respects we are in bondage —
We of this nation may justly boast of our civil freedom ; but we are, like all the rest of our species, under spiritual bondage.
1. Under the curse of the law —
[The law of God requires perfect and perpetual obedience. It denounces also a curse against us for every transgression1". Its precepts have been violated by us in ten thousand in- stances0. We all therefore, without exception, are obnoxious to its curse. This may well be considered as a state of wretched bondage d.]
2. Under the power of sin —
[Sin has infected all the members of our body, and the faculties of our soule. What can be conceived to argue a state of slavery so much as thisf? This construction is so obvious, that no Christian can doubt respecting itg. The church of old confessed her iniquities to have been a sore bondage11, and St. Paul himself could find no better image whereby to express the evil and bitterness of his indwelling corruptions *.]
3. Under the tyranny of Satan —
[The influence of Satan over us is often denied and ridi- culed ; but the wickedness of men is ascribed in Scripture to his agencyk, and every impenitent sinner is expressly said to be in bondage to him1.]
4. Under the fear of death —
[Many will shew a contempt for death on a field of battle, but all fear it in its more gradual approaches. Hence even
our Lord waved the subject of civil liberty, and fixed their attention on a freedom of a very different kind : he shewed them that, though they were the natural descendants of Abraham, they were the servants of sin, and should on that account, like Ishmael, be cast out : while they only, who were the sons of promise, should, like Isaac, abide in the house for ever. (Compare ver. 35. with Gal. iv. 28, 30.) Then, speaking of himself as in a more peculiar manner " the Son," and as the seed in whom all nations should be blessed, he again repeated his offer, and encouraged them to accept it.
b Gal. hi. 10. c Rom. iii. 19, 23.
d Gal. iii. 23. 'Efpovftov/xeda avyKtKKtKJuivoi. strongly expresses the idea of close custody.
e Ps. liii. 3. f John viii.34. s Rom. vi. 16.
h Isai. xxvi. 13. i Rom. vii. 14, 23. k Eph. ii. 2.
i 2 Tim. ii. 26.