10. St. _Paul_ begins the 8th chapter of his Epistle to the _Romans_, with the great privilege of every Christian believer, (whether _Jew_ or _Gentile_ before) _There is now no condemnation for them that are in |Christ Jesus|_, engrafted into him by faith, _who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For_ now every one of them may truly say, _The law_ (or power) _of the Spirit of life in |Christ Jesus|_ (given unto me for his sake) _hath made me free from the law_ (or power) _of sin and death. For that which the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, |God| sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin_, did; when he _condemned_, (crucified, put to death, destroyed) _sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh, mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit._ Verse 1‒5.
Is it not evident, that the apostle is here describing a true Christian, a holy believer? In opposition, not particularly to a _Jew_, much less to the _Jewish law_, but to every unholy man, to all, whether _Jews_ or _Gentiles, who walk after the flesh_? He goes on
_For, to be carnally-minded is death; but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against |God|: for it is not subject to the law of |God|; neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh, cannot please |God|._ Verses 6, 7, 8.
The opposition between a holy and unholy man, is still glaring and undeniable. But can any man discern, the least glimmering of opposition, between the _Christian_ and the _Jewish_ LAW.
The apostle goes on, _But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of |God| dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of |Christ|, he is none of his. But if |Christ| be in you, the body is dead, because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up |Jesus| from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up |Christ| from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit which dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die; but if ye, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of |God|, they are the sons of |God|._ Verse 9‒14.
Is there one word here, is there any the least intimation of _miraculous_ gifts, or of the _Jewish law_?
It follows, _For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again, to fear_ (such as all sinners have, when they at first stirred up to seek God, and begin to serve him from a slavish fear of punishment) _But ye have received the spirit of adoption_ (of free love) _whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself_ (which God _hath sent forth into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father,) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of |God|._ Verse 15, 16.
I am now willing to leave it, without farther comment, to the judgment of every impartial reader, whether it does not appear from the whole scope and tenor of the text and context taken together, that this passage does not refer to the _Jewish law_, nor to the _public testimony of miracles_: neither of which can be dragged in, without putting the utmost force on the natural meaning of the words. And if so, it will follow, that this _witness of the Spirit_ is _the private testimony given to our own consciences_: which, consequently, all sober Christians may claim, without any danger of _enthusiasm_.
11. “But I go on (says your Lordship, page 21.) to the consideration of the other passages in the same chapter, relating to our _praying by the Spirit_, namely at verse 26 and 27, which runs thus, _Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of |God|._”