love thy neighbour as thyself." For the performance of these commandments the law afforded no strength, whilst yet it made no allowance whatever for the smallest defect in our obedience. The terms it prescribed were plain and positive, " Do this, and live." On the other hand, it said, " Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them." Hence the Apostle calls this law, " The letter that killeth :" for though as given originally to Adam, " it was ordained to life," to his fallen descendants it has been found only " todeath^" Hence he calls it also " a ministration of death, and of condemnation"," because nothing but condemnation and death can result from it to fallen man. So true is that declaration of his, that " as many as are under the law, are under the curse ^"
In opposition to this, the Gospel is set forth as " a new covenant," given to us to remedy the defects of the former covenant. In this new covenant a Saviour is provided for us ; and the Holy Spirit also is promised to us, to effect in our hearts all that our necessities require. Are we blind? this blessed Spirit will enlighten us. Are we weak ? He will give us strength. Are we polluted ? He will sanctify us through- out : and thus will he impart to us all that the Saviour has obtained for us, even peace, and righteousness, and life. Hence the Apostle calls the Gospel, " the spirit that giveth life ;" and represents the ministration of it as " a ministration of the spirit, and of righteousness ^"
In the Epistle to the Hebrews this contrast is more fully opened : " Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah ; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them hy the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: ... for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts ; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses, and their sins and iniquities will I remem- ber no more*'." Here, then, the defects of the former covenant are completely supplied. The law issued commands without aid, and menaces without hope : but the Gospel offers a free pardon of all sin, and communicates strength for future obedi- ence. Thus the one is " a letter which killeth;" the other is " a spirit, which giveth life."]
This is the Gospel which we also preach —
'^ Rom. vii. 10. c ver. 7, 9. d Qal. iii. 10.
•■ ver. 8, f). f Heb. viii. 8—12.