were urged against the Apostle's statements, would have greatly enervated mine, and prevented that favourable reception which I hope, through the ten- der mercy of God, they have met with in your minds. But I have longed for the present occasion, that I might vindicate the Gospel from the charge of licen- tiousness ; and prove, to the satisfaction of you all, that it is indeed, what the Apostle calls it, " a doc- trine according to godliness."
St. Paul was at all times most anxious to guard against a misconception of his sentiments and con- duct on account of his neglect of the ceremonial law. The one great object of his ministry was, to win souls to Christ. For the advancement of this end, he conformed, in all matters of indifference, to the views of those amongst whom he ministered ; " to the Jews, becoming a Jew ; to those who were under the law, as under the law ; and to those who were with- out law, as without law." But, fearing lest these compliances of his might be construed as a contempt of the divine authority, he took care to remove all ground for such an idea, by declaring, that he still considered himself as much bound to obey God as ever ; or, rather, that he felt himself under additional obligations to fulfil all the divine commands, in con- sideration of the unbounded mercy that had been vouchsafed to him through Jesus Christ. He had, it is true, neglected the observances of the law : but it had not been from any disrespect to God's com- mands, but because that law was in fact abrogated ; whereas the moral law was as much in force as ever : and to the latest hour of his life he should look upon himself as "under that law to ChristV
This acknowledgment of his comes fully to our point. It shews, that he still regarded the law as a rule of life ; and it gives me a fair opportunity,
1st, To establish the perpetuity of the law, as a rule of life ; and,
2dly, To enforce its obligations.
b 1 Cor. ix. 21.