as the Apostle says, " If salvation be by grace, it is no more of works ; otherwise grace is no more grace : but if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work1." Would they, then, be content to forego all hope by the Gospel, and to abandon as worthless all the promises of grace ? This was, in fact, their conduct, whilst they thus placed their reliance on this abrogated rite : and the folly of such conduct once seen, must deter them, for ever, from the prosecution of it.]
But we are yet further taught by the Apostle,
III. What was, and must in all cases be, the issue of it— " Christ would become of no effect to them," and " would profit them nothing." Never, to all eternity, would they derive any benefit from him,
1. As their atoning Sacrifice —
[He died indeed for sinners, and offered himself a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world : but, in renouncing him, and going back to the law, they cut themselves off from all parti- cipation of the benefit : so that, as far as they are concerned, " he died altogether in vainV]
2. As their great High-priest —
[For his people he is gone within the vail, there to make continual intercession for them : and through his intercession their peace is maintained with God. But never does he make mention of their name ; never prefer one request in their be- half. If he were once to bring their case before his Father, it would be rather to " make intercession against them ;" and to say, ' How long dost thou, O my Father, forbear to execute vengeance on those ungrateful creatures?' " How long dost thou not judge, and avenge my blood upon them1?"
3. As their Federal Head and Representative —
[To those who are united to Christ by faith, he is, under the new covenant, what Adam was to his posterity, under the old covenant. " In Adam, all" his natural posterity "died:" and " in Christ all" his spiritual children "are made alive111." But those who return to the law, renounce the covenant of grace, and go back to the covenant made with Adam in Para- dise ; according to the tenour of which they shall be justified or condemned, Having no other representative than Adam, " in whom they have sinned," they have no one through whom
» Rom. xi. 6. k Gal. ii. 21. 1 Rev. vi. 10.
m 1 Cor. xv. 22.