Gal. v. 6. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision ; but faith which worketh by love.
THE peculiar character of the Gospel is, that it shews how a sinner may be justified before God ; yet the generality of Christians are far from entertaining just views of this most fundamental point : they con- found the different offices of faith and works. But St. Paul distinguishes them with much accuracy and precision ; he invariably declares that our justification is by faith ; yet, though he denies to works the office of justifying, he invariably insists on them as the fruits and evidences of our faith. Nothing can be more decisive than the declaration before us.
We shall, I. Explain it —
Man is prone to trust in outward rites and cere- monies—
[The Jews confided in the ordinance of circumcision : the Judaizing teachers also among the Christians inculcated the observance of that rite as a ground of hope : amongst ourselves also, many think it sufficient that they have been baptized, or expect to find admission into heaven because they have attended regularly at the Lord's table.]
But no outward observances can avail for our sal- vation—
[An external conformity with the rule of duty may pro- ceed from the basest principles : it may spring from a desire to obtain man's applause, or to establish a righteousness of our own ; and it may consist with the indulgence of evil tempers and vicious appetites. It cannot therefore of itself charac- terize the true Christian, nor can it "avail any thing'" towards procuring the Divine favour. If indeed it proceed from faith and love, it will be rewarded ; but if it be made the ground of our hope, it will prevent, rather than procure, our acceptance with Goda.]
» Gal. v. 2.