against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the other ; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would ; but, if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law." This, you perceive, is the immediate context, wherein the Apostle cautions the Galatians against either abusing their liberty, or maintaining it with an unchristian spirit ; since, if they acted as became their holy profession, they would exercise nothing but love, either towards their friends or their enemies. And this he trusted they would do ; be- cause they had within themselves a spiritual principle, which, though strongly and perseveringly opposed by the carnal principle yet remaining in them, would ultimately prevail : and the effectual operation of that better principle would be sufficient of itself to prove that they were not under the law ; since the law could never accomplish so blessed a work ; whereas the very design of the Gospel, and its in- variable effect, was to produce it. The dominance of the better principle was a proof that they were " not under the law, but under grace V
This I apprehend to be the precise import of the passage before us : wherein we see a state presumed ; namely, that the true Christian is " led by the Spirit:" and a privilege inseparably connected with that state ; namely, that the person so living is not under the law.
To these points I will now address myself, in their order.
Let us first notice,
I. The state presumed —
It is here taken for granted, that every child of God " is led by the Spirit." But, whether we are to understand this expression as referring to the Holy Ghost, or to that spiritual principle which is infused into us by the Spirit of God, it is not easy to deter- mine. I rather prefer the latter sense, as more immediately suggested by the context : and it is certain that our Lord speaks of that divine principle
b Rom. vi. 14. Q 2