happiness depends : they are to him rather the expressions of his Father's will, which it is the joy of his soul to fulfil and execute. His real state in relation to the law, is like that of a woman to her deceased hushand. He was once altogether under its authority, whilst in his unconverted state ; but when he embraced the Gospel, the Law became dead with respect to him, and he dead with respect to it : and, though he still makes it the rule of his life, he obeys it through grace commu- nicated to him by the Lord Jesus ; to whom, as a woman on her second marriage, he now bears fruit unto holiness f.]
Of his liberation from the law he has within him- self a clear and decisive evidence —
[This I conceive to be the true meaning of my text. He is under the prevailing influence of the Holy Spirit, and of a new nature implanted by him : but " whence did he receive the Holy Spirit ? Was it under the law, or by the hearing of faiths?" It was by the hearing of faith, no doubt; that is, by the Gospel of Christ, who purchased for his people the gift of the Holy Spirit, and who sends forth his Spirit upon all who believe in himh. " What the law could not do for him, in that it was weak through the flesh, the Gospel has done : " it has destroyed the power of sin " within him ; and enabled him to " walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit1." Hence he is assured that " there is no condemnation to him :" for if " the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus have made him free from the law of sin," it has also freed him from " death," which is the consequence of sink. Behold, then, the liberty into which he is introduced : " Being delivered from the power of dark- ness, he is translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son ' ;" and, " being made free by him, he is become free indeed1"."]
From this subject, I cannot but urge upon you two words of advice :
1. Take care that your principles are pure and evangelical —
[It is thought by many, that if our outward conduct be correct, we need not be under any anxiety resecting the prin- ciples which we profess. But, is it of no consequence whether we continue under the law, or whether we embrace the Gospel ? Are we not expressly told, that " as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse n ?" Are we not also told, that " God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
f Rom. vii. 1—4. s Gal. iii. 2. h Gal. iii. 14.
i Rom. viii. 3, 4. k Rom. viii, 1, 2. > Col. i. 13.
m John viii. 36. " Gal. iii. 10.
2084.] THE CHRISTIAN FREED FROM THE LAW. l23\
made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons0?" Is it of no importance, then, whether we lie under this curse, or be redeemed from it? Would God have used such means for our redemption, if it had been a matter of indifference whether we were redeemed or not? Take the Apostle Paul in his unconverted state : " he was, as touching the righteousness which was in the law blamelessp:" but yet he found after- wards, that, had he died in his unconverted state, he must have perished for everq. So, indeed, must all of you, who cleave to the law as a covenant of works, instead of laying hold of the covenant of grace. Nothing can be more clearly declared than this : Be your advantages or attainments what they may, if you go about to establish your own righteousness, instead of submitting to the righteousness of God, you must perish1. The very law itself is intended to " lead you to Christ s ;" and "He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believethV I call you, then, to believe in Christ for salvation, and, like the Apostle, to renounce your own righteousness altogether, that you may be found in Christ, and be accepted through " the righteousness which is by faith in him11."]