was to shew, that the rites and ceremonies, on which the Jews laid so great a stress, were abrogated, and superseded by a better dispensation. And the strange doctrines hinted at in the text are put in immediate connexion with " meats, (such as were enjoined or prohibited under the Mosaic dispensation,) which had not profited those who had been occupied therein." To such an extent were the ceremonies of the law insisted on by some, that they affirmed that no one could be saved without a strict observance of them ^. Thus they perverted the Gospel of Christ, by uniting with the blood of Christ another ground of dependence for our justification before God^.
And though Judaism is not now insisted on as it then was, there is the same disposition in men to combine something of their own with faith in Christ, as a joint ground of their hope. Men are still as averse as ever to a free salvation that is all of grace. They would have it to be in some measure " of works ;" not aware, that it must be wholly either of works, or of grace '^ : they do not see that the very instant any works of ours are admitted as meriting salvation, either in whole or in part, salvation is no more of grace, and man has to all eternity a ground of boasting before God '.
Be on your guard then that you be not carried away by such legal statements as too commonly prevail even in the present enlightened age : for it is not necessary to go to Papists in order to hear such doctrines : they are still heard amongst us, notwithstanding this error formed the chief ground of our separation from the Church of Rome, and of our pro- testitig against their fatal heresies. But know, that, if you add any thing to the work of Christ as a joint ground of your hope, you make void the Gospel of Christ, and must inevitably and eternally perish ''.]
2. By Antinomian doctrines —
[To these also there is a reference in the preceding con- text. Many converts, and especially from amongst the Gentiles, had but very imperfect views of that holiness which the Gospel enjoins. The great degree of criminality which attaches to fornication and adultery, was, through the influence of opinions imbibed in their Gentile state, but indistinctly seen : and hence, for the purpose of rectifying their views, the Apostle shews them, that, though marriage was honourable in all, having been ordained by God himself, that species of inter- course, which they were disposed to justify, was most dis- honourable, and most offensive in the sight of God, " who
f Acts XV. 1. Col. ii. 16. s Gal. i. 7.
^ Rom. iv. 4. and xi. 6. J Rom. iii. 27.
^ Rom. ix. 30—33. and Gal. v. 2, 4.