were kept under theLaw, shut np unto thEl faith which should nfterwar<ls be revealed." 1. The old dispensation described as the age '.' before the faith." (1) This does not mean tbot there.was bo faith in a, Redeemer in pre-Christian ages. To say otherwise is to say that there.,vae no salvation in those ages, The apostle ~hows elsewhere that Abrabl\m wee saved as Christiane ere now saved (Rom. iv.). (2) Pious Israelites lived "before the foi,th eame," because" the faith in him 88 really existent, or as Jesus, came with himself, into· the world." 2. The wardship of the Law in the old dispensrition. The apostle identifies himself with the whole body of believers under the old economy, anr\ represents• them· as under the strict surveillance of a rigorous janitor, who held them firmly under the discipline of the Law, with the design, however, that the very severity of their .bondage •might lead them to look·believingly for eseape to the Lord Jesus Obrist. 3. •The design of this wardship. "Shut up under the Law unto tbe faith which should afterwards be revealed." There was thus a gracious purpose in the very Law which was thus.,seen not to be "against the pr.omises of God." The Law still brings conviction of sin and shuts men up to the faith of Christ. It is not to be supposed" that the faith had not been revealed" from the earliest ages of the world-for Christ was the promised Seed to Adam-but there was a veil upon meu's minds till it was rent in the death of Christ. The faith revealed in due time was the faith of Christ incarnate. • lV.·TuE LAW OUB SCHOOLMASTER FOB OBRIST. "Wherefore the Law has become our tutor for Obrist, that we might be justified by faith." Thus we see bow "Christ becomes the end.of the Law for righteousness." 1. The symbolic ritual of the Law pointed expressly to Christ. "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." The sacrifices had no meaning apart from their typicn.l relationship to Christ. The Epistle to the Hebrews is the best commentary, on the Book of Leviticus. The Law with its sacrifices was always leading the Israelites to the" Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." 2. The moral Law wa.~ always leading to Ghrist; for it reveale<l sin, which deserved God's mighty con- demnation. ·•3. The spiritual insufficiency of the Law was it, constant preparatirm of ths ,soul/or thefaith of Christ. •· Ver.,26.-The blessing of adoption. The apostle has already traced jnstification to faith, the inheritruice to faith, life to faith; now he traces adoption to faith. Believers are not children of Abraham merely, but sons of God. It is clear, then, that they are no longer children "in need of a schoolmaster." "For ye are all "-both Jews and Gentil~-" sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus." L i'l'HE FOUNDATION OF BONBHIP. 1. It o,riginates in the distingztishing grace of God., -We ".are·-predestinated to the adoption of children" (Eph. i. 4-6). 2. It is based· on the inoarnation, of the eternal San, who became. the Son of man that bis people might become the sons of God. The Father loves them in bis Son, and looks upon·them with the complacency.with whicb,he regards his Son. 3. It i's based on the mediatorial work of Christ; for, as it is in Christ "we have redemption through bis blood," so in him we "have obtaiaed the inheritance." Besides, God has sent forth his Son ·"to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (eh. iv. 4,,5). -II. Tn.E -INB['BUMENT OF ADOPTION-FAITH. We become" sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus!' (John i. 12). It is clear, then, that we do not become sons of God by nature. 1. We are "by nature children of wrath." 2. We only become sons on believing. lIL· 'l'HE ADOPTION IS COMMON TO ALL BELIEVERS, WHETllEB JEW OR Gi,;NTILE, It· ie not enjoyed in a v1Lrying degree by believers, as some seem to think, as if God rcgnrded them with varying degrees of affection. "Beloved, now are we the :;ons of God;"·· 'l'he adoption carries with it Divine favour, discipline, training, tenderness, conformity to the image of God's Son. 1V, IT 18 A PRIVILEGE CONCERNING. WiiIOH BELIEVERS ARE NOT LEFT IN DOUDT; for-we receive the wituess of the Spirit that we arc children of God (Rom. viii. 16).
Ver. 27.-The import and obligationa of baptism. "For as many of you as wera baptized into Christ did put on Christ." !. THI!: IMPOltT OF BAPTISM IN'l'O CnrusT. 1. It declares our union with Christ. We &rt ba1itized into his death, so far os we partuke of it11 bcudit:;, and ore like hill\ TH:€ EPISTLE TO 'l'HE GALA'l'IANS. (on. nt. 1-29.