earth!_~ history w,1s typical as well ns causal. By union with him we are" crucified \\"it.Ii Christ," "dead to the Law,"" <lead with Christ," "buried with !Jim," "risen with him,"" sitting with him in the hc:wenly places." If the apostle here makes nn allusion to water baptism, which was symbolic of the higher baptism, his ar.,ument does not rest ,m, but is opposed to, the supposition that" it is in that font, and when we are in it, thnt the first breath of [the new] life is drawn." Nor can we see that the lowerina of a l:ody into a bath and_ the lifting_it up aga~n is a significant aud striking symbol ir the J:..unal and resurrection of Christ, especially when we remember how ditrerent the customs of burial among Jews and Romans were from our own. However, the main truth of these ,erses is clearly that in Christ we have purity. "He is made unto us of God sanctification." Every pure motive, every good resolation, every holy impulse is from him. Our entire renunciation of sin(" the putting off of the body of the flesh") is through the power of his purifying Spirit (Gal. ii. 19, 20; vi. 14, 15). By faith in God, who by his Divine power raised the dead body of our Saviour from the tomb (Eph. i. 19, 20), we too are" raised with him," etc. (ver. 12). Whatever he who has raised us prescribes as means of attaining greater purity, we will revere and observe; but we r,,ject new-fangled methods of holiness "after the tradition of men" (Ps. cxix. 128). II. "JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE." This Pauline phrase (Rom. v. 18) sums up the bless- ings described in vcrs. 13, 14. We regard Christ as the Subject of the whole sentence. He is one with bis Father in the work of quickeuing (John v. 21 ; Epb. ii. 1-5), and of pardoning (eh. iii. 13; Eph. iv. 32). But in order to accomplish this Divine work of gidng life, there needed tbe no less Divine work of providing justification. For there \\"as wbat Paul describes as a document in existence, which was a barrier to our pardon. It w,1s God's Law, not merely for the Jews (Rom. iii. 19), but for the Gentiles (Hom. ii. 14, 15), whi~b "worketh wrath" (Rom. iv. 15). But Jesus Christ, in whom "dwelletb," etc. (ver. 9), bas removed the barrier. He had power to forgive sins "on earth" (Mark ii. 10), and bas it still (Acts v. 31). The value of Christ's obedience unto death as an atonement for sin is constantly taken for granted by the apostle. He was not sent to prove it, but to" deliver" it and testify to it (1 Cor. xv. 3; 1 Tim. ii. 6). By Christ's ,icarious sacrifice the ransom is given, the bond is cancelled, the document is annulled, and our sins may be blotted out (Isa. xliii. 25; Matt. xviii. 21-35; xx. 28). We are redeemed from the curse of the Law. As the instrument of our condemnation, it is taken out of the way; it is crucified with Christ, nailed to bis crosR. According to Paul's allegory in Rum. ii 1-4, the Law, a holy but inexorable husband, is dead, and we are joined to a no less holy but a loving Lord and Saviour. The conditions of acceptance with God and final salvation are no longer "The man that doeth these things shall live by them," but "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou sbalt be saved" (Heb. iii. 14; 1 Pet. i. 9). What need have we of other means of forgiveness? of angelic intercessors or absolving priests or eucbaristic sacrifices? "In him ye are ruade full." III. DELIVERANCE FROM OUR Th"FERNAL FOES. Christ in bis fleshly nature wao r•xposed to the assaults of sin and of the evil one throughout bis life (Matt. iv. 1-11; Luke iv. 13) till the last day of it (Luke xxii. 53; John xiv. 30). But on the cross his life of humiliation and strife came to an end (Rom. vi. 10). His cry," It is finished I,. declared that bis work of conflict, as well as his work of atonement, was ended. Ho put off from himself once for all and for ever the hostile principalities and power111 (cf. John xii. 31; IIeb. ii. 14; 1 John iii. 8). The entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, commonly called bis triumphal entry, is nowhere called his triumph in the New Testa. ment. His triumph was on the cross. The powers of darkness plotted his death, and by liis death they received their deadly blow. 1'1,e malefactor's cross became the victor's car (Rom. xiv. !:J; Phil. ii. 7-11; Rev. i. 18). This victory is for us who e.re "in Christ." ::iatan and all Lis allies (Epli. vi. 11, 12) who work through the world and the flesh are conquered foes; they know it, and we do too (Rom. vi. 14; viii. 37-39; xvi. 20; 1 Cor. xv. 55-57; Gal. vi. 14). We need no other allies in this conflict, no mystic methods of exploring the secrets or annulling the power of our spiritual foes (Phil, iv. 13).-E. S. P.
\' ds. lG-19.-Tu:o dangers to be avoided. We find here two notes of warning-" Let PO wa11 j•1dge you;" "Let no man rob you.'' 'l'wo dangers need to be guarded against, on. 11. 1-23.) THE EPISTLE TO '!'HE COLOSSIANS. 141