the negative and the positive aspects of the great spiritual change effected in con- version. I. TnE NEGATIVE ABPE0T OP C0NVEBBION, "Ye have put off the old man with his <leeds." 1. The old man is the old unconverted self, strong in his deeds of sin. His deeds are catalogued among the " works of the flesh" (Gal. v. 22, 23), as well as in the context. He is to be discerned, indeed, by his works like a tree by its fruits. 2. The putting off of the old man is twofold, namely, at conversion and in tl,e gradual process of sanctification. Some teach that the old man is an unchanged and unchancreable 0 bein", and that, as he has been crucified in Christ (Rom. vi. 6), we have nothing more to d°o with him. In that case, if we have put on the new man, we are perfectly sinless. (1) There is a putting off of the old man at our justification. (2) 'rhere is a gradual puttin\!; 6ff likewise-a " mortifying your members which are upon the earth," which is to con- tinue till we get rid of all his deed~. The counsel, therefore, to put off the old man and put on the new man is like the similar counsel," Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. xiii. 14), addressed to those who had already "put on Christ" (Gal. iii. 27). II. TnE POSl'rIVE ASPECT OF CONVERSION. "And have put on the new man." This is the regenerate man. He is a" new creation" (2 Cor. v. 17; Gal. vi. 15). 1. The nature of this newness. (1) He has a new nature-" born from above" (John iii. 3). He has "a new heart.." (2) He has a new obedience, both as to its spirit, its matter, and its end (Rom. xii. 1). (3) He has a new citizenship (Phil. iii, 20). (4) He hl\s new desires (Ps. Ii. 2; Matt. v. 6; 1 Tim. iv. 8). 2. It is a nature constantly renewed unto full knowledge. "Which is being renewed unto knowledge." It is not at once complete, but in a state of constant development by the Holy Spirit. Knowleuge is a principal part of the new grace of the believer. (1) It is the beginning of eternal life (John xvii. 3). (2) It has trausforming power (2 Cor. vii. 18). (3) It is necessary to our understanding the wiles of the devil and resisting the temptations of the world (1 Pet. v. 9). 3. Its renewal is after a Divine pattern. "After the image of him who created him." The allusion is to Gen. i. 26. The image of Christ in the believer is analogous to that of the image of God in the original man, but will be far more glorious, as the second Man is more glorious than the first man. Thus wo see the process of putting on the new man in its beginning (Gal. iii. 27), in its continuance (Rom. xiii._l•l), and in its completeness (1 Cor. xv. 53, 54).-T. C.
Ver. 11.-.All distinctions obliterated in <Jhrist. " Where there cannot be Greek and ,Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman: but Christ is all, and in all." The old distinctions which separated man from man can have no existence in the new spiritual life. I. NATIONAL DISTINCTIONS ARE ADOLISilED IN CHRIST. 11 Greek 11nd Jew." The peculiar privilege of Abraham's natural seed is gone. Mercy is shown on exactly similar terms to Jew and to Gonti!e. Thus is manifest that catholicity of the gospel which the Gnostics repudiated. II. RITUALISTI0 DISTINCTIONS ARE AnOLISHED. .. Circumcision and uncircumcision." The errorists in Galatia would have imposed circumcision on the Gentile Christians, but neither circumcision nor the want of it availed 11nything in Christ's kingdom, but "a new creation " (Gal. vi. 15). Thus, while it was an ad vantage to be born a Jew rather than a Gentile, it was none to become as a Jew by conforming to its ritual (l Cor. vii. 19). III. No DISTINCTION IB RECOGNIZED AS TO CIVILIZATION on REFINEMENT. "Bar- barian, Scythian." The barbarian was the foreigner, the 8cytbian the savage. 'l'ho gospel turns the barbarian into a brother, and lifts even the Scythians-the lowest type of barbarians-into the dignity of Christian fellowship. IV. SoOUL DISTINCTIONS ARE ADOLIBHED. "Boutlman, freeman." The gospel has placed them on one level ofreligious privilege. V. CnBIST BAB 0DLITERATED ALL TilEBE DIBTINCTIONS. .. Ilut Christ ii:; all, and in all," He has absorbed them all into himself, tilling the whole sphere of human life in its widrst varieties of development. He dwells in all, their true Centre; for the lifo of all believers is "hid with Christ in God." This fact places the Sl\ints under immense obligations. They must consecrate all to Christ and resign all to his wise and loving will.-T. 0. li4 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [en. m. 1-26.