open to the sun, but only one folstantly. Be thou, my heart, like the sunflower, not only open to God's blessings, but constant in looking to Him." -Anon. lows him con sin is not to reign in us a 1 Co. vi. 15; Ja. b Jo. xviii. 3. "Antinomianism sition to His go Servants of sin made servants of Christ.-A person who had expressed doubts whether the negroes received any real advantage by hearing the Gospel, was asked, whether he did not think one named Jack was better for the preaching? He replied, "Why, I must confess that he was a drunkard, a liar, and a thief, but, certainly, he is now a sober boy, and I can trust him with anything; and since he has talked about religion I have tried to make him drunk, but failed in the attempt." 12, 13. reign.. body, have dominion or kingly power. thereof, i.e. of the body. members,a bodily organs. instruments, Gk. denotes military weapons; applied to any instru ment of action. "The fig. is that of furnishing arms for military service." yield, present: placing of servants in presence of the master: hence present and weapons conjoined suggest the idea of sin as a tyrant (v. 12) surrounded with his guards to whom he gives wages (v. 23). God, the rightful King. unto God, to advance His glory extend His Kingdom. Instruments of righteousness.—I. How they are formed: 1. In sets up the grace the text they are described as those that are "alive from the of God in oppo- dead;" 2. The command to yield indicates that resistance is vernment." R. expected; 3. We are saved by Christ, and then used as instruments for saving lost men. II. How they are used. In coarser habitual operations Christ uses coarser instruments; for the finishing ascendancy of touch He grasps a more delicate tool. Cecil. "The as if there were vice as certainly determines the Extent of regeneration.-The work of regeneration doth also choice as even a reach to the body. The strong castle of the soul being taken and total depravity. sanctified, the tower of the body commanded by it presently A decided majorityin Parliament yieldeth. When Satan sat on the throne of the soul as king, the carries every members of the body (which the Holy Ghost termed in unregemeasure with as nerate persons 66 weapons of unrighteousness" (Rom. vi. 31), were much certainty his militia, and employed to defend his unjust title, to execute no_minority."— his ungodly designs, to perform his hellish pleasure,-the head to plot, the hand to act, the feet to run, the eyes to see, the ears to e W. Arnot, D.D. | hear, the tongue to speak for him. But as, when an enemy is conquered and a magazine in war is taken, the general maketh use of those arms and the ammunition for his service, which before were slight thoughts employed against him; so the strong man Satan, being beaten of sin never had out of his strongholds by Christ, the stronger than he, the great thoughts of members of the body which before were "instruments of unrighteousness" unto sin, are now "instruments of righteousness unto God." A. Fuller. 1 Swinnock. "He that hath God."-Owen. we are not under law, but under grace a Ga. v. 18; Ro. x. 5; Ga. iii. 11, 12; Ro. iv. 16; Jo. i. 17; viii. 34, 36. 1 Co. ix. 21. e1 Co. iii. 16; v. 6; vi. 2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19; ix. 13, 24; Ja. iv. 4. 14-16. dominion, Gk., lord it over you: all. master and slave absolutely tyrannical government. but.. grace,a wh. helps to subdue sin. what then?.. grace? (vv. 1, 2). know.. not, phrase denoting well known and self-evident truth. servants, slaves, bound to obey. whether, etc.,d the master is known by the service you render. Real and fictitious holiness. We "are not under the law, but under grace." I. As the means of our justification. The office of 1. The law-to inform us of sin, and its penalty; 2. Grace-to provide a means of justification for sin. II. As the standard of conduct. III. As the empowering instrument whereby we fulfil the rule of our life. It affords us the needful power for this by1. Conferring upon us a nature corresponding to its requirements; 2. Supplying us with Divine strength through the Holy Ghost. Learn: There is here-(1) A warning to the sinner; (2) Encour-d Ma. vi. 24; Jo. agement to the penitent. other more com viii. 34; xii. 26; Is. liv. 17. The wages of sin.-The tale of the goblet, which the genius of e W. Spensley. a heathen fashioned, was true, and taught a moral of which many "There is none a death-bed furnishes the melancholy illustration. Having mon nor more made the model of a serpent, he fixed it in the bottom of the cup. troublesome Coiled for the spring, a pair of gleaming eyes in its head, and in guest than sin. its open mouth fangs raised to strike, it lay beneath the ruby This our Hagar wine. Nor did he who raised that golden cup to quench his thirst and quaff the delicious draught suspect what lay below, till, as he reached the dregs, that dreadful head rose up, and glistened before his eyes. So, when life's cup is nearly emptied, and sin's last pleasure quaffed, and unwilling lips are draining the bitter dregs, shall rise the ghastly terrors of remorse, and death, and judgment upon the despairing soul. Be assured, a serpent lurks at the bottom of guilt's sweetest pleasure. will abide many strokes, ere she be turned out of the seed of the f Dr. Guthrie. 17-19. that.. were, i.e., although ye were. form,a mould, servants of type. "Believers take the impression of Gospel truth as fr. a righteous mould." free.. sin, free fr. guilt, power, tyranny. I.. men," using familiar figures and illustrations; here, slavery, emancipation. because.. flesh, dulness of spiritual apprehension. to iniquity, lawlessness. unto iniquity, to practical violations of law. holiness, sanctification. The strictness of the law of Christ.-I. The religion of the world. This is the man whom the world counts as religious: 1. One who makes a practice of going to Church, but who will stay away once perhaps now and then; 2. Who is strictly honest in his dealings, but, when hard pressed, does not mind resorting to a lie; 3. Who generally curbs his temper; 4. Who is ordinarily sober and temperate. If he goes wrong, it is but once in a way. Are such men joined to Christ? II. The religion of Christ. It is not loose, like that of the world; true Christians go not wrong once in a way. Its laws must be strictly obeyed. Christ did what the law could not do.-I desire you, in the reverence of God, to bear away this one sentence which I will now speak unto you, for it shall be a good stay for you against the temptations of the devil. The sentence is this, "That which the law could not do" (for it was hindered by the flesh). But what can the law do when it hath no hindrance? It can justify-that is to say, "by the infirmity of the flesh" man was not able to do it, the lack was in us; for we are wicked, and the law is holy and good. Now, that which we lacked, that same has God fulfilled and supplied; for He hath sent His Son to supply that which man's works could not do, and with His fulfilling of the law, and painful death, He merited that as many as believe in Him, though they had done all the sins of the world, yet should they not be damned, but they are righteous before the face of God, believing in Christ; so that remission of sins and everlasting life may be sought nowhere else but only in Christ. "He that spared not His only Son, but gave Him for us, why should He not with Him give us all things also?" 20-22. servants. . free, when bondmen to sin, ye were free men in relation to righteousness. fruit, advantage. things, sinful acts and service. now, being enlightened and renewed. ashamed ? « having discovered them to be unworthy of you as VOL. III. a U ness a 1 S. xvi. 7; Ep. 13; 2 Co. x. 5. vi. 5-7; 2 Ti. i. b Robinson. Ga. iii. 15. d1 Co. iii. 1. "It is the work and business of religion and of our lives to reconcile the temper of our spirit to the rule of righteousness, and to incorporate the principles of our religion into the complexion of our minds."Dr. Whichcote. "Reader, whose servant are you? If you are still a servant of sin, quit its work, cast off its badges. Stay not to finish one unfinished job; at once strike, and offer yourMaster."-W. D. Ingham. self to the better Rev. J. H. New man, B.D. servants of sin, and servants of God a Ex. xxxvi. 26. 31, 32; Ez. xvi. 63; Je. xxxi. 19. b Ro. vi. 23. c He. xii. 14. d Re. xxii. 3, 5. men, and of God your Maker and Saviour. end, result, consequences. death, natural, spiritual, eternal. free.. sin, fr. its power and punishment. fruit, now, in holiness; hereafter, in life everlasting.d This The threefold state-I. The Christian's former state. "The wages that service of sin is-1. Unprofitable in its nature; 2. Awful in its sin bargains for results. II. His present state-one of holiness, as contrasted with the sinner with the former. III. His future state-everlasting life. Learn:are life, pleasure, and profit; but (1) The unspeakable importance of holiness; (2) Let the humble the wages it pays inquirer be encouraged; (3) Let the careless sinner be alarmed him are death, and awakened.e-The blessed state of believers.-I. Believers are torment, and de- free from sin: 1. The accumulated guilt; 2. The tyranny; 3. would under- The love; 4. The defilement, of sin. II. They are the servants stand the false- of God. They are-1. Governed by His will; 2. Supported by hood and deceit His grace; 3. Interested in His cause. III. Their fruit is unto of sin must com- holiness. The fruit of their-1. Hearts; 2. Lips; 3. Lives. IV. and payments to- Their end is everlasting life. A state of-1. Uninterrupted and gether."-South. eternal union with Christ; 2. Active and delightful employment; 3. The highest enjoyment. struction. He that pare its promises e Anon. f Anon. sin in our soul at the first stage; for the farther it goes the faster it The profit of sin.-Walking in the country, says the Rev. W. "No man can be Jay, I went into a barn, where I found a thresher at his work. I stark naught at addressed him in the words of Solomon: "In all labour there is once. Let us stop profit." Leaning upon his flail, with much energy he answered, the progress of 66 Sir, that is the truth, but there is one exception to it; I have long laboured in the service of sin, but I have got no profit by my labour." "Then you know something of the Apostle's meaning when he asked, 'What fruit had ye then in those things Thomas Fuller. whereof ye are now ashamed?" " "Thank God," said he, "I do; and I also know that now, being freed from sin, and having become a servant unto righteousness, I have my fruit unto holiheart, murder ness, and the end everlasting life!" How valuable is this simple was not far off." faith in the Word of God! and how true is the saying of a -M. Henry. deceased writer, that piety found in a barn is better than the most splendid pleasures of a palace! will increase." "When anger in Cain's was the wages of sin, and the gift of God a Jo. vi. 39, 40; xvii. 2, 3; 1 Jo. v. 11; Ro. ii. 7; 1 Pe. i. 4; Ro. v. 17, 21. translated a dona pared to the dona 23. wages, given by sin to its slaves: the ruin that follows a life of sin is fairly earned. The word oóvia sig. the food and pay given by generals to soldiers. gift," not called wages, bec. not merited as death is." The necessary connection between sin and suffering.-I. The evils resulting from sin: 1. Loss of peace and calm; 2. Dissatisfaction with one's own mind. II. The external influences of "Estius thinks sin: 1. Upon the one who perpetrates sin; 2. Upon others with the word may be whom he is associated. III. Its effects: 1. Loss of public contive; bec. being fidence; 2. The invention and support of those various arts of freely bestowed, violence, by which we endeavour to secure safety, where confiit may be com-dence is lost.c-The wages of sin and the rewards of grace.-I. tives wh. the Rom. The masters in whose service men engage. II. The rewards generals, of their which these masters give to those who serve them: 1. Sin gives own good-will, eternal death; 2. God gives eternal life-reunion to Himself. bestowed on their III. The quality of these rewards. Learn: 1. How disgraceful of their favour.' a master is sin; 2. What remorse it causes; 3. What punishment it inflicts.d-The soul's capabilities for enjoying eternal hap piness or enduring eternal woe.-I. No certain proof that the soul d Michael-le-is not immortal is even pretended by the rejecters of the fact. II. The immateriality of the soul, or its distinction from the material world. III. Its capacity for independence of the mate soldiers as a mark -Macknight. c Rev. C. Stovel. Faucheur. "There is more ever there was sweetness flowing from rial world. Suggested by-1. What we know of the great First bitterness followCause Himself; 2. The conscious identity of the thinking prin- ing on sin's endciple, in contradistinction from the endlessly changing character ing than of the body. IV. Some direct proofs of the soul's immortality: 1. The universality and congeniality of this belief to the human mind; 2. The manner in which it arises; 3. The uses to which it is applied; 4. The fact that, if the soul be not immortal, all the universe will, in time, decay, and nothing will be left; 5. The results of entertaining the opposite doctrine.e The wages of sin.—Mr. Marshall, author of the Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, having been for several years under distress of mind, consulted Dr. Goodwin, an eminent divine, giving him an account of the state of his soul, and particularising his sins, which lay heavy on his conscience. In reply, he told him he had forgot to mention the greatest sin of all, the sin of unbelief, in not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of his Mr. sin's acting. You see that nothing but well in its commission, will suffer nothing but woe in its con clusion. You that sin for your pro fits will never profit by your sins."-J. Dyer. e Rev. J. Aldis. if "Sin is a basilisk whose eyes are full of venom; the eye of thy soul see her first, it reflects her since, therefore, thou sins, and sanctifying his nature. On this he set himself to the studying and preaching of Christ, and attained to eminent holiness, great peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Marshall's dying words were these:- "The wages of sin is death, own poison and but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our kills her; if she Lord."-The wrath to come.-A servant who had made that im- see thy soul, unprovement which might be expected from hearing the irreligious seen, or seen too late, with her and blasphemous conversation continually passing at the table poison she kills where he waited, took an opportunity to rob his master. Being thee; apprehended, and urged by his master to give a reason for this canst not escape infamous behaviour, "Sir," said he, "I have heard you and your thy sin, let not friends so often talk of the impossibility of a future state, and thy sin escape thy that after death there was no reward for virtue, nor punishment observation." for vice, that I was tempted to commit the robbery." "Well," replied the master, "but had you no fear of that death which the laws of your country inflict upon the crime?" "Sir," rejoined water when a the servant, looking sternly at his master, "what is that to you, stone is thrown if I had a mind to venture that? You and your companions into it, one pro-, had removed my greatest terror; why should I fear the less?" "Quarles. duces another." -M. Henry, CHAPTER THE SEVENTH. death 1-4. speak.. law, i.e. to Jews who know the law of Moses.a the power of long.. ..liveth? so long and no longer. Death breaks all such the law disbonds, whether of the person bound, or to whom he is bound. solved by The power of law ceases at death, and we are dead. for, take the marriage bond as an example. bound..liveth, unless divorced. free.. law, free to marry another. dead.. Christ, ye were made dead to the law of Moses, through the body of Christ, slain, on the cross.d c a Ro. ii. 17, 18. b Vaughan. 1 Co. vii. 39. d "The Apos. here speaks of the Mosaic Law Married to Christ.-I. How? By-1. Renouncing all hope from the law; 2. A cordial acceptance of Him as our righteousness; 3. as a husband and Dependence on Him for life, comfort, and everything. II. human nature as When? On the day of our believing. Then our life will be one a wife... of-1. Dependence on Him; 2. Duty to Him. III. The results. comparison We shall-1. Belong; 2. Be subject to Him. His would naturally lead him to say The hardest commandment.-As I stood one day by Mr. Jeffreys, that the law is says Mrs. Jeffreys, the widow of a missionary at Madagascar, in dead; and that absolved fr. its that mankind replied, 66 human nature her journal, catechising the children, I asked them which of the has now been commandments was the most difficult to observe. One, after a obligation of the long pause, mentioned one, and another a different precept; law, by the death till at last, a boy, about twelve years old, said, "The last is the of the law, so hardest." Mr. Jeffreys asked, Why is it so, my boy?" He "Because for one who is poor, to see another possessing & mar. to another great deal of money, a great deal of clothes, and much cattle and husband, Christ." rice, without wishing for some of them is very hard; I think no person can keep this commandment." This little boy proved, e Rev. T. Robin- by his remarks, that he had thought about this important commandment; but he does not appear then to have known, that whenever we fervently pray to God for His grace, He helps us to keep His requirements, however hard they may be. may now be Wordsworth. son. deliverance from the law a 2 Co. iii. 6; He. viii. 8, 13. 6 Ex. xx. 17. c Ro. iv. 15; 1 Co. xv. 56. a medicine to 5-8. motions, passions, inclinations. by.. law, by occasion of the law. members, faculties of animal nature. fruit, speech, actions. dead.. held, the law dead to us and we to it. newness.. spirit, etc., a newness belonging to spirit. "In a new state, of wh. the essence is spirit; instead of that old state of wh. the characteristic was obedience to a written enactment. known sin (see on iii. 20), sin is discovered by a revelation of duty. Restraint is not thou.. covet, wh. precept shows that the lust, or desire, is cure epidemical wrong. occasion, starting-point, a setting out as a base of diseases. Dili- operations. wrought, excited. concupiscence, lust, covetguntur immodice ing, sinful desire. without.. dead, no conscious existence. sola, дих non The law no cause of sin.-I. The objection that some were ready tilian. The less to make against the holiness of the law. II. The Apostle's arguwe should, the ment to confute this wicked notion: 1. By the law men come to more we would." a clearer knowledge of sin; 2. How the Apostle produces his own -Bp. Hacket. experience in the matter. Learn:-(1) The holiest truths are subject to be perverted and misunderstood. (2) The servants of Christ must be able and ready to argue against this.d licent. Quinc d W. Burkitt. "This was not occasio data, but arrepta; no OC casion naturally son out of that which is holy." -Bp. Reynolds. "It is worse to love sin than to Death in the midst of life.-Most persons know that every butterfly (the Greek name for which also signifies the "soul," psyche) offered by the comes from a caterpillar, called a larva. The last name (which law, but per- signifies literally a mask) was introduced by Linnæus, because the versely taken by sin, whose veno- caterpillar is a kind of outward covering of the future life within; mous property for it has been ascertained by curious microscopic examination, it is to suck poi- that a distinct butterfly, only undeveloped, and not full grown, is contained in the body of the caterpillar. When the proper period arrives, and the life of the insect, in this its first stage, is to close, it becomes what is called a pupa, enclosed in a chrysalis, or cocoon, and lies torpid for a time within this natural coffin, from commit it. A which it issues at the proper period as a perfect butterfly. But man may commit sin through sometimes this process is marred. There is a numerous tribe of a temptation, or insects, well known to naturalists, called "ichneumon flies," which out of ignorance; in their larva state are parasitical. The ichneumon-fly, being and when he provided with a long sharp sting, which is, in fact, an ovipositor sin, he is sorry (egg-layer), pierces with this the body of a caterpillar in several for it; but he that places, and deposits her eggs, which are there hatched and fed. loves sin, his will A most wonderful circumstance connected with this process is, is in the sin, and that a caterpillar which has been thus attacked goes on feeding it, and is like the and apparently thriving quite as well, during the whole of its dye which makes larva-life, as those that have escaped; for, by a wonderful prothe wool of a vision of instinct, the ichneumon-grub within does not injure any of the organs of the larva, but feeds only on the future butterfly enclosed within it; and, consequently, it is hardly possible to dis knows it to be that aggravates crimson colour." -T. Watson. |