k W. W. Wythe. -guidance—co-operation. III. His privilege,—“no condemna"When we think tion," for-1. Past offences; 2. The corruption of his nature; of death, a thou-3. His defective service; 4. His involuntary errors. sand sins we have trod as worms beneath our feet, rise up against us like flaming serpents."-T. Scott. 1 H. W. Beecher. Christ did what the law could not do a Ro. iii. 20; He. vii. 18, 19. b Robinson. c 1 Jo. iv. 9, 10: Ph. ii. 6, 8; He. vii. 24; 1 Pe. ii. 24: Ga. iii. 13: He. x. 10, 14; Ro. vi. 6, 7; 1 Pe. iv. 1, 2. d Vaughan. e Jo. iii. 6; 1 Co. xv. 48; 1 Co. ii. 14; Ph. iii. 18, 19; Ga. v. 22, 25; Col. iii. 2. f Dr. Thomas. within these walls see the sinner, The connecting link between Romans vii. and viii.—I defy any man to get out of the seventh of Romans into the eighth, except by that one word, "CHRIST." He who attempts it is like a leaf caught in the eddy of a stream; it whirls round and wants to get down the stream, but cannot go. The seventh of Romans is an eddy in which the conscience swings round and round in eternal disquiet and dissatisfaction; the eighth of Romans is the talisman through which it receives the touch of Divine inspiration, and is lifted above into the realm of true Divine beneficence.' 3-5. law.. do, could not impart the holiness it required. weak," inoperative (ill. sculptor good, stone bad: penman skilful, paper coarse). likeness.. flesh, in a body like that of sinful men. condemned.. flesh," "God in the incarnation and consequent sacrifice of His own Son passed sentence of death upon sin in that very flesh wh. was its domain." righteousness.. law, uprightness of character enjoined by law. ful filled, accomplished. after.. Spirit, acc. to promptings of a renewed spiritual nature. after.. flesh, in their natural state. mind.. flesh, prosecute the objects, desires of unrenewed heart. after.. Spirit, under rule of Holy Spirit. things.. Spirit, course of life revealed and enjoined by Holy Spirit. The Christian plan.-I. The occasion of its introduction: 1. What the law could not do; 2. Why it could not. II. The history of its development: 1. The mission; 2. The incarnation; 3. The sacrifice of Christ. III. The design of its operation"that the righteousness of the law," etc. This is done by presenting law: 1. In its most attractive forms; 2. In connection "A soul castled with the greatest motives to obedience; 3. In connection with the is impregnable. greatest helper.—The righteousness of law and faith.—What is Justice now hath the difference then between the righteousness which is of the Law, no mark to level and the righteousness which is of Faith? between the first coveat God cannot nant, or the Covenant of Works, and the second, the Covenant of because Christ Grace? The essential, unchangeable difference is this: the one hides him. This supposes him to whom it is given to be already holy and happy, is not the man,' created in the image and enjoying the favour of God, and presaith Justice, scribes the condition whereon he might continue therein in love strike.""-Gurnall. and joy, life and immortality. The other supposes him to whom "Sins of the it is given to be now unholy and unhappy, fallen short of the mind have less glorious image of God, having the wrath of God abiding on him, infamy than and hastening, through sin, whereby his soul is dead, to bodily body, but not less death, and death everlasting. And to a man in this state, it malignity."— prescribes the condition whereon he may recover the favour and Whichcote. the image of God, may retrieve the life of God in his soul, and be restored to the knowledge and the love of God, which is the beginning of life eternal.s 'that I am to those of the g Wesley. dif. betw. the carnal and spiritual mind a Ga. vi. 8; Ro. vi. 21; vii. 5; Ja. 1. 14, 15; Ro.xiii. 14; Ep. ii. 1. 6-8. for.. death,a the minding of the flesh is death. but.. minded, the minding of the spirit. life, spiritual here, glorious hereafter. peace, harmony within, with God, for ever. enmity, full of opposition and hatred. Natural man opposed to all that is godlike. subject, moral acquiescence, practical obedience. they.. flesh,d unrenewed. please, afford Him gratification, walk with Him, trust Him. Ro. v. 1; Is. lvii. 21; Ro. vi. 11-13. Ja. iv. 4; 1 Jo. ii. 15, 16; Ro. i. 30; Col. i. 21. 33, 34; He. xi. 5, 6. tus, the virtuous soul is pure and unmixed light, springing from the body as a flash of lightning dashes from the The heavenly mind.-I. Of what it consists: 1. A deadness to the world; 2. An eye habitually fixed on heaven; 3. An intimate communion with God, and a concurrence in His will. II. How it is to be obtained. It must be received of God, and must be sought-1. With a deep sense of dependence on Him; 2. By habitual and earnest prayer; 3. By heavenly meditation; 4. By conscientiousness, and punctuality in attendance on all the "For, in the lanmeans of grace; 5. By watchfulness; 6. With habitual and uni-guageof Heracleiversal obedience; 7. With a single eye. The seeker must not be divided between the world and God; 8. With a mind set upon it as the personal good, to which all other good must submit, and decreeing in the heart (with a proper dependence on God) that this shall be attained to, though all else be lost.-The enmity of the carnal mind.-I. Its object-God, who is-1. The kindest of beings; from His-(1) Creative goodness; (2) Sustaining care. 2. The most lovable. His kindness is (1) Extensive; (2) and immersed in Prompt; (3) Generous; (4) Lasting: 3. The greatest. Infinite sense, like a heavy and dank in-(1) Wisdom; (2) Power; (3) Happiness. II. Its subject-vapour, can with the carnal mind: 1. The mind-the noblest part of man, because difficulty be kinit is (1) Rational; (2) Free: 2. The carnal mind-carnal be- dled, and caused cause of its-(1) Descent; (2) Affections; (3) Exercises. III. heavenward." Its evidences. It is shown by-1. Aversion from communion Plutarch. with God; 2. Wilful disobedience to His known commands; e Dr. E. D. Griffin. 3. Hostile opposition to Him; 4. Hatred to His followers. This f Anon. teaches us: (1) That all mankind are naturally degenerate; (2) An entire change of mind is necessary to salvation; (3) This change should be our most serious concernƒ cloud. But the soul that is carnal to raise its eyes "What & fine moral does Milton inculcate throughout his Paradise Lost, by showing that all the weakness and pain of the rebel angels was the natural conse quence of their be observed of Enmity against God. However it may be concealed, like a worm in the bud, "the carnal mind is enmity against God." Illustrating the familiar adage, "out of sight out of mind,' this feeling may lie dormant so long as our enemy is unseen; but let him appear, and his presence opens every old wound afresh, and fans the smouldering enmity into a flame. Therefore, the heaven that purifies the saint, would but exasperate the hatred of sinning. And it the sinner; and the more God's holiness and glory were re- may in general vealed, the more would this enmity be developed; just as the Milton, that he is thicker the dews fall on decaying timber, the faster the timber scarcely ever so rots; and the more full the sunshine on a noxious plant, the far hurried on by more pestilent its juices grow. It is not in polar regions, where the fire of his muse as to forget the day is night, and the showers are snow, and the rivers are the main end of moving ice, and slanting sunbeams fall faint and feeble, but in all good writing, the climes where flowers are fairest, and fruits are sweetest, and the recommenfullest sunshine warms the air, and lights a cloudless sky, that and religion.— nature prepares her deadliest poison. There the snake sounds its Thyer. ominous rattle, and the venomous cobra lifts her head. Even so sin, could it strike root in heaven, would grow more rankly, more hating, and more hateful than on earth, and man would cast on God an eye of deeper and intenser enmity.g b 9-11. if.. you," the possession of the Holy Spirit makes the dif. betw. being in the flesh, and in the Spirit. Spirit.. Christ, temper, etc., of Christ, as fruit of Holy Spirit's influence. none Christ.. you, by the Holy his, by vital, eternal, union. Spirit dwelling within you, and reproducing in you the mind that was in Christ. body, the old nature. Spirit, reason and conscience filled with spiritual life. because.. righteousness, both implanted and imputed. Spirit.. you, the Holy Spirit. dation of virtue g Dr. Guthrie. effects of Spirit of God indwelling 19; Ep. ii. 22; 2 a 1 Co. iii. 16; vi. Jo. iv. 13; iii. 24; Lu. xi. 13. Jo. vi. 56; Jo. xiv. 16, 17, 20; 1 Co. xiii. 5; Ep. iii. 14, 16, 17; Col. i. 27. c Ro. vi. 4, 5; 1 4, 5. с He.. dead, the Father. quicken, impart life to. by.. you, and by whom He has even now raised you up fr. the death of sin to a new life, as the pledge and proof of a future resurrection to everlasting life. The indwelling spirit.-I. The Holy Ghost dwells in body and Soul, as in a temple. II. The wonderful change from darkness to xi. 11; 2 Co. v. light through the entrance of the Spirit into the soul, is called regeneration. III. The manner in which the gift of grace "We partake of manifests itself in the unregenerate soul: 1. It fixes our mind's the death by pas-eyes upon God; 2. It raises the soul to the thought, not only of sing into His God, but of Christ also; 3. It fills us with joy and peace. Spirit. The great work of Christ in us lies in implanting His own life (lively nature) in the lapsed degenerate souls of men. Christ is not to be as in a notion or history; but as a principle, God speaking to man.-Besides those louder voices of God, either sounding in His Word or thundering in His judgments, there is His calm, soft voice of inspiration, like the night vision of old, which stole in upon the mind, mingled with sleep and gentle slumber.... God speaks to us many times when we answer Him not, and shines about our eyes when we either wink or sleep. Our many sudden, short-winded ejaculations towards heaven, our frequent but weak inclinations to do good, our ephemeral wishes, a vital influence." that no man can distinguish from true piety but by their sudden -Dr. Whichcote. death, our every-day resolutions of obedience whilst we continue 'Rev. J. H. New-in sin, are arguments that God's Spirit hath shined upon us, though the warmth that it produced be soon chilled with the damp it meets within us. man, B.D. f Hammond. self-mortification a Ps. cxvi. 12, 16. 61 Pe. ii. 11; Tit. ii. 11, 12; Col. iii. 5-10; 1 Co. ix. 27; 1 Pe. i. 22. "We must not by casting the -Dean Boys. 12, 13. debtors,a under a constraining obligation. die, now and for ever. through.. Spirit, by means of the new nature born of Him. mortify, slay, put to death. deeds.. body, sins that come of bodily passions, desires. live, life of God, life from God, life with God. Debtors to God.-Debtors to-I. His disinterested love-He gave His own Son to die for you. II. His Divine Sovereignty. III. His forgiving grace-after ten thousand affronts He loves destroy nature by you as infinitely as ever. IV. His power: 1. He has raised you casting ourselves from your death in sin; 2. He has preserved your spiritual out of the world, life; 3. He has kept you from falling, although many assailed but mortify sin you. V. His immutability. Though you have changed a world out of us.' thousand times, He has not changed once. To Him thou owest all thou hast; yield thyself as a living sacrifice, it is but thy "A wicked man resonable service.-Mortification.-I. What is meant by mortifiis dead as a soul cation: 1. A breaking the league we naturally hold with sin; 2. may be said to A declaration of open hostility; 3. A strong resistance against die; and it is a death to the soul sin, by means of all our spiritual weapons (see Eph. vi. 13, 14); when it is 4. A killing of sin. II. How we may judge of our mortification: plunged and im- 1. Negatively; 2. Positively. III. The reasons why there can mersed in the be no expectations of eternal life without it: 1. An unmortified sunk down into frame is unsuitable to a state of glory; 2. God cannot delight in matter and re- an unmortified soul; 3. Unmortified sin is against the whole plete with it."-design of the Gospel. Application:-Let us labour to mortify body, so as to be Seneca. e Spurgeon. d S. Charnock. it, we shall ad- sin, and to do this we must-(1) Implore the Spirit's help; (2) Listen to the Holy Ghost's convincings; (3) Plead the death of Christ; (4) Think of Divine precepts; (5) Guard our own hearts.d Obligation to serve Christ.-Such was Mr. Hervey's strict piety, that he suffered no moment to go unimproved. When he was called down to tea, he used to bring his Hebrew Bible or Greek Testament with him; and would either speak upon one verse or upon several verses, as occasion offered. 66 66 have to come This," says Mr. go, the more we Romaine, was generally an improving season. The glory of God back."-Barrow. is very seldom promoted at the tea-table; but it was at Mr. Hervey's. Drinking tea with him, was like being at an ordinance; for it was sanctified by the Word of God, and prayer." the sons of God a Ez. xxxvi. 27, 28; Jo. vi. 44; 14, 15. led,a into truth, practical godliness (ill. children foll. a guide, soldiers foll. a general). they.. God, for it is both the character and privilege of such to be led. bondage, of slaves. again.. fear, to serve God fr. fear. Spirit.. adop-Ga. v. 18. tion, i.e., the spirit of children; filial love. Abba, a SyroChaldaic word="father," or, "my father." Same word used by Christ in the garden.d The sons of God led by His Spirit.-I. A privilege. They have -1. A spiritual right to all God's creatures; 2. An interest in God Himself; 3. The guardianship of angels; 4. An infallible claim to eternal glory. II. A qualification of these privileged-" sons of God." Every child of God-1. Is like his Father; 2. Bears a filial love to Him; 3. Reverences Him; 4. Depends upon His provision. III. The connection of this privilege with the qualification. To be assured of this privilege, we must be led by the Spirit in-1. Judgment; 2. Disposition; 3. Practice. Ps. xxiii. 1—6 Is. lv. 4; Ps Ex. xx. 18, 19; He. xii. 18-23; Ga. iv. 24; He ii. 14, 15. d Mk. xiv. 36, Gk. e Bp. Hall. "My whole em ployment is to persuade the young and old against too much body, for riches, and all other love for the they be; and against too little regard for the soul, which ought to be the object of their affection." Socrates. The Spirit of adoption.-Sometimes the soul, because it hath somewhat remaining in it of the principle that it had in its old condition, is put to question, whether it be a child of God or not; and thereupon, as in a thing of the greatest importance, puts in its claim, with all the evidences that it hath to make good its precarious title. The Spirit comes and bears witness in this case. things, of whatIt is an soever nature allusion to judicial proceedings in point of titles. The judge being set, the person concerned lays his claim, produceth his evidences, and pleads them; his adversaries endeavouring all that in them lies to disannul his plea. In the midst of the trial a person of known and approved integrity comes into the court, and gives testimony fully and directly on behalf of the claimer, which stops the mouth of all his adversaries, and fills the man with joy and satisfaction. So is it in this case. The soul, by the power off Dr. J. Owen. its own conscience, is brought before the law of God; there a man "Adoption is that act of God puts in his plea, that he is a child of God, that he belongs to God's by which we who family; and for this end produceth all his evidences, everything whereby faith gives him an interest in God. Satan, in the meantime, opposeth with all his might; many flaws are found in his evidences; the truth of them all is questioned, and the soul hangs in suspense as to the issue. In the midst of the contest the Comforter comes, and overpowers the heart with a comfortable persuasion, and bears down all objections, that his plea is good, and that he is a child of God. When our spirits are pleading their right and title, He comes in and bears witness on our side. At the same time enabling us to put forth acts of filial obedience, crying" Abba, Father." d were alienated, and enemies, and disinherited, are made the sons of God, and heirs of His eternal glory."-R. Wat son. 16, 17. beareth witness," testifies by His fruit of peace and if children, joy. our spirit, our new-born hopes, and faith, filial disposi- then heirs tion. children, born of the Spirit, regenerate. heirs, through a Ep. i. 13, 14. grace. heirs.. God, of all that God has promised and prepared 6 Ga. v. 22, 23. for those who love Him. joint heirs.. Christ, our inherit- Ro. v. 5. ance as secure as His: secured by Him who has gone to prepared 1 Jo. iv. 13; v. a place for us. Our vital union with Christ, also, makes the in- e Ga. iv. 7; iii. 10. present suffering and future glory a 2 Co. iv. 17, 18. b1 Co. ii. 9, 10; Ps. xvi. 11. c 1 Jo. iii. 2; 2 Ti. ii. 10; 2 Th. ii. 14; 2 Co. xii. 4. d fr. the classical heritance safe. suffer.. together, Gk., if we jointly suffer we shall be jointly glorified. Sonship.-I. No inheritance without sonship. II. No sonship without a spiritual birth. III. No spiritual birth without Christ. IV. No Christ without faith."-True sainthood.-I. It has a special filial relation with God; II. It is invested with the highest privileges. They are--1. Heirs of God; 2. Joint heirs with Christ. Learn:-(1) God's infinite mercy; (2) Our obligations to live a dignified life; (3) Fortitude under trials. i From the workhouse to heaven.-A minister of the gospel was one day visiting a pious old woman who was in the poor-house. She had passed her threescore years and ten; had long been known as 66 an Israelite indeed;" and was just on the verge of the eternal world. While in conversation with her on the comforts, prospects, and rewards of religion, the minister saw an unusual lustre beaming from her countenance, and the calmness of Christian triumph glistening in her eye. Addressing her by name, he said, "Will you tell me what thought it was that passed through your mind which was the cause of your appearing so joyful?" The reply of the "old disciple was, "Oh, sir, I was just thinking what a change it will be FROM THE POOR-HOUSE TO HEAVEN!" k 18, 19. reckon, calculate, with an eye to the future. suffer. ings," a in mind, body, estate, with sufficient grace. present time, only of the present; short, uncertain, disciplinary. not compared, placed by side of, as a matter that should influence our judgment of the Christian life. glory, perfection of character, of joy, etc. revealed, developed. in us, in us, the heirs of that glory. Our souls, the seat of conflict and suffering, shall become the seat of heavenly joy and perfection. for expectation,d longing desire, sense of want and imperfecKapadoke iv. to tion. creature, creation. manifestation, full, open display outstretched of their completed number, and perfected glory. sons.. God, "creation's future bound up with that of the sons of God." watch as with head. e Robinson. fJ. H. Hill. g Munkel. "Be contented with a mean condition; this is not the time for the "manifestation The good man's estimate of life.-This estimate indicates that a good man-I. Is subject to great trials in this life. II. Anticipates a destiny of unparalleled honour. III. Must not compare his present suffering with his future glory: 1. The great capacity of the human soul for enjoyment; 2. The modified character of earthly suffering; 3. Its comparatively momentary duration.Prophetic intimations of future glory.-To be discerned in the longing of: I. The creature. 1. Finding ourselves not alone in suffering, we should recognise our high calling as the head of the visible creation; 2. This visible creation may become a source of a larger portion comfort to us in our suffering. II. The children of God. This is and allowance not a mere prophecy of future glory, like the struggling of the than you, yet God doth not creature, but it opens the way to that glory, and is the preparation misplace His for it; and He who has begun the good work within us will also hands, as Joseph perfect it.9 of the sons of God." Though others that are wicked may have thought his fa ther did, but Present sufferings and future glory.-"I was called upon, some puts them upon years ago, to visit an individual in the State of New York, from the right heads, Ireland, who had resided for many years in that city. Part of his and assigns tem-face had been eaten away by a most loathsome cancer. Fixing the right per- my eyes on this man in his sufferings and in his agony, I said, Supposing that Almighty God were to give you your choice: "He that loses whether would you prefer your cancer, your pain, and your suffer poral blessings to sons."-Manton. 6 |