above is free, which is the all, freedom from the bondage alike of the law and of sin. 27 As Sarah, long childless, became, in Isaac, the honoured mother of many children; so the Church. though for a time desolate, shal glory in her sons for ever—a muintude which no man shall number. we, brethren, as Isaac was, ar 29 Evil men, urged on by envy, hatred, and malice, ever have, from the time of Cain, persecuted the good. Be thou patient under such trials, if they reach thee. scripture? Cast out the bondson of the bondwoman shall not 31 St. Paul claims for himself, and his brethren, the full privileges of the Gospel inheritance. CHAPTER V. FEB. 22, JUNE 21, Oct. 19. 1 The Gospel frees us from “th yoke" of the law, and the "bonda of sin. Happy they who rejoice in this holy liberty! STAND fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be cir cumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is be- 4 Justification is by grace only. come of no effect unto you, 6 whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 6 An operative faith. May I love the Saviour in whom I believe; and obey Him, because I love Him. 7 Are you running well, your Chris tian race? Remember the prize. and relax not. the truth? This persuasion 9 So one good example is a genes' blessing-one bad example, a gener curse! 10 I have coufidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, the law is comprised in this golden even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed 10 Judgment in the next world, if not in this, will overtake the stirrers of strife. 13 14 The whole of the second table of rule. 15 Strange as sinful, is contention among Christians. that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, good- 23 Such a character is a blessing ness, faith, 23 meekness, tem- alike to himself and others. He fears no punishment, for he breaks no law. perance against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. shall not fulfil the lust of the 17 When men follow evil, they must resist the workings of conscience, and omit to do what their better feelings would fain lead them to. 21 And are the passing pleasures of sin worth the enduring miseries of exclusion from heaven? CHAPTER VI. FEB. 23, JUNE 22, Oct. 20. 'BRETHREN, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which 1 The best men are always the most tender towards the faults of others. are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou 2 2 Aid your fellow Christians-in their sorrow, by your consolations: in their errors, by your counsel. 3 Vain-glory is as contemptible as t is sinful. also be tempted. Bear ye Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 'Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that 7 This principle holds universally. 8 The vicious reap misery; the virtuous, peace. soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be : To persevere in holiness, amid the cares and sorrows of the world, is the weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if Christian's great difficulty. we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith. Ye see how large a letter I have written unte you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God for- 14 'Tis well, if we can glory in the bid that I should glory, save cross now we may then trust that it in the cross of our Lord Jesus will be our glory for ever. Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel 17 of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord 18 17 The cruelties inflicted upon St. Paul by his persecutors, were so many marks, or proofs, of his fidelity to the Lord Jesus. 18 I pray that this grace be now thine, O my reader!-Amen! Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Unto the Galatians written from Rome. Che Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians. CHAPTER I. FEB. 24, JUNE 23, Oct. 21. PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Temporal blessings must end here. Spiritual blessings bear us on to heavenly places. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 3 having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 6 10 In 5 The Gentiles, collectively, were predestinated to have the offer of the Gospel. Individuals are not therefore to become careless in conduct. Though by grace predestinated to be elected, they must make their calling and election sure by holiness. We are accepted of God, only for the sake of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ. whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath pur- 10 In the Church, as in a kingdom posed in himself: that in --so teaches our blessed Lord-unity the dispensation of the ful- is strength. ness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the coun- 12 Our Christian profession should sel of his own will: 12 that lead us to live to the glory of God. we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all 17 15 Thus your ministers now rejoice in your faith towards God and charity towards men. the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that 17 Such too is their daily prayer the God of our Lord Jesus for you-the people committed to Christ, the Father of glory, their charge. may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 2 far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the ful 21 ness of him that filleth all in all. 21 What a happy thought, that this glorious Being is our Saviour and our God! 23 The Church is a spiritual body, of which Christ is the head, and we the members. By this union with Him, who is himself the Son of God, we also are made children of God,and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. O cast not away this inheritance of glory! Be faithful to the end; and thine shall be a crown of life, whose glory fadeth not away. (See Col. i. 18 & 24.) CHAPTER II. FEB. 25, JUNE 25, Oct. 22. 2 A course of sin is spiritual death destroying all the powers of the AND you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, accord- soul. ing to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of 3 Jew and Gentile are "by nature" disobedience: 3 among whom alike "children of wrath"-being also we all had our conver- born after Adam's similitude. sation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; children of wrath, even as others. mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 414 5 even and were by nature the But God, who is rich in 5 God giveth spiritual life in Christ -an earnest of eternal life through Him. |