"It was

servances, the neglect or infraction of which was an offence against the law, and against the authority of the Lawgiver, it even increased man's liability to transgression, and, of course, to punishment. Expiations, indeed, for sin, it provided; but these had no efficacy in themselves. not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats could take away sin." In this respect the "law was only a shadow of good things to come, only a schoolmaster to bring men to Christ'." All its sacrifices derived their efficacy solely from their reference to the one great sacrifice to be offered by Christ, that lamb without blemish, and without spot; and in virtue of its merits, solely, were accepted. The Jewish law, then, while it confirmed the precepts and claims of the moral law, and even added to it many positive injunctions, like it, demanded unsinning obedience; and, like it, made no provision, in itself, for the pardon of transgression. The law was still the strength of sin. Here then, O man, is thy lamentable condition-subject to a law which enjoins universal holiness, and demands perfect obedience; continually violating this law, and falling short of its claims, and thus becoming subject to sin; obnoxious, on account of sin, to temporal death, the prelude to eternal death, everlasting woe. Wretched man that thou art, who shall deliver thee? "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

III. This glorious victory, which our Lord Jesus Christ enables us to obtain over the law, over sin; and over death, was the last point to be considered.

1. And as sin and death derive all their efficacy from the Law, from the violation of which they both spring, the victory over it must first be achieved. Accordingly, our glorious Redeemer hath made us free from the law, and placed us under a new dispensation, the covenant of grace. By the sovereign and merciful appointment of his heavenly Father, becoming our representative, he rendered that unsinning obedience demanded both by the law, and by the authority of God; but which we were unable to render. He sustained, in our stead, that penalty of transgression required both by the authority of the law, and the holiness and justice of its Author; which penalty we had incurred. Thus satisfying the claims of the law, and the authority of the Lawgiver, he became the Author of everlasting salvation to all those who believe in him. God, in Christ, was pleased to establish a covenant of grace, which, instead of an unsinning and perfect service, accepts sincere, though imperfect obedience. Its language is not, "This do, and thou shalt live;" and, " cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them." It proclaims terms of acceptance, which all men can render. "Re

pent, and thy sins shall be forgiven."" Believe, and thou shalt be saved"." “ Patiently continue in well doing, and thou shalt inherit everlasting life." Thanks be to God, who thus giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. And this victory is not only over the law, but over sin.

Incomplete, indeed, would have been the victory, had it extended only to freeing us from the penalty of the law, and from its rigorous demands, and left us still liable to the guilt and to the dominion of sin. For it is a truth eternal and unchangeable as God himself, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord and yet as there is no man that liveth and sinneth not, there is no man who is not liable to the guilt of sin. Jesus Christ hath obtained for us therefore the victory over sin. He has made expiation for it; and through faith in his blood we are cleansed from its guilt. "He was made sin for us, (thát is, a sacrifice for sin) who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him k.

And not only hath he freed us from the guilt of sin, but from its dominion.

He hath unfolded, in a most clear and perspicuous manner, the will of God, enlightening our understandings by express precepts, often repeated and inculcated; and appealing to our & Acts iii. 19. h Acts xvi. 31. i Rom. ii. 7. *2 Cor. v. 21.

imagination and hearts by parabolic and figurative instructions. And he hath rendered our duty still more clear, impressive, and affecting, by the exhibition, in his own spotless life, of all the graces and virtues which he inculcated. Not only hath he enlightened us in our duty, but enabled us to perform it; and thus completed our victory over sin. For the conditions of our acceptance are no longer unsinning obedience, absolute holiness. Through his gracious mediation, obedience that is sincere and persevering, however imperfect it may be, is accepted. Through his gracious mediation, the following after holiness-following after it with the utmost vigour and perseverance, of which our frail nature is capable, and the consequent attainment of it in the bent of our affections towards God, and the general conformity of our life to his commands, are accepted, instead of that rigorous and absolute holiness which the law demanded. And these conditions of acceptance, thus mitigated, he enables us to perform, through the quickening and sanctifying power of his Holy Spirit. Insufficient of ourselves, our sufficiency is of him; and "his strength is made perfect in our weakness'." This Holy Spirit, which "transforms us by the renewing of our minds;" and "creates us anew unto good works," and enables us to abound in "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,"

12. Cor. xii. 9.

and all its other holy fruits, is granted to our earnest supplications, is conveyed through the sacraments, and ordinances, and ministrations of his Church, which as "his body" he animates with its life-giving power. And every sinful passion this Holy Spirit enables us to subdue in that degree which is necessary to our deliverance from the bondage of sin ;-every virtue this Holy Spirit enables us to acquire in that degree which is necessary to our establishment in holiness; every duty this Holy Spirit enables us to discharge, so far as is necessary to constitute us the accepted disciples of our Lord and Master; and from every temptation this Holy Spirit enables us to escape; so that "in all things we are more than conquerors through him that hath loved us."-"Greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world"." "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

And this victory he gloriously completes by enabling us to triumph over death. There shall indeed be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust. From temporal death all men are finally delivered. The redemption is co-extensive with the penalty. For "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive "." But the unjust are raised, with bodies incorruptible and immortal, only to be made subject to the Eph. i. 23. n 1. John iv. 4. P 1 Cor. xv. 22.