soul, faith discerns a full foundation for hope. It perceives the law to be completely satisfied and honoured, and the hope which it offers in this satisfaction of the law by the Lord our righteousness, is sure, reasonable, and satisfying to the soul. It rests upon a clear perception of what Christ has done, and of what the law required to be done. And all the blessedness which there is in such a hope, becomes the portion of those whom the Lord chasteneth, and teacheth out of his law.

These views sufficiently display the practical influence of a knowledge of the law. Ignorance of it, and false appre. hensions of it, are the root of all the superficial views and statements of doctrine, with which the Christian community is filled. An understanding of it, is of vital consequence in the great concern of your soul's salvation. O, seek from God, the instruction out of his law which he imparts. Let his Holy Spirit deliver you from darkness, and lead you to a knowledge of his truth in this all-involving concern. Let the dayspring from on high, guide your feet into the way of peace. Seek wisdom from above,-practical, experimental wisdom, and seek it with all your hearts:-that you may not walk in the blindness of your minds, with your understandings darkened, through the ignorance that is in you. Give your earnest attention to an understanding of this vital portion of the truth of God; and under his guidance, your affections will be sanctified and elevated, your minds opened and instructed, and your hearts led to embrace the everlasting consolations which are laid up in his dear Son. Thus will you gain a hope which maketh not ashamed; a hope founded upon the finished and unchangeable work of Jesus Christ the Lord; and believing in him, and loving him, though now you see him not, you shall rejoice in him, with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

LECTURE III.

THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE LAW.

We know that the law is spiritual.-ROMANS VII. 14. In a contemplation of the operation of the divine law upon man, one of the first and most important topics for our remark, is its own character, and the actual extent of its demands. This aspect of it, is habitually called by us, the spirituality of the law. Of this, the apostle speaks in our present text. Though he describes the operation of the law, as destroying all the hopes which he indulged of merit or safety in his unconverted state, and thus, as working death for him, he proclaims it to be in all respects, holy, just and good; and producing death to a sinner, solely in a just action upon his unholy character and guilty life. He confesses that man in his natural state is carnal, and a slave to sin, and declares that all the apparent ill effects of the operation of the law upon him, are to be attributed to this fact alone. The law itself is spiritual and holy.

I. But what law is it, of which the apostle makes this assertion? We must answer, it is exclusively that great moral law, which is now before us, as the subject of this series of discourses. The assertion cannot be applied to any other law, without much qualification.

The Judicial law which was appointed for the Israelites, though it was founded upon the moral law of God, was but the peculiar statute law of that nation. It never had, nor was it designed to have, the least authority over any other of the

families of men, unless they became incorporated by their own profession as members of the nation of Israel. In no sense, but in its origin from God, was it a spiritual law. Like all other laws for the mere outward government of man, its requisitions and prohibitions took cognizance merely of outward acts; and recompensed obedience or disobedience, respectively with temporal protection, or bodily suffering and death. This law cannot be said to be annulled or repealed in regard to other nations, for it never had authority over them. The limits of its application were the natural and the adopted children of Israel. What its permanency of authority over them may be, it does not come within my present purpose to consider.

The ceremonial or ecclesiastical law which was appointed for the same people, enjoined the rites and observances of a form of religious worship, which was established for them alone. This cannot justly be called a spiritual law, though its ordinances had an important spiritual meaning, and were certainly designed to instruct the believing mind in spiritual things. St. Paul calls it," a law of carnal commandments," which made nothing perfect; and speaks of its ordinances as "carnal ordinances" imposed upon the people of Israel for a time. St. Peter calls it a yoke which neither they, nor their fathers were able to bear. It was a system of shadows, under which were represented to the mind endowed with spiritual discernment, the great truths and realities of the Gospel. In itself it could make nothing perfect. It was like the judicial law of Israel, confined in its application to the members of that one nation, and was intended to lead them to that blessed seed of Abraham, in whom all its figures and appointments were fulfilled.

The great moral law of God, was embodied in the national institutes for Israel-though in itself entirely separable, from all that was merely local and temporary in its authority over

them. It is of this divine system of precepts, that the psalmist says, "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; -and pure, enlightening the eyes." It is to this, that the apostle refers, when he declares in our text, as a principle which was to be considered beyond the reach of doubt,—“ We know that the law is spiritual." This was ordained to life. Obedience to its precepts would have conferred life upon man; -and it is only as the result of man's own transgression, that it is found to be unto death. This law is spotless and holy; and every commandment which it imposes, is holy, just, and good. It was comprized, in the ten commandments which were written upon tables of stone, by the finger of God. It was communicated to Israel, on Mount Sinai, with a majesty which well became its importance and character. The peculiar laws of Israel as a nation were subsequently proclaimed in many successive communications. This was a special revelation of the will of God, upon which all other precepts were founded. It was comprized by our Lord Jesus Christ in two commandments, embracing supreme love to God, and universal love to his creatures. It is declared by St. Paul in its one fundamental principle, when he says, "love is the fulfilling of the law."

This great law is the law of heaven, and to it every heavenly being is subjected. It was published first on earth, when it was written upon the heart of man at his creation. Its governing principles and power were obliterated then, by man's transgression,-and it was published again, written by the finger of God, upon tables of stone, at Mount Sinai. It was added then anew, to display the holy character of God; to exhibit the sinfulness, and the abounding extent, of man's transgression;-to manifest the universal necessity for the promised seed, who should fulfill its obligations, and bear its penalty for man. It was accordingly announced before the peculiar, private institutions for Israel were imposed, because

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it was the foundation of all other commands; and their acknowledgment of the authority of this, was a concession of the right of God to impose upon them any subsequent precepts, which should be according to his will. It displayed most clearly the impossibility of man's attainment of life by any obedience of his own, and thus shut them up for all their hope, to the faith which should be revealed, when in the fulness of the time, God should send forth his Son.

The character and extent of this holy law is described in our text. It requires entire submission to the will of the Creator; and is as obligatory upon Gentiles as upon Jews: and as binding in heaven, as upon earth. Of this, is the declaration of our text so solemnly and distinctly made, “We know that the law is spiritual." This attribute of the law is a fundamental truth;-as evident as the same attribute of God, of whose holy mind and character it is a perfect transcript and expression. The spirituality of the law which it declares, we are now to consider.

II. "We know that the law is spiritual."

1. It is spiritual in its origin. It flowed from no human or inferior source, but immediately from the mind of that High and Holy Being, who is himself a spirit,-and whom no eye hath seen, or can see. It is in its principles and precepts, but a copy in words, of the will and character of God. A perfect conformity to its commands, would be a perfect conformity to the holy character of God. It was first proclaimed, when the first creature was formed. Then the will of God was first declared, as the rule of government for the beings whom he had made. In the heavenly world, it is binding upon pure spirits alone, and the love for God and for each other, which moves innumerable holy beings there, is the fulfilling of this law. There its origin, and operation, and fruits are all spiritual. Ten thousand times ten thousand spotless spirits admire, reverence, and love it, as the mirror, in which