gift of the Spirit. They refused the true righteousness which God had provided, thinking they were righteous as they were, and that they could be saved in the flesh. Hence St. Paul says, "They, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God'." They thought that faith was something mean and weak, so it was; and, therefore, that it was unable to do great things, so it was not; for Christ's strength is made perfect in weakness, and He has chosen the despicable things of this world to put to shame such as are highly esteemed. They considered that they were God's people by a sort of right, that they did not need grace, and that their outward ceremonies and their dead works would profit them. Therefore the Apostle warned them, that Abraham himself was justified, not by circumcision, but by faith; that circumcision was not taken for righteousness in his case, for it never would arrive at righteousness, but that faith would arrive, and therefore it was taken; that "to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness";" that "by grace are we saved through faith, not of works, for we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works;" that "if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise 1 Rom. x. 3. Rom. iv. 5. Eph. ii. 8-10. 3 grace is no more grace; but if it be of works, then is it no more grace, otherwise work is no more work1.” However, the Jews still preferred their old works to good works; they refused to go the way by which alone their persons, thoughts, words, actions, services could be made acceptable to God; they would not exercise that loving faith which alone could gain for them the gift of the Spirit, and was fruitful in true righteousness; they refused to be justified in God's way, and determined to use the Law of Moses for a purpose for which it was never given, for their justification in His sight, and for attaining eternal life. And in consequence God turned from them, and gave to others what was first offered to them. He manifested Himself to the Gentiles. Those who had hitherto been without any tokens of God's favour, outstripped in the race those who had long enjoyed it. The first became last, and the last first. "The Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; but Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it, not by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the Law; for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone"." 1 Rom. xi. 6. 2 Rom. ix. 30-32. Let us see to it, lest in any way we too stumble at God's commands or promises; let us beg of Him to lead us on in His perfect and narrow way, and to be "a lantern to our feet, and a light to our path," while we walk in it. SERMON XII. THE NEW WORKS OF THE GOSPEL. 2 Cor. v. 17. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new." 66 NOTHING is more clearly stated, or more strongly insisted on, by St. Paul, than the new creation, or second beginning, or regeneration, of the world, which has been vouchsafed in Christ. It had been announced in prophecy, Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Again: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. . . . I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God and they shall be My people." And again: “A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them'." In the text, St. Paul declares the fulfilment of these promises in the Gospel. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are past away," as the heavens and earth shall pass away, at the end of the world; " behold, all things are become new.” And hence He calls Christ, not only "the Image of the Invisible God," but also "the first-born of every creature;" or, as He calls Himself in the book of Revelation, "the beginning of the creation of God 2." St. Paul also speaks of "the new and living way which He hath consecrated for us through His flesh;" of Christians having "put off the old man with his deeds," and having "put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the Image of Him that created him;" of "newness of life," and "newness of spirit;" of "ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit ;" and of our being God's "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works 3." Elsewhere he says, that true and availing "circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God;" and that "circumcision 1 Isa. lxv. 17. 2 Col. i. 15. 3 Heb. x. 20. Jer. xxxi. 31. 33. Ez. xxxvi. 26, 27. Col. iii. 9, 10. Rom. vi. 4; vii. 6. 2 Cor. iii. 6. Eph. ii. 10. |