Jefus, while he was on earth, lived in the faith of the Father's gift and promife, and thus ftands on record for our imitation. Compare Pfal. cxvi. 10. as applied by the Apostle, 2 Cor. iv. 13.

And thus it leads us to the cause of the Christian's life, that it is all owing to what the Redeemer did and fuffered in the strength of this his faith.

But though this be true, yet it seems rather to answer the Apoftle's prefent views better, to understand the expreffion of that faith which Chrift is the object of and thus the faith of Christ, and the faith of the gofpel, of which he is the great fubject, will be the fame. It is of no great moment which way we take it, as indeed they cannot be feparated. All Chrift's obedience, even his death, which finished it, could have been nothing to us, had it not been for the view the grant and promise of his heavenly Father fet it in. It was this, and the faith or belief of this, that made it a facrifice, and fit to anfwer all the purpofes of a facrifice for the fins of the world. And, on the other hand, Chrift is so much the very fubftance of the whole system of grace, that without him we can make no confiftent

confiftent fenfé of it. And if we know him as he is fet forth unto us in the teftimony of God, we cannot mifs to fee, at the fame time, the whole plan concerted in the perfection of wisdom.

I need not stand to observe here, how this fame faith of Chrift is at once the great regulator, and effectual fupporter, of the Christian life, or living to God. Something has been faid already, and we shall meet with it again, where the Apostle refolves the whole into faith, working by love. The whole is a fyftem of grace; and where-ever that is understood, believed, and acquiefced in, it teaches effectually, in the first place, to deny ungodlinefs and worldly lus; and then to live foberly, righteously, and godly, in a prefent world, Tit. ii. 12, What pity is it that fuch grace fhould be fruftrated, and received in vain? and yet fruftrated it must be, where-ever the defigns and purposes of it are not attained, either by not being believed at all, or fo weakly and imperfectly as not to form the heart upon it, into thorough acknowledgements of gratitude and love. This is what the Apoftle was fo care

ful

ful about; and could not bear to fee rendered fruitlefs, by drawing these Galatians and others to place their confidence and hopes on the law of Mofes, or whatever the bufy fancies of men fhould fet up in its ftead. But this we shall likewife have occafion to meet with in its proper place; our business here is, to lay hold on every piece of inftruction and caution, whether by way of example, or precept, that we be not drawn away, as these Galatians were in danger of being, and many have been fince, by pretenfions not half fo fpecious as thofe of the Judaizers were; which yet the Apostle oppofes with fuch vehemency and zeal. And furely he was no bigot, but had great good reafon for opposing it; for if righteoufnefs was to be had by law, then Christ died in vain. "He is the end of the law for

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righteousness to all that believe." But if that end could have been, or yet can be, anfwered by any other means, what fhall we fay? Was it like the wifdom of God, that he should not fpare his own Son, the fon of his love, but give him up to the death for the falvation of a perifhing world, could

could the fame purpose have been as well anfwered without him?

1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye fhould not obey the truth, before whofe eyes Jefus Chrift hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3. Are ye fo foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4. Have ye fuffered fo many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5. He therefore that miniftereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

WA

Armed, as the Apostle was, and he must have been very much fo, on the fair view he had been taking of the grace of God in Chrift Jefus, where it is hard to fay, whether perfect wisdom, or goodness, appears moft, but both together are closely united in that wonderful fyftem which centres in Jefus Chrift, he makes no scruple at giving the Galatians the title they deferved, and upbraiding them with their folly. Something may faid for those who never heard of Christ,

be

and

and knew nothing of that God who is love, the only true character of the great creator and fovereign of the universe; which yet is not to be difcovered by creatures in our circumstances, but in Jefus Christ; fuch indeed merit the utmost exertion of pity and compaffion. But for those who have had Jefus Chrift, and him crucified, set before them, as he is in the gospel, the record which God has made concerning his Son; for them to fet up any thing elfe, either in his ftead, or to fupplement his all-fufficiency; words cannot defcribe their folly, if it be done ignorantly; nor the perverseness, if on any other motive.

of

This was the unhappy cafe of these Galatians: Jefus Chrift had been set forth, and the teftimony of God, his counfels grace, as they were laid in him, opened up to them; they had the knowledge of the truth, and, which is more, they had received it; and yet they had fuffered themselves to be drawn in by a fet of men who set up for teachers of the law, while yet they understood not what they faid, nor whereof they affirmed, 1.Tim. i. 7. to be drawn in by them to believe, that notwithstanding of all that Christ had

done,