tration of death and condemnation, and the strength of sin is the law; and yet in this law the fool trusts. This is the way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death, Prov. xiv. 12. Christ Jesus, the blessed mediator, is the believer's way to the Father, upon whom he ascends and descends, John i. 51; and goes in and out and finds pasture, John x. 9. "The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath."

5. The law of liberty. "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." This law of liberty alludes to the law of release under the former dispensation, and is nothing else but the law of faith, as may be seen by the following observations, which the word liberty points out.

As, first we are in bondage to sin, yea holden with the cords of our sins. And what makes us free? faith purifies the heart.

We are under the yoke of legal precepts. "This do, and thou shalt live." But he that believes hath everlasting life already. This yoke is easy; and, though attended with a daily cross, the burden is light.

We were in bondage under the law of death; but when faith comes we are no longer under that schoolmaster.

We were servants unto sin, and in bondage to

slavish fear of wrath to come: but we are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus; and therefore no more servants, but sons; and, if sons, then heirs.

We were in bondage to the killing sentence of the law: but, "He that believes is justified freely from all things."

We were in bondage to the fear of the second death: but, "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us," 1 John iv. 16. And as faith brings this love in, so love casts this fear out.

We were in bondage to the spirit of this world: but, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

In short, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty;" and, "We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Now he that believes is sure to have an understanding given him to look into this law; for he that believeth on Christ shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the light of life, John xii. 46. The doer of this work is he that exercises himself under the different graces of God's Spirit, called the work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thess. i. 3. "For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men," Rom. xiv. 18. Now this man is said to be blessed in his deed, though not for it. God's blessing is life for evermore; and, "As many as are of faith

are blessed with faithful Abraham;" but, "He that believeth not is condemned already," and under the curse; and therefore is cursed in his deed instead of being blessed.

6. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ," Gal. vi. 2. This law of Christ is love to his neighbours and friends; for sure I am that he bore the burden of us all. But what law moved him to it? Free and undeserved love. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." He would not call us enemies, but friends: but sworn enemies we were, both in heart and life, or else we could not be said to be reconciled by his death. None but spiritual men are in possession of this law; for what can a minister of the letter, or a bond child, do to lighten the burdens of others? Just as much as the Jewish pharisees did when Judas confessed to them. Such men are half in hell themselves. They may heal the wound slightly, and cry 'Peace, peace,' where there is no peace.

They may soothe conscience by comforting in vain; or may beget presumption, and rock the soul to sleep in carnal security: but they will by these means only increase the poor creature's burden in the end, and their own burden too; for such are no better than forgers of lies, and physicians of no value. He must know his own heart who can draw the grief out of the heart of another. He must have an experience of a work

of

grace who dissolves another's doubs. He that has the oil of joy may anoint another with fresh oil in the name of the Lord; and he that is prevalent with God in prayer may take a part of his brother's burdens, and cast them on the Lord when he has done.

7. "Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth," Isai. li. 4, 5. These persons are called the Lord's people and his nation; and three blessings are promised in this text.

1. A law.

2. The Lord's righteousness. And

3. The Lord's salvation.

Faith, with every other grace comes by the Spirit from the Saviour's fullness; and the Lord's righteousness is to all and upon all that believe, and upon no other. And they that believe shall be saved in him, and none else; for they that believe not shall be damned. And this judging and justifying the Lord's people rests as a light to them, and is of use to the saints in trying and proving ministers by; for, if he cannot describe the workings of unbelief and the work of faith, neither sin by the law nor pardon by the gospel, neither condemnation by the one nor justification by the other, neither righteousness nor the peaceable fruits of it, the believer knows that he is not

in the secret, and considers him no more than an impostor. Past experience is a word behind us, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left," Isai. xxx. 21.

8. The law of circumcision. This law stands in having the veil of ignorance removed from the mind by the illuminating operations of the spirit of revelation, and in having the body of the sins of the flesh put off by the circumcision of Christ, Col. ii. 11. And, when faith has purified the heart from guilt and filth, and the body of sins are put off, and Christ by faith put on, such a soul, having much forgiven, loves much, being constrained to it by a sweet sense of God's pardoning love shed abroad in his heart. This is the circumcision which God promises to his elect. "And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee," Deut. xxx. 6, 7. This law is in the soul of all regenerate persons, and in no other. "For we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

9. I shall now proceed to the law of truth. 'My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith