and a new birth unto righteousness, and are in that state where "Grace reigns "through righteousnefs unto eternal "life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The apostle in the sixth chapter of the Romans is upon the subject of sanctification in both its parts; viz. mortification of sin, and living unto God. In this great discourse on the believer's union with Christ and communion with him in his death, burial, and resurrection, he sets before us the state of grace which the believer is in,-how he stands in Christ,-what his state in Christ is before God,-how permanent and immutable it is, and calls on believers to reckon themselves to be what Christ is. Knowing that Christ being raised

from the dead dieth no more; death "hath no more dominion over him. "For in that he died, he died unto sin "once; but in that he liveth, he liveth "unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin; but alive unto God through (or in) Jesus Christ our Lord'." The apostle in these words draws a parallel between our state by regeneration, signified by baptism into Christ's death and resurrection, and the actual death and resurrection of Christ. As the change wrought in us by regeneration is once for all; so the

t Verses 9, 10, 11.

K

state, which we are brought into thereby, is an eternal and immutable one. As Christ died once and lives for ever, and death hath no more dominion over him, so we, being planted by regeneration and baptism into the likeness of his death and resurrection, are saved from. wrath through him. As such we should view the comparison between what was wrought in Christ for us, and what is wrought by the Spirit of Christ within us; and also the permanency of our state in Christ, it being as unchangeable as his. As he lives for ever, and death hath no more dominion over him; so neither sin, nor death, shall have final dominion over us. Hence the apostle saith", "Sin shall not have dominion "over you." Being born again into Christ, we are born for ever: we are translated into the state of grace, and introduced by the Holy Ghost into actual communion with Christ, and partake with him in his death, and in the virtue and glories of his resurrection. We have a real participation in all the blessings and benefits of it. As at his resurrection he was declared thereby to be the Son of God; so regeneration is our evidence that we are sons of God. Beloved, now are ye the sons of God. The apostle would have us look on our

☐ Verse 12.

selves in Christ, as one with him in his death, burial, and resurrection, and live and act in the full belief of it; "Likewise "reckon ye also yourselves to be dead "indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through (or in) Jesus Christ our "Lord."

46

Thus he shews us that our state in Christ is the same with the state of Christ himself, equally unchangeable; and that our being quickened by the Spirit of Christ and made alive in Christ and to him are real, spiritual, supernatural, gospel-sanctification and holiness, and that the whole thereof is the fruit of union with the person of Christ, Godman. "He who sanctifieth and they "who are sanctified are all of one; for "which cause he is not ashamed to call "them brethren"." On account of which they are called "Holy Bre"thren"." The life of sanctification consists in living unto God. The Holy Spirit is sent by Christ to dwell in the new creature, and to abide with it for The whole secret of the christian's life consists in Christ's living in him: so saith Paul, "Christ liveth in "me." As Christ liveth unto God; so doth the man in Christ. He lives to him by faith on the person, righteousnefs, and atonement of his co-equal Son. The glory of God is his one supreme

ever.

v Heb. ii. 11.

w Heb. iii. 1.

end. The will of God in Christ is his great delight, and his chiefest joy. And this is the whole sanctification of saints on earth, and the very efsence of it in Heaven, to prefer God's glory above all things, and to acquiesce in the whole good pleasure of his eternal will. Christ being in us is the spring and fountain of all inward sanctification and holinefs; and our living in him and on him produces all the blefsed fruits thereof in our hearts, affections, frames, tempers, lives, and conversation. The whole fulnefs and perfection of our sanctification are in Christ. He is our head and representative, in whom we are immutably holy. He is the holy one of Israel, from whom all our holinefs is derived. He imparts it out of his fulness unto us. is made by the Father "Sanctification 66 unto us*." We are never more sanctified than whilst we look to and live on him. A real spiritual view of Christ sanctifies the mind; and the perfection of our sanctification in Heaven will consist in seeing him as he is. The believer receives his all out of the infinite fulness of the God-man. Having real communion with Christ in his death, and a growing acquaintance with him and the power of his resurrection, he lives Christ, and thereby gives outward proof and

x 1 Cor. i. 30.

He

evidence of his being alive to God by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is manifested in bringing forth "The "fruits of righteousnefs, which are by "Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise "of God." The fruits of sanctification and holinefs, which flow from inward principles implanted in the soul in regeneration, are generally treated and considered as sanctification; though, properly speaking, they are but the effects of that true spirituality of mind, which is inward sanctification and holiness. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. It leads to, produces, and regulates the outward conversation: so that it is such as becometh the gospel of Christ. This is external: and by an open walking in the paths of holinefs, as marked out in the written word, evidence is given that such are renewed in the spirit of their mind. This is further evidenced by putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness. And, the new man being put on, the faculties of it with the graces and gifts bestowed are exercised, as our own cases, the good of others, and the glory of God require, and as the latter may be promoted thereby. On the onenefs of believers with Christ and their actual communion with him all those exhortations, which are given