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of his disciples, in Luke it is, Blessed be YE. Ver. 13 to 16, what his disciples are and should be: "Ye are the salt of the earththe light of the world-but if the salt lose its savour it is good for nothing; a city on a hill cannot be hid, &c. Let then your light (admonitory) shine and glorify your Father." I consider the sent day affords an example of the salt having lost its savour-the city being down in the dust-the light under a bushel ;-but the church, collectively, is still the salt of the earth, which is preserved for the elect's sake; the light, by which the world is condemned; a city founded upon a rock that cannot be moved, however it may be enveloped in mist or covered with dust. The sheep may drink at the polluted fountains with the goats, the wheat be impoverished by the superabundance of tares, and over-topped by the hightowering professor; but the believer's eternal life being hid with Christ in God cannot be lost.

Verse 17.-Our Lord very significantly assures his Jewish disciples, he is not come to destroy-to invalidate that law given to them as a selected people, by God, or the prophets sent by him; but to fulfil, to confirm, to accomplish that which the prophets spake concerning him, and not one jot should fail, for he was come to do and to teach the perfect law; therefore he, the Head of the Church is the greatest in the kingdom, and the members who have all sinned, are the least. Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees the disciples of Christ submit to the righteousness of God. Rom. x. 3, 4. Our blessed Lord, the promised seed according to the eternal purpose was born, lived, and died under the Jewish law: he came to establish a new dispensation, and at his death old things passed away, and all things became new.

Verse 21 begins, showing what was the letter of their law given by Moses, and what the spirit of the law of Christ the law-fulfiller. Mark the divisions to the end of the chapter, each commencing, "Ye have heard what the law of old has said," followed with, "But I say unto you. "The old law said thou shalt not kill, steal, commit adultery, covet, &c. &c., but the law of Christ is far beyond this, and he teaches his disciples the distinction; shewing the holiness, purity, strictness of his requirements, going deeper than the act, and that man was not judged by his deeds only, but by the intentions, motives, words, looks, thoughts, desires; and if the law of Moses was condemnation, which extended only to the outward things, how much greater the law of Christ which searches the heart -so the Jew judged by the law must be condemned; and the Gentile without law must perish, for all stand guilty before God. The gospel received by the heathen and idolatrous nations, must destroy their false gods and false worship; but the Jewish religion is confirmed and established by our Lord to be a divine revelation. Hedoes not say, "Thou shalt not kill, &c.", is no longer binding upon my disciples, but I bind you by a stronger moral obligation, For I say," for causeless anger-a reproachful word, thou

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shalt be judged-of what avail will be thy gift, with malice, wrath, anger in thine heart; be reconciled to thy brother, for I teach peace and love; agree with thine adversary, for if thou art cast into prison under the rigour of the Jewish law, thou must pay the last mite. I cannot but take this literally, though the spiritual interpretation given in your Magazine for March 1838, p. 116, may be justifiable; but I view our Divine Instructor teaching his Jewish disciples; shewing the mildness and forbearance of his precepts; teaching the spirit of his gospel distinguished from the letter of the law; and here I would remark two errors we should be careful to avoid;-that of spiritualizing the letter, when it will not admit of it; and that of literalizing the Spirit of this discourse, which some of our new sects are attempting.

It appears to me that our blessed Lord in this 5th chapter, teaches his Jewish disciples the fallacy of a righteousness under the law; (St. Paul says of himself, as touching the righteousness which is in the law as blameless) shewing them what man really is in the sight of God; for if he enter into judgment, who can stand. Who can controul the thoughts? Who be perfect, when an unholy thought is sin? Be ye therefore perfect in the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. The admonitions are all embodied in the epistles. St. James says, Ye should say, if the Lord will, we will do this or that. I take this 33d ver. to 37, refers to vows:-St. Paul, Avenge not yourselves, &c.-Recompence to no man evil for evil.-When thou art reviled, revile not again. And what does the spirit of the new man say?

The 6th and 7th chapters appear to be more entirely admonitory, applicable, as all the admonitions are, to believers generally-but there is a special reference, vi. 1-18. to the customs of the Pharisees, hypocrites, respecting alms, prayer, and fasting. Be ye not as them-be satisfied with being seen by your heavenly Father -seek praise from him, and not from men. The epistles afford ample comments ;-Set your affections on things above. Love not the world, if ye do, the love of the Father is not in you. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing with prayer and thanksgiving make your requests known unto God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Judge not one another, forbearing one another in love. If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, in faith. Our Lord speaks more plainly at the close of his divine mission at the commencement which appears preparatory to a fuller revelation of himself. Now speaketh thou plainly said his disciples. I am the door,-I am the way,-the strait gate,-the narrow way, and few there be that find it. No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Beware of false prophets, false teachers, ravening wolves in sheep's clothing. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Be ye not hearers only, but

does of the word. Every good tree (planted by God) bringeth forth good fruit, thirty-sixty-an hundred fold. For ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

I have remarked three gradations in bringing in the new dispensation. John preached the baptism of repentance, preparing for him who was to baptize with the Holy Ghost, Mark i. 4-8. Jesus preached repent and believe the gospel, ver. 14, 15. Leave the law which I have come to fulfil the prophets which I am come to accomplish the shadows which I am come to substantiate, and believe in me. The apostles preached, Believe in the Lord Jesus

Christ.

These are cursory remarks, and I am aware only calculated to draw the mind to reflection-application alone can elucidate. A single eye which seeth Jesus in all things will be continually filling the body with light.

The Holy Spirit bestow his blessing, and give the light we need. Yours, my dear Sir, with the highest respect and esteem, April 13, 1839. A FEMALE Wanderer in the WILDERNESS.

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THE LAW OF WORKS.

(Continued from p. 164.)

"The law was given by Moses, but the grace and truth thereof came by

Jesus Christ."

WHEN Moses came down from the mount the second time, he by the command of the Lord, put the tables (the ministration of death written in tables of stone), in the ark. (Deut. x. 4, 5.) which ministration of death was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished, (2 Cor. iii. 7-13.) And are there not many under the profession of faith, who cannot stedfastly look to the end of that ministration which is abolished? May we not say of them, as an apostle said of the Jews; "I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, (which is the righteousness of faith), and going about to estalish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Rom, x. 2—4, 6.)

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By the Lord's command, the tables of stone were in the ark; whereby it is evident that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness; for of him it is written, when he came into the world, he saith, Lo, I come in the voluine of the book it is written of me: I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." (Ps. xl. 7,8.) Again, he saith, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but

to fulfil." (Matt. v. 17.) For it becometh us, saith the Holy One of God, to fulfil all righteousness." (Matt. iii. 15.) "Verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matt. v. 18.) Believers should keep in remembrance, that our Lord saith,“ Moses wrote of him." (John v. 46.) And that, " beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them (the disciples going to Emmaus) in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” And that he said unto the apostles, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, concerning me." (Luke xxiv. 27, 44.) Then, as not one jot or one tittle of the law could pass until he had fulfilled the same, is it not certain, that our Lord Jesus Christ having fulfilled all righteousness, hath not left one jot or tittle of the law unfulfilled? Here we ought to notice, that as all created angels and men pre-existing the coming of Christ in the flesh, were by nature under the law of their Creator, so no such pre-existent angel or man could be made under the law for another, much less for an innumerable multitude that no creature could number, who were under the law: (Gal. iv. 4.) therefore, it was of him, Moses wrote. And of Christ, it is written," I HAVE SWORN, and I WILL perform it, that I wILL keep thy RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS." (Ps. cxix. 106.) And when he swore, it was by himself, for he could sware by no greater; and when he came in the flesh, it was to fulfil and keep God the Father's righteous judgments; for he testified, saying, "I am not come to destroy the law, but to fulfil. (Matt. v. 17.) Now, all the law is fulfilled in one word, namely, love, (Gal. v. 14.) for love is the Royal Law : (James ii. 8.) therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans xiii. 10.)

For the great commandment in the law is love to God; and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets. (Matt. xxii. 37, 40.)

As love to God, and love to man, is the fulfilling of the law, which law, we must observe, our Lord magnified in his sermon on the mount; and fulfilling it, he made it honourable.

(1.) The scriptures testify the love of Christ passeth knowledge, (Eph. iii. 9.) when Zophar would set forth the glory and greatness of God; he useth similar expressions to declare the infinite perfections of the Almighty, as are used to make known the love of Christ. Is the perfection of the Almighty as high as heaven; such is the height of Christ's love; then what canst thou do? It is deeper than hell; such is the depth of Christ's love; then what canst thou know? Is the measure thereof longer than the earth, and broader than the sea; such is the length and breadth of Christ's love. (Job x. i. 7, 9. Eph. iii. 18, 19.)

(2.) As Christ's love is infinite, such is his love to God the Fa

ther! When he cometh into the world he saith, "I delight to do thy will, O God; yea, thy law, (love) is within my heart. (Psalm xi. 8.) Again, he saith, "That the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I Do. (John xiv. 31. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John x. 17, 18.)

(3.) As Christ's love is infinite, such is his love to his brethren his sheep. There is none GOOD but God. (Matt. xix. 17.) Now Christ is the GOOD shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John x. 2.) Such is the love of Christ for his sheep; that he the good shepherd took into personal union with himself the nature of his sheep; he is therefore called the Lamb of God, (John i. 29,) slain from the foundation of the world; (Rev. xiii. 8.) Concerning whom, God the Father spake by the prophet Zachariah, saying, Awake, O sword, against my shepherd (mark reader, it was against the shepherd), and against (Gibbor) the mighty one, my fellow, (mark, Jehovah's fellow), saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zech. xiii. 7. Matt. xxvi. 31.) The scriptures especially testify, that the love of Christ in laying down his life for his sheep, is greater than the love of a man: "for greater love saith Jesus hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends: (John xv. 13.) whereas it is written; when we were enemies, Christ died for us! yea, was made a curse for us. (Rom. v. 8, 10.) Now, as no man hath a greater love than to die for his friends; therefore Christ's love doth evidently exceed all creature love, because he died for his enemies. As Christ's love to his sheep is infinite, so it is immutable, for he is a friend that loveth at all times, (Prov. xvii. 7.) the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. (Heb. xiii. 8.) Now, as he that loveth hath fulfilled the law; (Rom. x. 8.) so Christ hath fulfilled the law, and is therefore the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth: yea, Christ hath finished the transgression, he hath made an end of sin, and hath made reconciliation for iniquity, and hath brought in everlasting righteousness. (Dan. ix. 24.) And as Christ hath made an end of sin, and as sin is the transgression of the law, so all that believe are either not under the law, or else they never sin. Again, the righteousness of Christ is always called in scripture, the righteousness of God; and is unto all and upon all them that believe. (Rom. iii. 22.) And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts. xiii. 39.) For the law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things, could never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make