PART II.

Concerning Sanctification.

In the five first Chapters, the Apostle has considered the Graces and Privileges conferred on the Christian Convert, upon his admission to the Covenant: and so far, certainly, he has established his grand position, That the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto salvation. But it is manifest that something is still wanting to the full completion of this great business. For, however glorious the hopes of a Christian, still, if those hopes be suspended upon a condition, and that condition prove beyond the strength of unassisted human nature to fulfil; the Gospel may come very far short of the end assigned to it,

eternal salvation.

He proceeds therefore, next in order, to consider the Christian life subsequent to Baptism; what obligations are laid upon us; what conditions are required for maintaining our state of grace, and securing our inheritance; and what

helps of Divine Grace are afforded, for enabling us to fulfil those conditions.

1. HE states the obligations to holiness, under which we are laid by our Baptismal Vow, and other Christian engagements; and also by the different results of a life spent in the service of sin, or the service of God: this he does in Chapter v1.

2. He enquires what helps were afforded toward Sanctification, in the Jewish and Christian dispensations: this he does in Chapters VII. and VIII.

CHAPTER VI.

THE business of the 6th Chapter is, to establish the obligation to Christian holiness: and this he chuses to do, according to his manner, in the way of answer to the two most plausible abuses attempted to be grafted upon his doctrines of free grace, and Christian freedom from the law: the 1st in ver. 1. tɩ sv epsμev; &c.-" What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"- This was an abuse to which his doctrine of free grace, in the remission

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of sin, was liable: (see 111. 8.)—the 2d in ver. 15.

TL 8V; &c." What then?

τι εν

we are not under the law,

Shall we sin, because

but under grace ?"

This was an abuse which might arise from another great doctrine strenuously preached by St. Paul, the Christian freedom from the Law. In opposition to both these, he enforces the obligation to Christian holiness, by various considerations of the greatest weight:

1. FROM Our Baptismal engagement, to be conformed to the death and resurrection of Christ; by dying unto sin, and rising again unto righteousness:

vi. 4. συνετάφημεν εν αυτῳ δια το 8v δια τε βαπτισματος, &c.

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism

into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

THIS Consideration he enforces, by observing, That the being thus conformed to Christ in the likeness of his death, is the only way by which

we may hope to be conformed to him in the likeness of his resurrection; i. e. in eternal glory:

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vi. 5. ει γαρ συμφυτοι γεγόναμεν, &c.

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."

Christian

2. From the obligation which every comes under, of being conformed to the fellowship of Christ's sufferings; by crucifying the flesh, with the affections and lusts:

vi. 6. τετο γινωσκοντες, ὅτι ὁ παλαιος ήμων ανθρωπος, &c.

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Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him; that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

WHICH Consideration again he enforces, by observing, That our thus dying with Christ, is the

1

only ground of our confidence, of living with him hereafter in happiness and glory :

vi. 8. ει δε απεθανομεν συν Χρισῳ, &c.

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him."

3. From another conformity with Christ, to which all Christians are bound; viz. To express upon earth the image of that Divine life, which Christ after his Ascension leads in heaven; by seeking the things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God." (See Col. III. 1.)

vi. 10, 11. ὁ γαρ απέθανε, &c.

"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 Jesus Christ our Lord."

4. From the consideration of the abundant supplies of grace, now under the Gospel;