CHAPTER I. SPIRITUAL LIFE. ITS NATURE. IF man, being born in sin, is in a state of spiritual death, which, constantly deepening, must end in eternal death, it is very evident that what he needs is LIFE, which life must be in every respect the antithesis of spiritual death. We have seen that spiritual death is separation from God, and that spiritual life is union with, and conformity to, God. Spiritual death is enmity to God. Life is love to God. Spiritual death is alienation from God. Spiritual life is reconciliation to God. So also the consequences of spiritual death are distrust of God, and self-dependence. The consequences of spiritual life are faith and dependence on God. The effect of spiritual death is pride and self-confidence. Life produces humility and poverty of spirit. Spiritual darkness and blindness of heart are the consequences of spiritual death. Life is the knowledge of God and of Christ. Hardness of heart and conscience is the consequence of spiritual death. An awakened and tender conscience is the effect of life. Finally, the dominion of the law of the flesh, and consequent selfishness, sin, and misery, are the result of spiritual death. But life is righteousness, the death of the law of the flesh, and freedom from the dominion of sin. It is very plain, also, that life begins in the awakening of the conscience. Man's reason of itself is unable to perceive the things of the Spirit of God, and until the conscience is awakened, they are foolishness to him; all is darkness in him. But no sooner is the conscience awakened, than the Word of God has power on him, and is full of new meaning to him. It opens his eyes to his true need, it shows him his spiritual blindness and helplessness, the evil of his heart, the depth of his spiritual death and alienation from God; and thus destroys his pride and self-confidence, and leaves him without hope, save in the mercy of God; and when this is the case, he rejoices to find in the promises of the Word a new and assured ground of confidence. For just as pride and self-confidence are the root of sin and spiritual death, so are self-despair and poverty of spirit the root and principle of righteousness and life. There are two classes of men to whom spiritual truth is an offence, and the Jew and the Greek are representative types of them, viz., those who think to establish their own righteousness, and those who seek after the wisdom of this world; those who are righteous in their own eyes, and those who are wise in their own conceits; and whose pride and self-confidence cause them to stumble at the Word which shows them their spiritual blindness and need. But the Word is no offence to one whose pride is humbled, for it accords with his spirit, and explains his need, and leads him to Christ as the supplier of that need. Thus, just as self-dependence is spiritual death, so is faith and trust spiritual life. It is that which unites the Christian to Christ, and therefore to God, and thus is life eternal. He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.' Consequently it will be observed that throughout the Scriptures the promises of the favour and mercy of God are made to the truly righteous and to one other class of people, viz., to the poor and needy, to the humble, the |