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what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to 23 So all holy Scripture is written him for righteousness. 23 Now for our learning.

it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

25 His resurrection was in proof that he had effected our salvationhad finished the work appointed Him. Else death and the grave would not have yielded to Him as their conqueror.

CHAPTER V.

JAN. 7, MAY 6, SEPT. 4.

1 Blessed end of justification peace with our God: Christ's righteousness made ours by faith. have access by faith into this rejoice in hope of the glory of 3 The trials of earth discipline the soul for heaven. The Christian is called thereto to prove his soldiership. "In the world," said the great Captain of our salvation, “ye shall have tribulation."

'THEREFORE being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we grace wherein we stand, and God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope Thus glorying in what God apmaketh not ashamed; be- points, we shame not to suffer those afflictions with which the world cause the love of God is taunts us. Our hearts, warm with shed abroad in our hearts by the love of God, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost which is his Spirit, look in hope to the enf given unto us. For when we thereof - even glory, and honour, were yet without strength, in and immortality. (See ch. vi. 23.) due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die*. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath, 10 The apostle's argument is equally through him. For if, when beautiful, strong, and comforting. we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of

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* This reflection would strike a Roman very forcibly. The history of their nation boasted instances of patriotism, where some more noble spirits did "dare to die" for their country. Their memory was held high in honour. Hence the apostle's argument would derive added force.

his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by

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11 If there be joy for man, it must flow from a conviction that his sins are for ever blotted out, by the atoning blood of Christ.

12 St. Paul institutes a striking comparison between the first man, Adam; and the second man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

15 Great as was the evil brought by Adam, greater still is the blessing brought by Jesus Christ-God's free gift by grace to man.

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By the offence of Adam, all men are born in sin, for they are born in his likeness-stamped with original sin; though at their birth "not of Adam's transgression." By the having sinned after the similitude righteousness of Jesus Christ, all men are born again-children of grace *.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace

20 The Law gave clearer knowledge of evil and good; and the measure of an offence is always in proportion to the moral knowledge of the offender. But the Gospel more than meets the difficulty.

* Infants, though unconscious, are brought to baptism, to receive by grace the spirit of righteousness, as a corrective of that spirit of evil, with which, though unconscious, they are born. (See vi. 3.)

reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

CHAPTER VI.

God

JAN. 8, MAY 7, SEPT. 5. 'WHAT shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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, 5 What a glorious encouragement even so we also should walk

EASTER-DAY, morning.

The more entirely we trust in God's grace, the more devotedly must we follow after holiness.

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in newness of life. For if to die unto sin!

we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is 8 Well may this faith animate our freed from sin. 8 Now if we perseverance!

be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under 15 What then? shall grace.

we sin, because we are not

15 Again, as in ver. 1, he guards against a presumptuous trust in grace to the exclusion of holiness.

* The term-to baptize-means, to dip into water. Hence the outward act of baptism well represents its inward and spiritual grace—a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness.

+ In our baptismal service we are exhorted to this "crucifixion of the body of sin;" or "the old man," as sin is called, with reference to Adam, the first man. We are to "mortify" or kill-" all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceed in all virtue and godliness of living." And is not this well recompensed in the promise, that if thus "we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with him?"

16 Our blessed Lord hath himself

well warned us, "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.”

under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free 21 Even then sin brought bitter fruit from righteousness. 21 What of compunction and remorse.

fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?

for the end of those things
is death. 22 But now being
made free from sin, and become
fruit unto holiness, and the
end everlasting life.
23 For
the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.

22 Glorious and blessed change!

servants to God, ye have your

23 Sin is full of toil; yet what wages does it receive for all its pain and weariness but death? Whereas holiness is peace; and receives freely, as a gracious gift, the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Christian! well mayest thou "make thy boast in the Lord!" Does the sinner boast his ease, his riches, his honours; and contrast his own proud station in the world with thine- one of sorrow and of trial? Be it so. Thou lookest to the day of recompense, when the great Householder shall call his household, and give to each his wages. In expectation of that day, thou goest on thy way rejoicing.

CHAPTER VII.

JAN. 9, MAY 8, SEPT. 6.

1 St. Paul here specially addresses his countrymen, the Jews, who were at Rome, and who generally were well versed in the Mosaic law.

'KNOW ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress : but if her

husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 'Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead

4 He thus shows the nature of that union which is betwixt Christ and his Church—firm, affectionate, and indissoluble.

6 The ceremonial law, to which once they were bound, being dead, a new union was effected.

wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of

spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was

7 It is clear, that as sin is a breaking of the law, so where there is no law to be broken, there can be no sin.

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alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 1o And 10 To keep the commandment, is the commandment, which was life but as none liveth who sinneth ordained to life, I found to be not, the commandment is found to be death. Jesus alone is the life. unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Not that this palliates our offences. 20 Now if I do that I would Christ is at hand to subdue for us

15 The apostle here expresses very strongly the struggles of conscience, which more or less all men feel.

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