with him, he leaves, 'We,' behind; he never brings such a stinking savour of the flesh away with him: "If any man come unto me, and hate not his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Does the pronunciation of these six words, the law the rule of life,' establish the law? not according to the Scriptures, for I do not find such a text in them. If this be establishing the law, then every blind guide in the world who has got Moses's veil on his heart establishes it, for he knows nothing else; and every bond child has it established in his heart also, for he adheres to nothing else. Both the blind leader and the blind led will tell you that the law is their rule of life, and that they expect life and salvation by the works of it, and no other way; for this is the way that seems right to them; the other is too high for a fool: "The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath."

"The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached." Which kingdom stands not in the letter of the law; nor is a real preacher of the kingdom a minister of the letter, but of the Spirit: nor does the kingdom stand in word, but in power, in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Grace to deliver us from the old yoke, that we might not be under the law, but under grace; and truth to make us free from the bondage of the law, and from the

fear of death. "Receive the truth, and the truth shall make you free:" and, if the Son makes us free, then are we free indeed. And such are cautioned against legalists, and counselled to stand fast in their liberty, and not be again entangled with the yoke of bondage. And need enough there is of this caution and counsel, when there are so many elder sons who never at any time transgressed the commandment; envying the kid, the kiss, the ring, the shoes, the robe, and the music and dancing, of the converted prodigals.

"Hearken unto me," saith the Lord, "my people; give ear unto me, O my nation! for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth." Pray, what law is this? Is it the law of Moses? No; that was in being long before. What, then, is this law that was to proceed from the Saviour? The Saviour was to bring forth judgment unto victory, and the isles were to wait for his law. His testimony was to be bound up, his law was to be sealed among his disciples: they were to be called a people in whose heart is God's law; and, having this law in their hearts, none of their steps are to slide. This law is called the Lord's judgment, which is to rest for a light of the people. But, is this light the law of Moses, which was a light to the feet and a lamp to the path of Old Testament saints? Or, is it the law of faith; the ministration of the Spirit, who is the Spirit of burning; the

cloven tongue of fire, that consumes the love of sin, and brings salvation from the guilt and reign of it? Is this law the smoking furnace, or the burning lamp? Gen. xv. 17. Is it the law which is the lamp without oil, that every bond child and hypocrite takes? (for God doth not work miracles, nor minister the Spirit, by the works of the law, Gal. iii. 5.) Or, is it the law of faith, which reveals God's righteousness as the light, and his salvation as a lamp that burneth? Isa. lxii. 1. This is the lamp, Sir; and this lamp you must have in your heart, otherwise your lamp will go out with a stench, and the vessel be consigned to everlasting darkness, notwithstanding your outcry for holiness, and representing others as Antinomians. Outcry, I say; for I hear of no outcry from your good works themselves.

Twice the Holy Ghost has mentioned the believer's rule of walk: "Let us walk by the same rule." "And as many as walk according to this` rule, mercy on them, and peace, and upon the Israel of God." And I defy you, and all the divines in the world, to prove that the Holy Ghost means the law in either of those places; yea, he excludes it from the rule in both chapters. However, God hath promised mercy and peace upon every Israelite who walks according to that rule: and he shall enjoy it who thus walks, though he be called the worst of heretics; and he who walks not according to that rule shall be damned, though he should bring a thousand rules of his own.

'Some of them blend together and confound the permissive and preceptive will of God; by 'which means they really throw all sin, if they pursue the principle, from themselves upon 'God.'

This is another new-fangled morsel from Athens. I do not read the words permissive will in the Bible; nor the word permit, with its relatives, more than five times throughout the Scriptures: “I speak this by permission, not by commandment." "I trust to tarry a while, if God permit." "And this will we do, if God permit." 'Agrippa said, thou art permitted to speak." "But it is not permitted to a woman to speak." But, what is permissive will? If this new-coined word is brought in to set forth the entrance of sin into the world, the havock it has made, the evil it has done, and the legions it has deceived and destroyed; we can make a shift without it, and adapt a scriptural phrase which is more proper; lest we begin to multiply wills, as well as loves. The word, suffer, will do; call it, therefore, the sufferance of God: "We also are men of like passions with you; and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways," Acts xiv. 15, 16. "And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness," &c. Chap. xiii. 18. Pupils may well confound per

missive and preceptive will, if the tutor confounds his disciples with a multiplicity of loves and wills, brought in by human wisdom, and used by those who are wise above what is written. God's preceptive will, or rather God's will of commandments, has respect to God as a master: "If I am a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of Hosts unto you, O priests!" Mal. i. 6. This master's will of commandments is given to the bond woman and her children, who are in a state of servitude; and all who are under this yoke are servants. And to the law, and what was written therein, the Saviour, in his days, always sent every self-important inquirer, as to his proper rule, with a-"What is written in the law? How readest thou? If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments;" that is thy rule of life. "This do, and thou shalt live." "He that doth those things shall live in them." This is the Divine Master's will concerning the servant, and is the servant's rule of life, and for life; and a dreadful yoke it is, whether he feel the galling weight of it or not; and under this he must for ever remain, unless God work in him "the good pleasure of his will, and the work of faith with power:" which will in Christ is the easier yoke and lighter burden; and, when revealed, the case is altered. This good pleasure flows from our heavenly Father's will of purpose, and promise in Christ Jesus; and to such God speaks on this wise; "If I am a Father, is mine honour? saith the Lord." And