Law in which he trusted, and from which he expected so much reward, to be unto death, condemning him, as a breaker of it, to eternal destruction. "For sin," he adds, "taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me."

O that we may learn true wisdom from this experience. Sin first deceives, and then slays the soul. Well might the Apostle warn the Hebrew converts, lest any of them should be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

How carefully does this experienced Christian guard the Church at Rome against the least idea of the Law being the cause of sin; for he immediately declares: "The Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me: God forbid." Sin is the only cause of death. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." If Adam had never sinned, death would never have reigned over the human race. "But," says the Apostle, "sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me, by that which is good, that sin by the commandment"-contrasted with its spotless nature-" might become exceeding sinful."

It is sin then, and not the holy Law of God, which works death in the soul, and effects its ruin. The Law convinces and condemns. Sin defiles and destroys. So frightful is sin in its nature and consequences, that nothing but itself can adequately express its vileness," that sin might become

exceeding sinful." Surely none but fools would make a mock at sin, or treat with levity the awakened sinner, who is seeking deliverance from its guilt and power.

The Apostle proceeds: "For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am carnal." Here he draws a contrast between the purity of the Law, and the carnality of his fallen nature; and when brought to this standard of perfect holiness, he perceived at once, through the light of the Spirit, the pollution of his best actions.

But how strong the expression which he now uses: "sold under sin."-What? the Lord's freeman, sold under sin? Could he, like Ahab, sell himself to work wickedness? Impossible.

The believer, whose experience is here described is not said to sell himself, he was sold under sin. This implies something passive, rather than active.

We may be said to be sold, with respect to original sin, which taints our whole nature, before we can perform one act of the will. When we have attained to the exercise of our mental faculties, and are duly awakened to a sense of our abject condition, we resemble slaves, who are longing for deliverance, and yet cannot emancipate themselves from their hated bondage. Through the remainders of corruption, we have to struggle and fight against the sin that dwells within us, and which is ever seeking to entrap us by its deceitful wiles: but, as the servants of Jesus Christ, we can never be the willing slaves of sin; this is totally adverse to the spirit of the Gospel, and

marks with awful blackness the subjects of Satan's kingdom.

This seems to be the meaning of the Apostle's declaration, for he adds with much simplicity and sincerity: "For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I." Thus confessing how much it distressed his renewed mind, to feel this inward struggle against the holy principle of grace. The whole bent of his mind and will was toward God and holiness; therefore, he could affirm for his own comfort," If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that it is good."

His will was averse from sin and inclined to the holy Law of God; on which account he could declare without hesitation: -"Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." As if he had said-It is not the newly implanted principle, the new man in Christ Jesus which thus labours to throw off the restraining power of the Law, but sin, the unrenewed part of my nature, which still dwells within me. "For I know that in me, that is in my flesh," (my corrupt and unregenerate nature) "dwelleth no good thing for to will," (through the power of converting grace) "is present with me, but how to perform that which is good" (through the remainders of corruption) "I find not."

:

"I

How important is self-knowledge. know," saith this experienced saint, "that in me dwelleth no good thing."

This is not the language of a proud Pharisee, or of a self-righteous professor of Christianity, but

of an humble believer, taught of God to know himself, to feel the plague of his own heart, and to bewail his corruptions with unfeigned sorrow.

How did the Apostle know, that in him dwelt no good thing; that is, as he himself explains it, in his flesh or unrenewed nature? Because he was constrained to acknowledge: "The good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do." He therefore places this distressing experience to the account of indwelling sin: "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I" (my renewed nature) " that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

At length he comes to this conclusion: "I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. -I cannot shake off this hated inmate, nevertheless, "I delight in the Law of God after the inward man."

This proves that the experience here stated, is that of a truly converted person, under the teaching of the Spirit; for an unregenerate man could not delight in the Law of God after the inward man, that is, with all the powers and affections of the renewed mind.

my

"But," he adds: "I see another law in members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members."

Thus, while grace was urging on to higher and higher degrees of holiness, these Canaanites in the land were opposing his progress, and trying to bring him into their hated captivity.

Feeling most deeply his utter helplessness

under these distressing conflicts, he is compelled to cry out with doleful lamentation: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Who shall rescue me from this loathsome body of sin, which I feel so closely attached to me, 'and from which I cannot escape?

Job, and David, and Isaiah, and other eminent saints, have been forced to make a similar cry, when labouring under the conscious burden of indwelling sin. But, what joy does the Gospel bring to the heavy laden soul; what relief to the disquieted conscience !—One believing glance of a crucified, exalted Saviour, can drive away a legion of inbred evils, and deliver the oppressed soul from all its burdens.

The happy saint, having, by an act of faith, reached the foot of the cross, now breaks forth into an extacy of delight: "I thank God," who giveth me the victory, "through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Every fresh application to the blood of the Atonement, brings fresh peace and strength to the soul, and is the sovereign antidote to the evil of sin.

For the consolation of every tried believer, who has thus to endure the conflict between the flesh and the spirit, the Apostle draws this blessed conclusion: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me