November 30

Galatians ii. — 15. We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

17. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is, therefore, Christ the minister of sin? God forbid!

18. For, if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21. I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians iii. — 1. O foolish Galatians! who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2. This only would I learn of you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3. Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7. Know ye, therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9. So, then, they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, The just shall live by faith.

12. And the law is not of faith; but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The moral law was given that it should be obeyed forever: its standard can never be lowered, its obligation can never be revoked. The Ten Commandments are as binding upon the Christian as ever they were upon the Jew. Christ sustained them by the full weight of his example and his authority. While he thus vindicated the authority of the law by his own righteousness, he also honored its demands upon us by offering himself a sacrifice for sin: so that we who were condemned for not doing may now be saved by believing. The ceremonial law was given to be observed until that which it typified should be fulfilled in Christ. To impose

that law upon Christians, to insist upon any forms and ceremonies as necessary to salvation, was to dishonor the grace of Christ, to assume a useless burden, to fall away from the spirit into the flesh. The gathering of all men to Christ by faith was foreseen in the promise given to Abraham. We are saved, not by works, but by faith. But true faith is the highest working power: it finds the soul to Christ for an implicit obedience to his will, a life-long devotion to his cause, in a union so close, so absolute, that the believer can say with Paul, "Christ liveth in me."

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 143, 171.

O God, who makest the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice! we bless thee that ours has not been a night of anguish and sorrow. We lift up our hearts to thee with thanksgiving for the joy of another day; for vigor for its duties, appetite for its pleasures, and readiness for its opportunities of good. Bless us in our labors, keep us pure in our enjoyments, incite us to do thy will; and oh! we beseech thee, preserve us from harm, from temptation, and from sin. Keep us from that love and that fear of this world which would estrange us from thee.

Seeing that we know not what a day may bring

forth, we pray, that, if trials and disappointments shall come, we may have grace to meet them and to profit by them. Conscious of our weakness, humbly confessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon thine infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, strength, and sanctification. May we as a family honor thee in our daily walk and conversation! May old and young alike know the beauty of holiness, the joy of consecration to Christ! Grant thy grace to all who are dear to us; and grant us grace to hold all men dear for Christ's sake. And to him, with the Father and the Spirit, be glory forever. Amen.