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A REPERTORY OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & A RECORD OF CHRISTIAN WORK AMONG THE CALYINISTIC METHODISTS or PRESBYTERIANS of WALES. Vol. V. No. 10.] OCTOBER, 1889. [Price One Penny. d>ur i$tont*)tg gcrmon. BY THE REV. THOMAS HUGHES, KENCHESTER. *' But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead whereh\ we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter"—Romans vii., 6. .IpglHE Apostle in this verse speaks of the law as a rule of justification, )$k!* and tells us that Christians are not under it as such. They are ^=^ under grace or under the Gospel which offers eternal life freely, through faith in Christ. And the freedom which Christians have obtained is conducive to holiness. The text teaches that spiritual freedom leads to spiritual service. Spiritual Freedom. " But now we are delivered from the law, that being .dead wherein we were held." We were formerly held by the law. Law is powerful. Once a man gets into the hands of human laws, he finds it difficult ,to get free. All the power of the realm is behind the law to give it force. The law of God has the omnipotency of God to give it force. And this omnipotent law held us as transgressors, held us as persons deserving its penally. We had fallen into its hands by violation of its demands. . Unconverted men are still in its grasp, held as prisoners, guilty criminals, without any doubt about their criminality. But Christians have been delivered, "But now are we delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held." The manacles have been unloosed, the chains broken, the prison door has been opened, we have been discharged, we are free. This freedom implies freedom from the penalty of the law, forgiveness of Us -transgressions, and reconciliation with God. The sentence has been cancelled, the condemnation removed, and there is no further danger of eternal death. We have obtained deliverance from the wrath to come, freedom from the -curse of the law. More, the sins have been pardoned, the transgressions liave been blotted out. God remembers them no more against us. Ps. ciii. 12. Is. xliii., 25. Still more, peace with God has been effected, reconcilia¬ tion has been made. We have been restored to His favour and friendship. This spiritual freedom implies also, freedom from the law as a rule of justification. The Christian is dead to it as such. He is no longer under it as such. He has become dead to the law by the body of Christ. Its authority has not been ignored, its claims have not been put aside, its de¬ mands have not been disregarded ; but otherwise, the law has been honoured, magnified, and satisfied for us in the person of Christ. He is the end of tha