like the glorious body of Jesus Christ; this is promised, and this we wait for, and until death deliver us from this mortal, corruptible body, we shall be groaning under the burden of it. This was St. Paul's case. He had long sighed to be discharged from his warfare, and like an old weary tired soldier, he wished the hard tedious campaign was ended, that he might enter into rest; but hear with what joy he at last cries out, "I have fought the good fight." Have fought it? What! is the battle over? Yes,

just over." I am now ready to be offered, “I and the time of my departure is at handI have finished my course."-My battle and my life are finished together, and so must thine, reader: Thou art to resist unto blood, striving against sin: for thou art called to fight the good fight of faith until thou lay hold of eternal life. Since thou art a believer, however weak, and hast a new man in thee, as well as an old, they will be fighting against each other, till thou finish thy course. And if this discourage thee, consider what God has spoken concerning this

warfare, and what exceeding great and precious promises he has made to them who are engaged in it. He has promised to pardon those corruptions of the old man, to subdue them, and to deliver thee from the very being of them. Canst thou desire more? Mark well what he says to thee, and be not faithless, but believing.

First, although the believer has an old man corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, always warring against the new man, yet the Lord God has promised a free and a full pardon; because he has imputed sin, all thy sin, to the Son of his love, who bore it in his own body upon the tree. After the Apostle in Rom. vii. had described the battle between them, he makes this inference; "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus,"-to them who are in Christ, united by faith as members to him their head, and thereby partakers of his righteousness, there is now, while they are fighting against their corruptions, no condemnation ; For, says he, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath

made me free from the law of sin and of death," Rom. viii. 2. These words demon

strate, that Paul was speaking of himself in the 7th chapter. Although he had the corruption of nature still in him, and was fighting against it, yet being in Christ by faith he was made free from the guilt and punishment due to it; therefore he had, and every believer shall have, a full pardon. In consequence of which,

Secondly, he shall subdue the corruptions of the old man. This is promised, and shall' be made good. The Lord encourages believers to oppose the reign of sin in their mortal body, and not to obey it in the lusts thereof, with this promise-" Sin shall not have dominion over you," Rom. vi. 14.Ye are under grace, and grace is almighty to subdue sin: because it is atoned for. In like manner he says to the Galatians, v. 16. "Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh." Ye shall not fulfil them either in word or deed. The lusts of the flesh will be in you, but not one of them shall reign over you: the spirit of Jesus will teach

you to resist, and enable you to overcome them; yea, to crucify and mortify them day by day. And besides this the Lord has promised,

Thirdly, deliverance from the very being of thy corruptions. The time is coming, when they shall not exist in the believer, nor any more be suffered to tempt him. He shall be made holy and blameless, without spot or wrinkle of sin, or any such thing. In this perfect state the Father now sees him, and accepts him in the beloved, and after death admits the soul into his presence, cleansed with the blood, clothed with righteousness, adorned with the graces of his dear Son; and body, soul, and spirit, shall be in this perfect state in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ-they shall be unblameable in holiness before God, even our father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. It doth not yet appear how great a perfection of holiness this will be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall then be like him: for we shall see him as he is.

Such are the divine promises. And dost thou not see from hence, reader, what great things thou art to expect in thy present warfare? If thou sayest, How shall I attain all that is promised? Know that it is to come to thee by faith. Christ, and all that he has, is thine, upon believing; and particularly a free pardon for indwelling sin, as well as for any other. Consider him as thy surety, God-man, taking thy sins and sufferings upon himself, to save thee from them. By his life. and death he has obtained full salvation, which he gives to thee freely; and thou hast received it. Thou canst not deny but thou art a believer, and it is written"All that believe are justified from all things," from the corruption of their nature as well as the corruptions of their lives. Know then, that there is no condemnation to thee. The Judge himself says so. And when he acquits, who shall lay any thing to thy charge? Here thou must hold through the power of the Lord, if thou wouldst have thy spiritual warfare successfully conducted. Abide by the sentence of God, and keep