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    fj ^ nst was a minister of the citqumdsio&for ttte trfy % of Gt > tf , to c 6 & firm the promises made unto th 6 fathers , and that ihe Gentiles might glorify God for his Tfterfiy . * Paul , who was the minister of the Gentiles ,

    kept this circumstance perpetually in view . It Was the great •* mystery of the gospel whidh had been kept secret from the foundation of the world , but was now made manifest by the appearing of Jesus Christ . " Now this could not be accomplished without the abolition of the law , which shut

    the Gentiles out from ail interest in , and participation of the blessing of Abraham „ The writer to the Hebrews further established this important doctrine . He says , * "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood , he also hirnsfclf likewise took

    part qf the same ; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death , that is , the devil 3 and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage . For verily he ( rather // , the fear of death ) taketh not hold of angels ; but of the seed of Abraham he (\ t ) taketh hold / 'f

    The word rendered destroy , means to abolish , annul , make useless or of none effect . The power of death , evidently , I think , means , the unlimited , universal power of death . This seems manifest from that universal

    fear > at least with respect to the seed oi Abraham , which this power U represented as produciqg , deliverance from which , is here said to be the great object of the death of Christ . Now it is certain that such a power cannot be possessed by any being , in heaven or earth , except 4 hat Being who is the Author of life , and with whom alone are the issues of death .

    In him i % exists , aoff cannot exist any where else , unless communicated by him . But we no where read that he has communicated such a power to any being whatever . Is if possible ,

    tl ^ en , to suppose that Ood Would in-V $ Bfc such a being as thp ijevil is fctfppjroed to be / ' the iinplac ^ ble enemy ' dFWm fend man , with shcfa ' a ^ poVirer ?' Impossible . From these observations , ( Stop , it 1 *—16 . t Se «? margin .

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    had the pbwer' ° f ^ MWm ^ m ^ W $ * t ^ e word abolish . mil 'riSraiSffli ^ a ^ p ^ % t not sb naturftlly to a real person which law indeed te * d" the power of death , of . wltfdi it w ^ Ss the

    ministration . The word diatolosy translated the DevU literally means the accuser , and our Lord himself thus personifies the law of Moses : " There is one , " says he to the Jews , " who accuseth you , Moses , in whom ye trust . " This clause , therefore , should be rendered

    " that through death he might abolish him that liad the power of death , that is , the accuser . " Menee also we see the propriety of the writer ' s ascribing the fear of death produced by the law , to the seed of Abraham , to whom only the law was given , and who were under it . How , then , did he

    deliver them from the fear of death ? Evidently by taking away sin , which is the sting of death , and by abolishing the law , which is the strength of sin . If , then , we are right in the inpretation of this passage , and I think we are , it expressl y asserts that the death of Jesus Christ had for its

    object the abolition of the law , that by so doing he might deliver them , who , through fear of death , were perpetually subject to bondage . The covenant from Mount Sinai , says Paul , gender *

    eth to bondage ; though the fear of death which it pronounces for every transgression . Through the gospel we receive , not the spirit of bondage again to f&ar , but the spirit of

    adopttiun , whereby we cry Abba , Father . Therefore the opostte telfo ' thfe Romans , that sin shall not have dominion over them . Why ? Because its power is taken away by the death of Christ ; for , he adds , ve * are not under the

    law , but under grace , i . e . the gracious dispensation t of the gospel . There is therefore n&w , simce Christ hath died for sins ,, no ibndenmation to them who are in Christ Jesus ; for , he adds , the law of the * p \ fit -of life in Christ Jeaus Iwath i ftiatfe me free from the liiw af ^ tn ami death . Hence we sfee the TOfcfe aad pi * opriety of tho ^ e strong ^ jpreistjiotts « f Scripture , ^ W 6 ^ % e fca 3 by hlm ^ 'f purged 4 mt * in 8 i h ^ % alt d 6 Wn oA ' w ng \ a Katid of # h # ^ m $ mf *• & ¦ W $ - But now ojuse ,- m . 4 w . ^ iiA ^ ot ^ world , hatli , be uppeajM Jo . pttt <**>* $

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    ^ 4 ^ W $ m ^* $ ^ 0 ? % ^§ Mm ^ ,

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1823, page 692, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1791/page/12/