then it was I once liv'd secure; but when the prohibition came, sin exerted it self, and I was in a dying condition:

was it then good that brought death upon me? no, but it was sin, that sin might show it self by being able to bring death upon me by means of that which is good; that sin, I say, by the commandment might appear to be exceedingly destructive.

the divine grace thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. so then, with the mind I my self am devoted to the law of God; tho' my carnal inclinations are enslaved to the law of sin.

The spirit likewise softens our afflictions: for being at a loss to apply for the most proper relief; the spirit it self affects us with those pious ejaculations, which we can't well express.

for I could wish to be as one anathematiz'd from the christian church for my brethren, who are of the same race as my self,

You will say then, hath God discarded his people? by no means. for I my self am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self." the benevolent never does wrong to his neighbour: therefore benevolence is the fulfilling of the law.

for he that makes a difference, is self-condemn'd, if he eats against his own persuasion: for every action of that kind is sin .

as becometh christians, and assist her in every thing her business requires: for she hath assisted many besides my self.

in like manner consider your selves as dead to sin; but alive to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

by no means. know ye not, that to whom ye subject your selves vassals at command, his vassals you are whom you thus obey; the vassals either of sin to destruction, or of obedience to justification?

and not only they, but even those who have the first fruits of the spirit, even we our selves do inwardly groan for the fruit of our adoption, by the deliverance of our body from corruption.

I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this secret, (for fear you should presume too much on your selves) that blindness has fallen upon a part of Israel, until the time when the Gentiles shall be fully come in.