"The Law is not of Faith" (Gal. 3:12).

It is to be regretted that many who have clearly apprehended the difference between law and grace, between Judaism and Christianity, have not so clearly seen the principle of faith working in those who, spite of being dispensationally under law, and in Judaism as God's system for that time, were nevertheless of the household of faith, and, as such, the subjects of God's workings in grace.

"The law is not of faith," but those men were of faith. A cloud of them is mentioned in Heb. 11. They lived, and walked, and hoped, in a sphere far beyond and above law. Their vision was limited by the measure of revelation given them, and their portion was defined by the purpose of God; but they were His children, being of faith, walking in communion with Him according to their measure of light, looking "for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God " (Heb. 11:10). It was not law that made David say, "For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:Thou delight-est not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:16, 17). It was not law that taught Isaiah the lesson of the sixth chapter of his book, nor Job to say, " But now mine eye seeth Thee."

They were not of the Church-the body of Christ; for the Church was not yet begun (Matt, 16:18). They were not indwelt by the Spirit; for the Spirit had not yet come (John 16:7). They were not in lace of sons as we are, and could not enjoy the same freedom that we do therefore (Gal. 4:1-7). All that faith in them looked forward to concerning the death and resurrection of their and our Lord, the same faith in us now looks back to, and enjoys its blessed fruits; but as to the glories which were and are yet to follow, they "all died in faith, not having received the promises "-as we do still while waiting for our Lord from heaven, and confessing thus with them that we are '' strangers and pilgrims on the earth " (Heb. 11:13).

Abiding, Not Progressing.

2 John 9 is a very important word, especially in this day of boastful progress. It says that "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God." The word "transgresseth" should be rendered progresseth, or, goeth forward:it stands in contrast with '' abideth." That is, the idea of improving, as men say, in the things revealed means infidelity-one who "hath not God." For instance, people say that everlasting punishment is a doctrine of the past; religion is improving-is progressing-and such a doctrine is no longer to be held or preached. This would mean that Christianity is not a divine revelation, but a human invention, to be therefore improved and perfected by man as he improves and perfects a piece of machinery. This is the destruction of all truth- it "hath not God." As well might we say that while two and two made four in time past, they make five now; or, that while the day had twenty-four hours in the dark ages, it has twenty-five now. Man changes in his ways because he is an ignorant creature, who progresses in knowledge; but God is not so. What He does, is forever; what He says, is never recalled, nor altered. The man who wants to improve on the revelation of God is a man who "hath not God." It is "he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ" who "hath both the Father and the Son."

"Sects.’
A "sect" is departing from the thing established and forming a party by it, while professedly remaining in the thing established.

In Christianity it is introducing some doctrine subversive of Christianity, forming a party by it, yet professing Christianity still. For instance, Unitarianism is a sect. It denies the deity of Christ, which is the very root of Christianity, and yet it still professes Christianity.

The teachers of Acts 15:1 were sectarian, for they introduced that which in the end destroys Christianity-the legal system combated in Galatians, which has prevailed throughout Christendom, and is leading it to apostasy.

We might mention a host of sects more or less destructive in their effects, but one and all departures in greater or less degree from the revelation of God in Christianity. If any man desires not to be sectarian, he must be sincerely subject to all the word of God; not to this or that portion which he selects, but to all. If he is truly humble, the Spirit of God will lead him in such an understanding of it as will make it one harmonious whole, filling his heart with peace, and love, and worship, and separating him from all that is sectarian. Such a man may not have an easy path amid prevailing conditions, but he will have the approval of a good conscience here and of the Lord Jesus "in that day" when He makes all things manifest.