"if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:13). Here is life and death laid before you! If ye walk after the flesh, ye shall die! A dreadful word, spoken even to them that are in Christ, and to whom there is no condemnation, who yet need to be warned of their danger. Conditional threatenings may be mustered to them, without bringing them back to a spirit of bondage, the Lord works on their fear, as well as on their love, and will have them to keep an eye on hell, and another on heaven; or rather, he will sometimes have them look behind them, that at the sight of hell and wrath, they may fly the faster to the hope that is set before them. Do not deceive yourselves with an opinion of your privileges. Well then, what must we do that we may be saved? The words of the text tell you; where mark you, that the apostle is speaking to such as are in Christ Jesus. If you ask what an unrenewed man should do to be saved, the Scripture answers, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31); and, "this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment" (1John 3:23). In a word, get into Christ. But if you ask, what the man that is in Christ shall do, the text tells you, which takes in, or rather supposes holy walking, or walking after the Spirit; for as light comes in, darkness goes out, so that mortification is one part of the condition upon which we attain the possession of eternal life, though it be by faith, by our first believing, that we acquire a right to it. (To be continued)