The Passions of Man

And surely it carries in its train the passions of man. Man's religion leaves man as it found him; in fact, it cherishes and cultivates man's corruptions. This showed itself in Ishmael in earliest days and even in Cain before him. Paul declares that in his day it was the same, and today formal, corrupt Christianity is the same. "As then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so is it now." Man's religion does not cure him. By it he is left a prey to the subtleties and violence of his nature, the captive still of the old serpent, who has been a liar and a murderer from the beginning.
The decree, however, has been pronounced. It is: "Cast out the bondwoman and her son." Ch. 4:30. It was delivered in the days of Isaac and Ishmael, of Abraham and Sarah; it is rehearsed and re-sealed by the Spirit Himself in the day of the Apostle Paul, and we are to receive it as established forever.
What a consolation it is to have this mighty question between God and man, settled! And, according to this consolation, we listen to this further word: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Ch. 5:1.
All, surely, is of the same character. The Holy Ghost, by the Apostle, is preparing the great, leading, commanding, principle of divine religion. It is faith. It is the sinner's personal and immediate confidence in Christ. It is the soul's finding satisfaction in Him, and in that which He has done for it.