us. There is an admirable story
among George Crabbe's Tales, called 'The Gentleman Farmer.' The hero
starts in life resolved that he will not put up with any bondage. The
orthodox clergyman, the orthodox physician, and orthodox matrimony--all
these alike represent social bondage in different forms, and he will
have none of them. So he starts on a career of 'unchartered freedom,'

'To prove that _he alone was king of him_.'

And the last scene of all represents him the weak slave of his
mistress, a quack doctor, and a revivalist--'which things are an
allegory.'

{234}

2. The phrase 'a form' or 'pattern of teaching,' is interesting. It
suggests the idea of the Church as holding a 'pattern of sound
words[4],' a definite body of instruction, which is to form the life of
each person who gives himself over to her loving discipline. Christian
faith is not a formless impulse; it is self-surrender to a corporate
life ruled on a definite model of religious and moral teaching. What
St. Paul has here chiefly in mind is moral teaching. But the moral
teaching was inseparable from religious facts and motives. Nor is it
difficult to ascertain from the allusions of the New Testament what the
subjects were in which the first Christians were orally instructed, or,
in other words, what constituted 'the tradition' which lies behind the
written books of the New Testament. It comprised instruction in (1)
the facts of our Lord's life, death, and resurrection[5]; (2) the
meaning of sacred rites--baptism, laying on of hands,
eucharist[6]--including the Lord's Prayer[7]; (3) the moral duties of
'the way,' and the doctrine 'of the resurrection of {235} the dead and
of eternal judgement[8]'; (4) the meaning of 'the Name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost[9].' On all these subjects the
books of the New Testament do not give the primary instruction, but
imply that it has been already given.

3. The word rendered 'sanctification' (vers. 19, 22) is one which
needs to have its primitive force restored to it[10]. The 'saint' is
the person set apart for the worship and service of God. What is here
translated 'sanctification' means literally (1) 'the process of being
made fit for such worship and service,' that is, consecration as of a
priest; or (2) by a slight transition of meaning, the result of such
consecration, i.e. 'holiness.'

[1] The tense of the verb in 'shall we sin' appears to indicate an act,
no