He  is  thinking,  for  the  moment,  in  the  figures
of  a  fertile  fancy.  Every  tyrant  has  a  body  of
one  description  or  other,  and  tyrannises  in  it  and
through  it.  But  let  us  not  abandon  the  Apostle's
generic  idealism  for  a  narrowly  specific  or  in-
dividualising representation.
Christianity  has  to  do  with  this  hoclij  of  sin.
The  end  contemplated  in  reference  to  it  is  that
it  might  he  mortally  disabled.  Hence  the  co-
crucifixion.  When  the  old  man  is  crucified  with
Christ,  tlie  body  of  sin,  as  ensphered  within  him,
is  transfixed  upon  the  cross.  The  figures  are
not  drawn  with  absolute  literary  nicety  and  art.
The  Apostle  is  not  seeking  for  "  the  wisdom  of
words."  The  old  man  and  the  body  of  sin  are
in  reality,  as  he  draws  them,  not  perfectly  identi-
cal in  character.  The  neiu  man  has  special  rela-
tions to  each ;  and  thus,  in  both  cases  a  difference


24       ST.  Paul's  teaching  on  sanctifioation.
