If we examine the nature of some of these fruits of the Spirit, we shall see that though they are produced in us individually by the working of the Spirit, they are not confined to ourselves, but will communicate to others around us. Thus we all know how communicative is the feeling of _joy_—it burns to tell others the good news, or glad tidings. The _love_ of God shed abroad in our hearts makes us long that others should participate in this great blessing.—The _peace_ of God yearns that all should be brought into its heavenly atmosphere: while the other qualities or rather graces described,—as longsuffering, meekness, charity, &c,—mark to others that we have been with Jesus: and the Apostle Peter winds up his catalogue with the descriptive words equally applicable to both, “_If these things be in you and abound_, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. i. 8). Thus the Gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Rom. i. 16), and as its fruits spring up and _abound_ in any heart they will in some or other form overflow to those around, and make it a minister of righteousness, a testimony-bearer to the truth as it is in Jesus: it may be in word and doctrine, in the private circle of association, or even in the quiet testimony of a peaceful spirit, and a faithful discharge of duties, recommending by its example the Gospel of Christ. “For the _law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus_ hath made me free from _the law of sin and death_. . . . That _the __righteousness of the law_ might be fulfilled in us, _who walk not after the flesh_, _but after the Spirit_.” “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they _that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit_” (Rom. viii. 2–5). Allusion has been made at a former page (40) to the _precepts of the law_, having been superseded by the higher _principles_ of the Gospel of Christ. The New Testament, instead of prescribing precise instructions for conduct between man and man, sums up our duties in the general principle, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; love worketh no ill to his neighbour; love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. xiii. 9, 10); at the same time illustrations are given, both of the fruits of the Spirit, and of the fruits of sin in the heart (See Eph. iv. 22 to end, and ch. v.; Rom. i. 28–32; Rev. xxi. 8).