But it may be that, to the reader's view, difficulties and stumbling blocks still surround this most weighty subject. He may still be utterly at a loss to know what is meant by the expression, "In the flesh." If so it will, we fondly hope, help him not a little to remember that Scripture speaks of _two men_--"the first man" and "the Second Man." These two men are presented as the heads of two distinct races. Adam _fallen_ is the head of one race; Christ _risen_ is the Head of the other race. Now, the very fact of there being "a Second Man" proves that the first man had been set aside: for if the first man had proved faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. This is clear and unquestionable. The first man is a total wreck--an irreparable ruin. The foundations of the old edifice have given way; and albeit, in man's view, the building seems to stand, and to be capable of being repaired, yet, in God's view it is completely set aside, and a Second Man--a new edifice--set up, on the solid and imperishable ground of redemption. Hence, we read, in Gen. iii., that God "_drove out the man_; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned _every way_, to keep the way of the tree of life." In other words, the first man was driven out, and every possible way of return was closed against him, as _such_. He could only get back by "a new and living way," namely, through the rent veil of the Saviour's flesh. The flaming sword "turned every way," so that there was positively no way by which the first man could ever get back to his former state. The only hope, now, was through "the seed of the woman"--"the Second Man." The flaming sword declared, in symbolic yet impressive language, the truth, which comes out in the New Testament divested of all symbol and shadow, namely, that "they that are in the flesh _cannot_ please God"--"Ye must be born again." Every unconverted man, woman, and child is part and parcel of the first man, fallen, ruined, set aside, and driven out. He is a member of the first Adam--the old race--a stone in the old condemned building. Thus it stands, if we are to be guided by Scripture. The head and his race go together. As is the one, so is the other; what is true of the one is true of the other. They are, in God's view, absolutely identical. Was the first Adam fallen when he became the head of a race? Was he driven out? Was he completely set aside? Yes, verily, if we are to believe Scripture; then the unconverted--the unregenerated reader of these lines is fallen, driven out, and set aside. As is the head, so is the member--each member in particular--all the members together. They are inseparable, if we are to be taught by divine revelation.