21. The cross is the power of union to Jew and Gentile, as throwing a shade over the ordinances of the one and intellectual pride of the other. In Eph. 2:16, the cross is presented as the Lord's power over flesh in the Jew and the Gentile, both before God and toward one another. He is speaking of the union of Jews and Gentiles to Christ and to one another... That He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.... The Jew was far off from God, while his nature was boasting in the law: the Gentile was without God in the world: they find the cross before them; and the Jew that believes says, " What a deadly thing man's heart and mind and soul is! what a nothing man's strength, if this is God's estimate of me!" " Aye," says the Gentile, " it is nature, human nature's estimate this." Now, observe you the Jew is humbled, and his religious pride laid low before God; and the Gentile's sin in being without God in the world, is brought to light. "But," says the Jew further, " the cross! that's a Gentile thing. 0 Gentiles, my legal righteousness and boast in Moses is put to shame; there's my hand!" "Well," says the Gentile, "I take it heartily; for all my wisdom, I see, is foolishness."