,transcribed from the #ahhb ,saml4 ,harris ,co4 edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,jesus ,,fulfils ,,the ,,law4 ,picture3 ,decorative divider ,,by ,one of the ,society of ,friends4 ,picture3 ,decorative divider ,,london4 ,,saml4 ,,harris ,,co41 #e1 ,,bishopsgate ,,without4 #ahhb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,barrett1 ,,sons ,,and ,,co41 ,,printer ,,seething ,,lane1 ,e4,c4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,chapter ,i4 ,how ,jesus fulfilled the ,law #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,provisions for the ,pardon of ,sin1 and ,reconciliation under #af the ,law ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,hebrew ,sacrifices from the ,christian ,point of ,view4 #ch ,the ,sacrifice of ,christ their true ,complement ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,testimony of the ,old ,testament ,prophecies to ,jesus ,christ #ed as the ,messiah ,,chapter ,v4 ,the ,gospel of ,christ #gb ,,preface4 ,in a day when so much has been written on almost every ,scripture subject it requires some apology for offering anything further2 but as different trains of thought are more suited to one than another1 they may serve as useful remembrancers1 although there may be nothing particularly new about them4 ,the writer of the following pages1 being in the evening of life and much retired from its active duties by failing health1 often endeavours to look through the lengthening shadows of the evening to the glory which shall be revealed1 and delights to ponder over those passages of ,holy ,writ which form the basis of our faith in ,christ4 ,the following pages make no attempt at scholarship4 ,the author thankfully accepts and believes the revelation which ,god has given us in ,holy ,scripture1 and has endeavoured to set forth a plain scriptural statement of the successive steps or development of that revelation1 culminating in the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,when our ,lord says of the final issue of ,his judgment1 8,these0 7speaking of the wicked7 8shall go into everlasting punishment1 but the righteous into life eternal10 ,i believe ,he perfectly understood the subject1 and meant what ,he said4 ,when ,paul also1 writing of himself and his fellow-,apostles1 said 8,knowing therefore the terror of the ,lord1 we persuade men10 ,i believe he meant--they persuaded men 8to flee from the wrath to come10 and take shelter in 8the blood of the everlasting covenant0 7,heb4 xiii4 #bj72 according to the words1 8,it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living ,god who hath said1 ,vengeance belongeth unto ,me1 ,i will recompense saith the ,lord0 7,heb4 x4 #cj1 #ca2 and #b ,thess4 ii4 #f-i74 ,i have been a fond reader of ,holy ,scripture from my youth1 and have from time to time studied much that has been written in support of its genuineness and authenticity2 but now in the retrospect of the past ,i find no evidence for the general truth of that ,scripture at all to compare with the words of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ--8,if any man will do ,his 7the ,father's7 will1 he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of ,god or whether ,i speak of myself0 7,john vii4 #ag74 8,the secret of the ,lord is with them that fear ,him1 and ,he will show them ,his covenant0 7,ps4 xxv4 #ad74 ,as it is all-important to know that the foundations are sure1 and will stand in the day of trial1 ,i have set down in these pages the train of thought which has proved most confirming to my own faith1 and trust that some of those who love the ,truth as it is in ,jesus may find it helpful to themselves4 ,we live in eventful times4 ,there is much abroad in the world to excite alarm4 ,when ,atheism and ,infidelity are making strenuous efforts to extend their withering influence2 when ,roman ,catholicism and a kindred ritualism are invading our country1 there is abundant need to stick to the ,law and the ,testimony1 lest the curtains of darkness should be again spread over it4 ,but notwithstanding that the picture may be somewhat gloomy1 it is by no means all on one side2 by various instrumentalities the ,gospel is being largely and successfully proclaimed1 and the message of salvation through ,christ alone is now carried to every class1 and almost from house to house1 in a manner never before witnessed2 and the lowest haunts of vice and misery are at least opened to the town missionary1 the ,bible-woman1 or the evangelist1 where but recently the police could not venture single-handed2 and many are the brands plucked from the burning1 so that among these1 as well as among the social circles above them1 a rich and powerful wave of ,gospel blessing is rolling over the land4 ,if ,i have fairly represented the teaching of the ,bible1 it is all that ,i could aspire to4 ,the many 8divers and strange doctrines0 which in one or another way oppose the ,gospel of ,christ1 must be swept away before the grand truths which the ,bible sets forth1 and which1 when time is past and eternity remains1 will for ever be a theme of praise and thanksgiving to the glorified beings who shall be accounted worthy to stand before the throne1 and swell the anthem of 8,glory and dominion to ,him who loved us1 and washed us from our sins in ,his own blood0 7,rev4 i4 #e1 #f74 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,how ,,jesus ,,fulfilled ,,the ,,law4 8,i am not come to destroy0 7the law and the prophets7 8but to fulfil4 ,till heaven and earth pass1 one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled0 7,matt4 v4 #ag1 #ah74 ,the above solemn words of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 being part of ,his ,sermon on the ,mount 7as related by ,matthew71 appear to open an interesting field of inquiry into an important portion of ,divine ,truth as set forth in ,holy ,scripture4 ,in what manner did our ,lord so fulfil the law given by ,moses that one jot or one tittle should in no wise pass unfulfilled8 ,was it when ,he went to the ,baptist1 and received baptism1 because it became ,him to fulfil all righteousness8 7,matt4 iii4 #ae74 ,was it when ,he sent the ten lepers whom ,he would heal to show themselves to the priests 7agreeably to ,lev4 xiv4 #b2 ,luke xvii4 #ad72 or in another similar case1 when ,he said1 8,go1 show thyself to the priest1 and offer those things which ,moses commanded for a testimony unto them08 7,mark i4 #dd2 ,luke v4 #ad74 ,was it by attending the appointed feasts at ,jerusalem1 and generally in other cases1 recorded or not recorded1 in which ,he conformed1 and was subject to the ritual which had been before appointed8 ,or are we not to understand the words in a much deeper sense than ,his personal submission to the ,law8--that of fulfilling1 perfecting1 and giving a living reality to all its foreshadowing types1 in themselves dead and profitless2 to seal1 assure1 and make good all its promises to the obedient subjects of that ,law2 all its threatenings to the disobedient2 to open up to mankind that rich inheritance prepared alike for the men of that day and for us1 foreshadowed by the land of promise flowing with milk and honey2 to perfect that which was lacking in those offerings of atonement which in themselves could never take away sins 7,heb4 x4 #d78 ,the ministry of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ is revealed to us under the two characters of an ,apostle and ,high ,priest 7,heb4 iii4 #a74 #ast4 ,as an ,apostle1 to declare and teach the principles of that ,divine ,truth1 which distinguished the ,new ,covenant of life and salvation from the covenant of bondage to ordinances then about to be abolished1 which had been designed as introductory to it2 and to ordain and qualify ,his ,apostles to declare its principles more fully after ,his death and resurrection4 ,for obvious reasons the ,new ,covenant could not be fully published until the offering of ,christ had fulfilled the ,scriptures relating to ,him2 and when the resurrection had declared ,him to be the ,son of ,god with power4 ,although our ,lord had often pointed out to ,his ,apostles that in ,his life and actions ,he was fulfilling the ,scriptures1 it is clear they did not fully understand their import until after the ,holy ,ghost had descended on them on the ,day of ,pentecost1 and opened up to their minds1 with a vivid remembrance1 and clear sunshine of heavenly light1 all that ,jesus had said and done1 giving to them that wonderful power and energy which they afterwards exhibited1 as well as those miraculous gifts of the ,spirit which were necessary to confirm their doctrine to others4 ,thus we read that we ought to give a more earnest heed to the things 8which began to be spoken by the ,,lord1 and were confirmed to us by them that heard ,him2 ,god also bearing them witness1 with signs and wonders1 and divers miracles1 and gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 according to ,his own will0 7,heb4 ii4 #c1 #d74 ,our ,lord had1 on several occasions1 as before observed1 taken care to instruct ,his disciples in the ,scriptures which related to ,himself2 but ,he did so more explicitly after ,his resurrection2 beginning at ,moses and all the prophets1 ,he expounded to the two on their way to ,emmaus the 8things concerning ,himself1 in all the ,scriptures0 7,luke xxiv4 #bg74 ,and when they had returned to ,jerusalem1 and had related to the eleven 7and others with them7 what had happened in the way1 ,he stood in their midst1 and confirmed their testimony1 saying1 8,these are the words which ,i spake unto you1 while ,i was yet with you1 that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of ,moses1 and in the ,prophets1 and in the ,psalms #f concerning ,me4 ,then opened ,he their understanding1 that they might understand the ,scriptures1 and said unto them1 ,thus it is written1 and thus it behoved ,christ to suffer1 and to rise from the dead the third day0 7,luke xxiv4 #dd-df74 ,when ,jesus sent out ,his twelve disciples to preach1 ,he said to them1--8,he that receiveth you receiveth ,me1 and he that receiveth ,me receiveth ,him that sent ,me0 7,matt4 x4 #dj71 so that in receiving the ,apostles' doctrine and teaching1 we receive ,christ's teaching4 ,also the same principle is set forth in ,john xiii4 #bj1 8,he that receiveth whomsoever ,i send receiveth ,me2 and he that receiveth ,me receiveth ,him that sent ,me40 #bnd4 ,as a ,high ,priest our ,lord is introduced in the most solemn words of prophecy3--8,the ,lord hath sworn and will not repent1 ,thou art a priest for ever after the order of ,melchisedec0 7,ps4 cx4 #d1 quoted in ,heb4 vii4 #ba74 ,this most solemn form of utterance is seldom used in ,scripture4 ,it occurs also when ,god sware to ,abraham1 that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed 7,gen4 xxii4 #af-ah73--,to the rebellious ,israelites1 that they should not enter into ,his rest 7,deut4 i4 #cd1 #ce73--,to ,moses1 that he should not go into ,canaan 7,deut4 iv4 #ba73--,to ,david1 that his seed should endure for ever1 and his throne unto all generations 7,ps4 lxxxix4 #c1 #d74 ,it is treated in ,heb4 vii4 #bj-bb as exhibiting the superior authority and character of ,christ as a ,high ,priest1 in comparison with the priesthood of ,levi3 8,for those priests were made without an oath2 but this with an oath2 4 4 4 and by so much was ,jesus made a surety of a better testament40 ,and again1 in ver4 #bh3 8,for the ,law maketh men high priests which have infirmity2 but the word of the oath1 which was since the ,law1 maketh the ,son1 who is consecrated for evermore40 ,it is also treated 7,heb4 vi4 #af-ai7 as expressing the absolutely unalterable counsel of ,god3 8,men verily swear by the greater1 and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife2 wherein ,god1 willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of ,his counsel1 confirmed it by an oath2 that by two immutable things1 in which it was impossible for ,god to lie1 we might have a strong consolation1 who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us40 ,that hope which is as an anchor to the soul1 both sure and steadfast4 ,the office of an apostle 7or special messenger1 or messenger with special tidings71 viewed separately1 has nothing of the priest2 but the offices of teacher of the law1 mediator1 and priest were combined in the ,levitical priesthood2 and they were perfectly blended in the person of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,nevertheless the doctrine of the priesthood of ,christ could not be much developed or declared until the abolition of the priests of ,levi by the termination of that first covenant1 when ,jesus declared1 8,it is finished10 and 8gave up the ghost10 and 8the veil of the ,temple was rent in twain0--indicating that the approach to the ,divine ,presence was opened to all4 ,during the patriarchal ages1 the head of the family or house appears to have combined in himself the patriarch and priest4 ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob1 offered sacrifices as well as ,abel1 though the recorded instances are few1 and only on very remarkable occasions2 such as the coming out of the ark1 the call of ,abram1 the sacrifice of ,isaac1 the covenant to ,jacob4 ,but we read that it was the constant practice of ,job2 for1 after giving an account of the burnt-offerings offered for each of his sons after their days of feasting1 it is added1 8thus did ,job continually0 7,job i4 #e72 and such was no doubt the practice of other patriarchs4 ,at the close of ,job's temptation1 the ,lord said to ,his three friends that they should take seven bullocks and seven rams1 and go to ,job1 and offer up burnt-offerings1 and ,job would pray for them1 8for him will ,i accept0 7,job xlii4 #h74 ,of the patriarchal religion we are told but little4 ,the ,apostle ,paul says1 in ,rom4 v4 #ad1 8,death reigned from ,adam to ,moses02 in ,rom4 i4 #bj1 that 8,god's eternal power and ,godhead were clearly seen in the works of creation10 so that they were without excuse2 and in ,rom4 ii4 #ad1 #ae1 that though without law they had a conscience bearing witness to the law written in their hearts1 accusing or excusing their thoughts4 ,in the earliest days1 the power of ,god manifested in the works of creation spoke to men more clearly than it may now speak to heathen nations who know not ,god4 ,they spoke to ,adam and ,eve of the ,god whom they knew1 and had had intimate acquaintance with4 ,the glory of ,eden and the events of their life there1 with their disastrous fall and expulsion1 must have made an indelible impression on their minds4 ,knowing their ,creator they would have no disposition to worship the sun1 moon1 or stars1 as ,his works4 ,it would be contrary to all the subsequent history of the dealings of ,god with ,his creatures to suppose our first parents were driven out and left to their own devices as to the means of reconciliation with ,him2 and though we are not expressly told that sacrifice was offered by ,adam1 many think that the first instruction in utilising skins for clothing1 referred to the skins of animals offered in sacrifice4 #ab ,at probably no very distant period from the ,fall 7described as1 8,in process of time10 or 8in the end of days071 we find ,abel offering the firstling of his flock1 an acceptable sacrifice to ,god2 the same that was commanded by the law of ,moses4 ,when we take into account the length of ,adam's life and that of his sons1 there is no difficulty in concluding that those indelible impressions would be handed down to his posterity1 with the history of the ,lord's dealings with him1 and what had been revealed to him as the means of propitiation1 or being reconciled to ,him4 ,that there was a revelation before the ,flood is evident1 for ,abel offered an acceptable sacrifice1 but ,cain's was not accepted2 while the words addressed by the ,lord to ,cain1 8,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted8 and if thou doest not well sin lieth at the door0 7,gen4 iv4 #g71 clearly indicate that ,cain knew what was pleasing or displeasing to ,him4 ,enoch and ,noah also walked with ,god so faithfully that the one was translated1 and the other1 by his act of faith1 condemned the world1 and became heir of the righteousness which is of faith2 very clearly showing that faith1 rather than works1 was in those days the basis of salvation4 ,when we consider the terms in which the sacrifice of ,christ is set forth in the ,new ,testament1 as 8,the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world0 7,rev4 xiii4 #h72 8,preordained before the foundation of the world0 7#a ,pet4 i4 #bj2 ,rom4 xvi4 #be2 ,eph2 iii4 #i1 #aa2 ,col4 i4 #bf2 #b ,tim4 i4 #i2 ,titus i4 #b2 ,matt4 xxv4 #cd72 it would seem impossible to doubt that the great principle of human redemption or reconciliation1 set forth by so many types under the ,law1 and by the one ,great ,offering of the ,gospel1 should not have had its initiative in the earlier means of grace and pardon of the patriarchal times4 ,when the children of ,israel came out of ,egypt1 a complete system of priesthood was established by ,divine command in ,aaron and his sons1 assisted in the general labours of the ,tabernacle service by the remainder of the tribe of ,levi4 ,the exhibitions of ,divine power and majesty which accompanied the giving of the ,law from ,mount ,sinai were of a character to produce the deepest and most lasting impression on those who witnessed them4 ,and as those institutions have a very important bearing on the ,gospel of ,christ1 it is important to review them1 as briefly as possible2 and more especially as this portion of ,scripture is often not so much studied as it might be with advantage by some of those who1 taking a high view of the essential spirituality of the ,gospel1 are the less disposed to look into the basis of that spiritual religion1 which was laid in the ,mosaic law4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,provisions ,,for ,,the ,,pardon ,,of ,,sin1 ,,and ,,reconciliation ,,under ,,the ,,law4 ,the regularly ordained sacrifices were the following3-- #ast4 ,the daily sacrifices4 ,two lambs of the first year--one in the morning and the other in the evening 7and on the ,sabbath four lambs1 ,num4 xxviii #i72 with their meat- and drink-offerings of flour1 oil1 wine 8for a sweet savour1 an offering made by fire unto the ,lord0 7,exod4 xxix4 #ch-da74 8,this shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations at the door of the ,tabernacle of the congregation before the ,lord1 where ,i will meet with you1 to speak there unto thee0 7ver4 #db74 8,and ,i will dwell among the children of ,israel1 and will be their ,god0 7ver4 #de74 ,whatever other sacrifices were commanded for any or every day of the week1 they were additional to these daily offerings1 with which nothing interfered4 #bnd4 ,on the first day of every month 7or first appearance of the new moon7-- ,two young bullocks1 ,with flour1 oil1 and wine1 ,one ram1 ,seven lambs of the first year1 a burnt-offering for a sweet savour1 made by fire unto the ,lord4 ,also one kid for a sin-offering1 and his drink-offering 7,num4 xxviii4 #aa1 c474 #crd4 ,on the #adth of the first month 7,abib7 the ,feast of the ,passover1 also called 8the sacrifice of the ,lord's passover0 7,exod4 xii4 #bg74 ,it was a memorial festival throughout the generations of the children of ,israel1 to mark their deliverance from bondage in ,egypt1 and the special ,providence which protected them from the destroying angel1 who procured that deliverance by slaying all the first-born of man and beast in ,egypt4 ,a lamb of the first year1 a male from the sheep or goats and without blemish1 was killed at even1 and the flesh roasted with fire was eaten by every household that night1 while the destroying angel was at work around them2 but prior to this the blood of the lamb had been sprinkled on the two side posts1 and upper door post of the houses1 8and the blood shall be to you for a token4 4 4 4 ,and when the ,lord seeth the blood1 ,he will pass over you20 so that while every other house had its dead1 they ate securely under cover of the sprinkled blood4 ,this festival was instituted on the departure of the children of ,israel from ,egypt1 and before the giving of the ,law1 or the appointment of the priesthood of ,aaron and his sons4 ,as with the patriarchal sacrifices1 it was provided by the head of the household4 ,in allusion to subsequent times1 when their children should inquire the meaning of the service1 they were to say 8,it is the sacrifice of the ,lord's passover0 7,exod4 xii4 #bg74 ,the ,passover has a very marked reference to our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,shortly before ,his death ,he said to ,his disciples1 8,with desire ,i have desired to eat this passover with you before ,i suffer20 and at that supper ,he said of the bread1 which as the master of the feast ,he broke1 8,this is ,my body which is given for you20 and of the cup1 8,this is the ,new ,testament in ,my blood1 which is shed for you0 7,luke xxii4 #ae-bj74 #dth4 ,immediately upon the ,paschal feast followed1 during the next seven days1 the ,feast of ,unleavened ,bread1 during which were to be offered1 each day-- ,two young bullocks1 ,for a burnt-offering1 with flour and oil1 ,one ram1 ,seven lambs1 and one goat daily for a sin-offering 7,num4 xxviii4 #ag-be74 #eth4 ,on presenting the sheaf of ,first-fruits to the ,lord1 of which it is said 8,ye shall neither eat bread nor parched corn1 nor green ears1 until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your ,god0 #bj 7,lev4 xxiii4 #ad74 ,on that day was to be offered a male lamb1 without blemish1 of the first year1 for a burnt-offering1 with flour1 oil1 and wine1--8an offering made by fire unto the ,lord for a sweet savour0 7,lev4 xxiii4 #ac74 #fth4 ,the ,feast of ,pentecost 7called also feast of weeks1 ,ex4 xxxiv4 #bb71 fifty days later1 on presenting to the ,lord a new meat-offering from their habitations 7,lev4 xxiii4 #af74 ,two wave loaves of fine flour1 baken with leaven1 8,they are the first-fruits unto the ,lord0 7,lev4 xxiii4 #ag71 and the accompanying offerings were-- ,seven lambs of first year1 ,for a burnt-offering1 ,two #ba young bullocks1 ,one ram1 and one kid for a sin-offering 7to make atonement--,num4 xxviii4 #cj71 and two lambs for a peace-offering 7,lev4 xxiii4 #ai74 #gth4 ,at the ,feast of ,trumpets1 the first of the seventh month-- ,one young bullock1 ,with flour and oil4 ,one ram1 ,seven lambs1 for a burnt-offering for a sweet savour unto the ,lord1 and one kid for a sin-offering 8to make atonement for you0 7,num4 xxix4 #b-e74 #hth4 ,on the annual ,day of ,atonement1 the tenth of the seventh month3 ,one young bullock for a sin-offering1 and a ram for a burnt-offering for the high priest and his house 7,lev4 xvi4 #f71 and two kids of the goats from the congregation for a sin-offering 7one for the annual sin-offering1 and one for the scape-goat7 7,lev4 xvi4 #e74 ,also-- ,one bullock1 ,with meat offering of flour and oil1 ,one ram1 and ,seven lambs1 for a burnt-offering 7,num4 xxix4 #h74 ,and one kid for a sin-offering of atonement 7,num4 xxix4 #aa74 ,this was a day of great solemnity--8,it shall be a holy convocation unto you1 and ye shall afflict your souls0 7,lev4 xxiii4 #bg71 c1 8,ye shall do no work2 4 4 4 it is a day to make atonement for you before the ,lord your ,god0 7,lev4 xxiii4 #bh72 and whoever among the congregation did not afflict his soul1 or whoever did any work therein1 was to be cut off from among his people 7,lev4 xxiii4 #bi1 #cj74 8,it shall be 4 4 4 a sabbath of rest1 and ye shall afflict your souls3 in the ninth day at even1 from even to even1 shall ye celebrate your sabbath0 7,lev4 xxiii4 #cb74 ,the high priest was not to enter within the veil to the inner tabernacle1 except on this day1 8that he die not10 and then only with the blood of the sin-offerings for himself and the congregation1 peculiar to this day4 ,before doing so he laid aside his ornamental garments and put on a linen dress 7,lev4 xvi4 #b-d74 ,he took in his hands a censer of burning coals from the altar of burnt offerings and put on it a handful of incense1 that the cloud of the incense might cover the mercy seat1 whereon the ,lord appeared in the cloud1 8that he die not0 7,lev4 xvi4 #ab1 #ac74 ,he then took the blood of the sin-offerings1 both for the priest and people1 within the veil1 and sprinkled it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward1 and before the mercy seat seven times 7,lev4 xvi4 #ae1 #af71 to make an atonement for the ,holy ,place1 because of the uncleanness of the children of ,israel1 and because of their transgressions in all their sins 7,lev4 xvi4 #af74 ,this is the only sacrifice described in the ,law1 which corresponds with the words in ,hebrews xiii4 #aa3--8,the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary for sin1 are burned without the camp40 ,no other blood was annually brought into the sanctuary 7or inner temple7 by the high priest on behalf of the people1 and sprinkled on and before the mercy seat2 and the flesh of these1 as well as of some other offerings1 was burned without the camp4 ,the service of this day required that in addition to a bullock for a sin-offering1 and a ram for a burnt-offering1 to make atonement for himself and his house 7,lev4 xvi4 #c-f71 the high priest should take of the congregation of ,israel two kids of the goats for a sin-offering 7,lev4 xvi4 #e72 he was to present the two kids at the door of the tabernacle 7ver4 #g71 and 8cast lots10 one for the ,lord and one 8for the scape-goat0 7vers4 #h and #aj74 ,he killed the former for a sin-offering for the people1 and proceeded as already described 7p4 #bc74 ,in addition to the blood taken within the veil1 the high priest was to put some of it upon the horns of the altar1 and sprinkle it seven times upon it to hallow it 7vers4 #ah1 #ai74 ,then1 as to the other1 or scape-goat1 ,aaron laid both his hands on the head of the live goat and confessed over him all the iniquities of the children of ,israel1 and all their transgressions in all their sins2 putting them on the head of the goat1 and sent him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness1 and the 8goat bore them away to a land not inhabited0 7,lev4 xvi4 #ba74 ,although every sin-offering had a reference to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the kid offered on this day by the masses of the people is treated in ,heb4 xiii4 as having a very special application to ,him1 from the blood having been carried within the veil and sprinkled on the mercy seat1 and from the body having been burned without the camp4 ,so ,jesus1 having suffered without the gate1 and having obtained eternal redemption for us1 not by the blood of others1 but by ,his own blood1 having 8given ,himself a ransom for all10 entered not into the holy places made with hands1 but into ,heaven itself1 there to appear in the presence of ,god for us4 ,again1 in the scape-goat1 which was the complement of the sin-offering1 we have a reference to the ,lord ,jesus bearing away our sins 8in ,his own body on the tree10 so that they should be no more remembered against us 7#a ,pet4 ii4 #bd74 #ith4 ,there remains one more appointed festival1 the ,feast of ,tabernacles1 or ingathering 7,exod4 xxiii4 #af7 on the fifteenth day of the seventh month1 when the crops of wine and oil had completed the harvest labours4 ,it lasted seven days1 during which numerous sacrifices were ordained1 viz41-- ,the #ast day1 #ac bullocks1 #b rams1 #ad lambs1 #bnd #ab #b #ad #crd #aa 4 #b #ad #dth #aj #b #ad #eth #i #b #ad #fth #h #b #ad #gth #g #b #ad with their meat and drink-offerings4 ,and each of the seven days one goat for a sin-offering4 ,and on the eighth day a holy convocation1 with offerings of one bullock1 one ram and seven lambs1 with accompaniments1 and one ram for a sin-offering4 8,these things shall ye do unto the ,lord in your set feasts1 besides your vows1 and your freewill offerings1 for your burnt-offerings1 and for your meat-offerings1 and for your drink-offerings1 and for your peace-offerings0 7,num4 xxix4 #ab-ci74 ,the service of the ,tabernacle and its offerings were supplied by contributions of half a shekel per head on all that were numbered1 from twenty years old and upwards4 ,the rich were not to give more1 nor the poor less4 ,it was offered to the ,lord to make an atonement for their souls 7,exod4 xxx4 #ad-af74 ,as indicated in the latter portion of the above quotation 7,num4 xxix4 #ci71 besides these stated daily1 monthly1 and annual sacrifices1 which were of a public or general character1 there were-- #ast4 ,voluntary offerings1 which do not seem to have been specially enjoined1 nor to have had reference to any particular sins1 but arose from the voluntary will and devotion of the person offering1 and the priest sprinkled the blood round about upon the altar2 8and it was accepted for him to make an atonement for him0 7,lev4 i4 #b-e72 8an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the ,lord0 7ver4 #i74 ,it was required to be a male without blemish of the herd or of the flock1 two turtle-doves1 or two young pigeons 7vers4 #b and #aj-ag74 #bnd4 ,peace-offerings1 also for the most part voluntarily1 in which the offerer shared with the priest the offering--a male or female of the herd without blemish1 or a lamb or goat 7,lev4 iii4 #a1 c474 #crd4 ,the ,sin-offering for sins of ignorance afterwards brought to light 7,lev4 iv4 #ac1 c474 #dth4 ,the ,trespass-offering4--,if any one sinned in hearing swearing and not uttering it1 or in any uncleanness1 or swearing1 he was to take a lamb or a kid 7a female71 or two turtle-doves1 or two young pigeons1 or1 if too poor for any of them1 the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour1 8and the priest shall make an atonement for him for the sin which he hath sinned1 and it shall be forgiven him0 7,lev4 v4 #a-ac74 ,in every case the offering was required to be perfect in its kind1 and without blemish4 ,the sin-offering was more especially for atonement2 but the voluntary and other offerings are spoken of as contributing thereto 7,lev4 i4 #c73 coming from the voluntary will of the people1 they expressed the heart's devotion1 and bore a 8sweet savour to ,god40 ,but in the days when ,isaiah wrote1 and when great corruption prevailed1 it is said1 8,incense is an abomination unto ,me2 the new moons and sabbaths1 the calling of assemblies1 ,i cannot away with0 7,isa4 i4 #ac74 ,and ,amos says1 8,i will not smell in your solemn assembly0 7,amos v4 #ba74 ,the people drew near with the lip1 but the heart was far from ,god 7,isa4 xxix4 #ac72 so the sacrifices bore with them no sweet savour of devotion to ,him4 ,in contemplating the mass of sacrifices thus noted1 we may easily enter into the feeling expressed by ,paul 7more especially as regarded circumcision7--8which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear20 and we can the more fully appreciate the blessing of the ,gospel1 which has relieved us from all such burdens1 and given us individually a free access 7whether ,jew or ,gentile7 to the ,father of ,mercies1 through the one only ,high ,priest1 ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,but it was not so much to point out the burdens which our forefathers in the faith of ,christ had to bear--burdens which1 nevertheless1 were light compared with the burden of unforgiven sin--that we have traced the requirements of the law2 but to point to the testimony they bore to ,christ and ,his ,kingdom4 ,under the law no ,israelite could obtain pardon for his sin except through the ,priest1 who was the appointed mediator--to him he brought the prescribed offering1 and slew it at the ,tabernacle door2 the priest received the blood1 and some of the internal fat2 the former he sprinkled1 and the latter he burned1 on the altar2 and1 in the words of the text1 8,the priest shall make an atonement for his sin1 and it shall be forgiven him40 ,we may not be able to define the extent to which the ,holy ,ghost was then enjoyed1 but we cannot doubt that the testimony of a conscience free of offence towards ,god was sealed on the mind of the offerer when the atonement was made agreeably to the words1 8,ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments2 which if a man do he shall live in them0 7,lev4 xviii4 #e74 ,the ,apostle ,paul confirms this language1 saying1 8,the man that doeth them0 7the statutes of the ,law7 8shall live in them0 7,gal4 iii4 #ab72 and when we consider the words of the same writer3 8,the children of ,israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished0 7#b ,cor4 iii4 #ac71 we need not suppose the offerers had1 in general1 any understanding that what they did had a special relation to the better ,mediator to come4 ,as in the case of the brazen serpent they looked to it and were healed2 so here they made their offerings believing in their efficacy1 and reaped the fruit of pardon and peace4 ,this divinely-instituted law was enjoined on the people under the most solemn assurances of blessings for obedience1 and cursings for disobedience1 viz43 8,behold ,i set before you this day a blessing and a curse2 a blessing if ye obey the commandments of the ,lord your ,god which ,i command you this day3 and a curse if ye will not obey the commandments of the ,lord your ,god1 but turn aside after other gods0 7,deut4 xi4 #bf-bh2 xxvii4 #ae-bf2 and ch4 xxviii474 8,i call heaven and earth to record this day against you1 that ,i have set before you life and death1 blessing and cursing3 therefore choose life1 that both thou and thy seed may live1 that thou mayest love the ,lord thy ,god1 and that thou mayest obey ,his voice1 and that thou mayest cleave unto ,him2 for ,he is thy life and the length of thy days3 that thou mayest dwell in the land which the ,lord sware unto thy fathers1 to ,abraham1 to ,isaac1 and to ,jacob1 to give them0 7,deut4 xxx4 #ai1 #bj74 ,they did what ,god had provided to enable them to walk with ,him1 and when they erred or failed to keep ,his holy law they brought the means of reconciliation ,he had appointed4 ,in such way a man might do justly1 love mercy1 and walk humbly with his ,god1 which is the whole duty of man4 8,mark the perfect man1 and behold the upright1 for the end of that man is peace0 7,ps4 xxxvii4 #cg71 might be applied to such an one1 and the model may perhaps be useful in enabling us to understand the higher perfection required by the ,gospel4 8,if we walk in the light1 as ,he is in the light1 we have fellowship one with another1 and the blood of ,jesus ,christ ,his ,son cleanseth us from all sin0 7#a ,john i4 #g74 ,if we look for the essential principle of this elaborate system of priestly mediation for the forgiveness of sins1 as well as for presenting to ,god the freewill offerings or devotions of the people1 it will be found in the #aath verse of the #agth chapter of ,leviticus1 viz43 8,for the life of the flesh is in the blood1 and ,i have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls2 for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul40 ,such were the conditions under which the law given from ,mount ,sinai was presented to or enjoined on the people4 ,they were to choose between life or death1 blessing or cursing1 obedience with the ,divine favour1 or refusal to obey1 with the ,divine displeasure4 ,the eyes of the ,lord would be over the righteous1 and ,his ear open to their cry2 but the face of the ,lord would be against them that did evil1 to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth--,ps4 xxxiv4 #ae1 #af--;conditions so different as to constitute the highest happiness man was capable of at that time1 or the deepest degradation and misery which he could endure in this life1 with no better prospect beyond4 ,the consequences of ,god's favour and blessing are set forth with peculiar strength in ,deuteronomy 7see pp4 #cc1 #cd71 together with the consequences of ,his favour being withdrawn1 which we may do well to ponder2 as the language quoted above from the ,psalms is adopted by the ,apostle ,peter as applicable equally to ,christian times1 and the principles of the quotations from ,deuteronomy are equally applicable to the old or new dispensations--viz41 obedience to the revealed will of ,god with life and blessing1 or disobedience with death and misery4 8,he that despised ,moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses2 of how much sorer punishment1 suppose ye1 shall he be thought worthy1 who hath trodden under foot the ,son of ,god1 and hath counted the blood of the covenant1 wherewith he was sanctified1 an unholy thing1 and done despite unto the ,spirit of ,grace80 7,heb4 x4 #bh1 #bi74 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,hebrew ,,sacrifices ,,from ,,the ,,christian ,,point ,,of ,,view4 ,,the ,,sacrifice ,,of ,,christ ,,their ,,true ,,complement4 ,when we consider the bearings of the ,mosaic laws on the religion of ,christ1 it is impossible to avoid a careful attention to the ,epistle to the ,hebrews1 which so clearly sets forth the unity of design between the different revelations1 and the manner in which the institutions of the former prefigured and led up to the higher1 purer1 and holier covenant of the ,gospel4 ,the mode in which the author deals with the highest subjects and persons bespeaks for him the position of one of the chiefest apostles1 to whom abundance of revelations had been made1 and whose mind was disembarrassed from the prejudices of the past1 and accepted without reserve the fully developed light and spirit of the ,gospel4 ,who else could venture on language like the opening verses of this book2 or those words in the second chapter1 8,for it became ,him1 for whom are all things1 and by whom are all things1 in bringing many sons unto glory1 to make the ,captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings0 7,heb4 ii4 #aj74 ,to him the transition from the ,law to the ,gospel is perfectly natural and necessary4 ,as the morning dawn passes on into the perfect day1 so the ,law1 having done its preparatory work1 merges into the glorious light of the ,gospel of ,christ2 or1 to use the author's own simile1 the ,law decays1 waxes old1 and vanishes away just as the glory of the ,gospel appears4 ,the one must increase1 the other decrease2 the type be swallowed up in the antitype4 ,nothing is discordant2 everything fits naturally to its bearings on the other4 ,moses as lawgiver gives place to the ,prophet whom the ,lord would raise up to ,his people4 ,the priesthood of ,aaron and his sons is superseded by the ,high ,priesthood of ,christ4 ,the blood of animals1 which had no inherent healing power--by the blood of ,him1 who 7uniting the ,divine and the human--,god and ,man71 8through the ,eternal ,spirit1 offered ,himself without spot to ,god10 8an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour0 for the sins of men4 ,the beneficent provisions of the ,mosaic laws--of which ,moses could say 7,deut4 iv4 #h73 8,what nation is there so great1 that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which ,i set before you this day80--give place to the yet purer principles of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,had it not been for the long course of typical sacrifices1 continued through so many ages1 how would it have been possible in the latter days to establish the value and efficacy of the sacrifice of ,christ8 ,the sacrificial rites of heathen nations1 so degrading to morality and purity of thought and life1 would alone have led no one to imagine such a sacrifice as ,his3 although when viewed as corruptions of revealed truth they have1 as accessories1 a valuable significance4 ,we propose now to look at the intrinsic value of the sacrifices under the ,mosaic institutions from the ,christian point of view1 and the superiority of the sacrifice and religion of ,christ1 as explained in the ,epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,chapter #a sets forth that ,god1 who had formerly spoken to men by ,prophets1 has now spoken to us by ,his ,son1 who1 being the brightness of ,his glory and express image of ,his person1 when ,he had by ,himself purged our sins1 sat down at the right hand of the ,majesty on high4 ,here is the first recognition of the teaching and ,high ,priesthood of ,christ4 ,he speaks to us the things of ,god1 and purges away our sins by ,himself 7vers4 #a-c74 ,chapter #b opens with the exhortation that for this reason we ought to give the more earnest attention to what ,he taught4 #db ,chapter #b sets forth also that ,christ had passed through suffering1 in order that ,he 8might be a merciful and faithful ,high ,priest in things pertaining to ,god1 to make reconciliation for the sins of the people0 7c4 ii4 #ag74 ,chapter #c opens with an invitation to consider this ,apostle and ,high ,priest of our profession1 faithful in all things to ,him that appointed ,him--far exceeding ,moses in glory--for ,moses was faithful as a servant2 ,christ as a son over ,his own house 7vers4 #a-f74 ,chapter #e says1 8,every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to ,god1 that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin0 7ver4 #a71 that no man takes this honour unto himself1 but he that is called of ,god as was ,aaron4 ,so ,christ glorified not ,himself1 to be made a high priest2 but ,he that said unto ,him1 8,thou art ,my ,son1 to-day have ,i begotten ,thee60 and again1 8,thou art a ,priest for ever after the order of ,melchisedec0 7vers4 #d1 #e1 #f74 ,further on1 after setting forth1 in the seventh chapter1 the surpassing excellence of the ,high ,priesthood of ,christ in comparison with that of ,aaron1 and marking how exactly such a ,high ,priest was adapted to our every need1 8holy1 harmless1 undefined1 separate from sinners1 and made higher than the heavens0 7c4 vii4 #bf71 the ,apostle sums up his argument in the eighth chapter3 8,now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum1 ,we have such a ,high ,priest1 who is set on the right hand of the throne of the ,majesty in the heavens--a ,minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle1 which the ,lord pitched and not man 7,heb4 viii4 #a1 #b74 ,and inasmuch as every high priest is ordained to offer both gifts and sacrifices1 it is of necessity that this man have somewhat to offer0 7,heb4 viii4 #c74 ,jesus was proved to be our ,high ,priest by offering up ,his own body for our sins1 which is stated in the most explicit terms4 8,but ,christ being come1 a ,high ,priest of good things to come2 4 4 4 neither by the blood of goats and calves1 but by ,his own blood ,he entered in once into the holy place1 having obtained eternal redemption 7for us70 7,heb4 ix4 #aa1 #ab74 8,how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered ,himself without spot to ,god1 purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living ,god80 7,heb4 ix4 #ad74 7,see also ver4 #ae47 8,nor yet that ,he should offer ,himself often1 as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others2 for then must ,he often have suffered since the foundation of the world2 but now once in the end of the world hath ,he appeared to ,,put ,,away ,,sin by the ,,sacrifice of ,himself0 7,heb4 ix4 #be1 #bf74 8,so ,christ was once offered to bear the sins of many10 i4e41 of all that look to ,him for salvation 7,heb4 ix4 #bh74 8,by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the ,,body of ,jesus ,christ once for all0 7,heb4 x4 #aj74 8,for by one offering ,he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified0 7,heb4 x4 #ad74 ,the ,apostle ,paul uses language equally explicit in ,eph4 v4 #b3--8;,and walk in love1 as ,christ also hath loved us1 and given ,himself for us1 an offering and a sacrifice to ,god1 of a sweet smelling savour40 #df ,having thus shown how1 on the principles of the priesthood of ,aaron1 the ,lord ,jesus had proved ,himself to be a priest1 although of the higher and more perfect order of ,melchisedec--the order of righteousness and peace1 and everlasting endurance--this epistle points out in a very conclusive manner the defects of the ,mosaic institutions1 which were enjoined for a time only1 to prepare the way1 and lead up to the enduring realities of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,and here we cannot but notice again how completely the ,christian mind of the author had passed from all the ,jewish prejudices and predilections of his former training1 to regard everything in the light and spirit of ,christ2 while far from disregarding or repudiating that which he showed to be past1 worn out1 and abolished1 he draws from it his most powerful arguments in favour of the ,new ,covenant as required to complete the first1 by making good its typical meaning1 and securing to all who had passed from earth to heaven under the provisions of the ,law1 those blessings which they had already entered on1 upon the promise of the sacrifice of ,christ to come4 8,for the ,law made nothing perfect1 but the bringing in of a better hope did2 by the which we draw nigh unto ,god0 7,heb4 vii4 #ai74 ,that better hope is stated to be the 8blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered ,himself without spot to ,god10 purging our conscience1 c4 7,heb4 ix4 #ac1 #ad7 8,for the ,law having a shadow 7or shadowing forth7 of good things to come1 and not the very image 7or substance and reality7 of the things1 can never by those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect0 7,heb4 x4 #a74 ,it was 8therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens1 should be purified with these1 #dh;a but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices #dh;b than these0 7,heb4 ix4 #bc74 ,the passage last quoted follows verse #bb1 which declares1 8without shedding of blood is no remission0 7,see also ,lev4 xvii4 #aa74 ,but if it was impossible that the blood shed under the law of ,moses 7,heb4 x4 #d71 should take away sins1 it is evident that other blood must be shed of which that was typical1 and which should be effectual for the purpose1 agreeably to ,heb4 ix4 #ae1 referring to ,christ2 8,for this cause ,he is the ,mediator of the ,new ,testament1 that by means of death1 for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first ,testament1 they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance40 ,in the former sacrifices there was a remembrance again made of sins every year 7,heb4 x4 #c74 ,but after the one ,sacrifice for ever it is said1 8their sins and iniquities will ,i remember no more0 7x4 #ag74 8,and having made peace through the blood of ,his cross1 by ,him to reconcile all things unto ,himself1 whether things in earth or things in heaven0 7,col4 i4 #bj74 8,in the body of ,his flesh through death1 to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in ,his sight0 7,col4 i4 #bb74 ,thus we are given to understand that the sins of future generations1 should be atoned by the one offering of ,christ1 as well as those of past generations1 so that all generations alike owe their salvation to the one ,mediator between ,god and man1 ,jesus ,christ1 in whom 8all are made alive1 and who is the one only hope of glory4 ,for as in ,adam all die1 so in ,christ shall all be made alive0 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #bb7 in such manner that if we are united to ,him we partake of what is ,his1 and shall find in ,him all that we can need as a ,saviour1 ,mediator1 ,intercessor1 and ,redeemer4 ,nothing is of us2 all from ,christ4 ,in ,him is all the fulness of the ,godhead bodily 7,col4 ii4 #i72 full of grace and truth 7,john i4 #ad74 ,all power is committed to ,him in heaven and in earth 7,matt4 xxviii4 #ah74 ,as maker and upholder of all things1 blessings1 spiritual and temporal1 are in ,his hand 7,heb4 i4 #b1 #c72 and in ,him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge 7,col4 ii4 #c71 and 8,he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto ,god by ,him0 7,heb4 vii4 #be74 ,can we not now with reverent feeling enter into somewhat of the deep meaning of those few words of our ,lord1 8,that thus ,,it ,,must ,,be0 7,matt4 xxvi4 #ed78 and of that awful scene which had just passed in the garden of ,gethsemane1 when ,he had thrice prayed--8,if it be possible1 let this cup pass from ,me2 nevertheless not as ,i will1 but as ,thou wilt0--when ,his soul was 8exceeding sorrowful even unto death0 7,matt4 xxvi4 #ch1 #ci72 and when 8there appeared an angel unto ,him from heaven strengthening ,him 7,luke xxii4 #dc72 when ,his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground0 7,luke xxii4 #dd74 ,the words referred to were spoken when ,peter had made an attempt at resistance1 and smitten off the ear of the ,high ,priest's servant1 who came with others to take ,jesus1 and when ,he had rebuked ,peter1 saying1 8,thinkest thou that ,i cannot now pray to my ,father1 and ,he shall presently give ,me more than twelve legions of angels8 ,but how then shall the ,scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be80 7,matt4 xxvi4 #ea-ed74 8,the ,lord0 had 8sworn1 and will not repent1 ,thou art a ,priest for ever after the order of ,melchisedec0 7,ps4 cx4 #d74 ,and then to show that ,he needed not even the legions to rescue ,him1 but had still all power in ,his hands1 when about to be 8brought as a lamb to the slaughter0 7,isa4 liii4 #g71 as soon as ,he had said to the band of men and officers who came with ,judas to take ,him1 8,i am ,he0 they went backwards and fell to the ground 7,john xviii4 #c-g71 signifying that they had no power to touch ,him until again encouraged by ,jesus4 ,and so at each step of ,his trial1 mocking1 scourging1 until by wicked hands ,he was crucified and slain 7,acts ii4 #bc7--;it was3 8,thou couldst have no power against ,me except it were given ,thee from above0 7,john xix4 #aa74 ,at each step it was ,his voluntary submission to ignominy and insult1 and a cruel death1 that ,he might redeem us from death1 and from the power of the grave and of hell by ,his own blood4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,,prophecies ,,to ,,jesus ,,christ ,,as ,,the ,,messiah4 ,we have thus endeavoured to point out in how comprehensive a sense ,jesus fulfilled the ,law1 so that one jot or one tittle should not fail or be lost4 ,the ,apostle ,peter1 in the third chapter of ,acts1 says1 8,those things which ,god before had showed by the mouth of all ,his prophets1 that ,christ should suffer1 ,he hath so fulfilled0 7ver4 #ah74 ,it was the beneficent design of our ,heavenly ,father that so many rays of light1 passing through varied channels1 and spread over all past time1 should concentrate upon ,jesus as the ,lamb of ,god that taketh away the sin of the world1 that there might be no excuse for rejecting ,him4 ,let us recall some of the principal passages in which the ,old ,testament ,scriptures refer to our ,lord and ,his kingdom4 #a4 ,his coming was prophesied from the fall of ,adam and ,eve1 in the ,lord's address to the serpent1 thus1 8,the seed of the woman shall bruise thy head1 but thou shalt bruise his heel0 7,gen4 iii4 #ae71 a prophecy obscure at first1 but abundantly explained by subsequent history and prophecy4 #b4 ,the promise was made to ,abraham and renewed to ,isaac and ,jacob1 that in their seed1 all the families of the earth should be blessed 7,gen4 xii4 #c1 xxii4 #ah1 xxvi4 #d74 #c4 ,the family of ,jacob was chosen to be a peculiar people to the ,lord4 ,laws1 sacrifices1 and institutions were given them to be as a schoolmaster to lead them to ,christ1 and it was declared the sceptre 8shall not depart from ,judah until ,shiloh come0 7,gen4 xlix4 #aj74 #d4 ,as time progressed the covenant was further confirmed and limited to the tribe of ,judah1 and the family of ,jesse1 and1 again1 of ,david4 #e4 ,the time of the ,messiah's advent was closely indicated by the prophecy of ,daniel2 seventy weeks of years1 or #dij years from the rebuilding of ,jerusalem 7,dan4 ix4 #bd1 #be74 ,it was to be during the continuance of the second ,temple1 and when there should be a general expectation and desire in all nations for ,him 7,hag4 ii4 #f-i74 ,he would be preceded by a forerunner1 who would prepare ,his way 7,mal4 iii4 #a74 #f4 ,the place of ,his birth was pointed out by ,micah 7v4 #b7 as ,bethlehem of ,judah4 ,he was to be born of a virgin1 and called ,immanuel--8,god with us0 7,isa4 vii4 #ad74 ,he was to commence ,his teaching in ,galilee 7,isa4 ix4 #a1 #b74 #g4 ,the character of ,his mediatorial coming2 ,his humble origin2 ,his lowly1 suffering life1 and ,his cruel death--were described with singular accuracy by the ,prophet ,isaiah2--as well as the ultimate glory of ,his ,kingdom and reign4 ,and the ,psalms abound in references to the sufferings of ,christ1 often spoken as of ,david1 but having their full accomplishment in ,him who was emphatically 8the ,son of ,david40 ,it was natural that the worldly-minded ,jews1 in anticipating their ,messiah1 and looking for one greater than ,solomon1 should expect to see one exceeding him1 not only in wisdom1 but in that outward display of wealth and grandeur which the world so much admires1 as indicating the royal power and pomp of kings4 ,but it was not so to be3 8,he shall grow up before ,him as a tender plant1 and as a root out of a dry ground2 ,he hath no form nor comeliness2 and when we shall see ,him there is no beauty that we should desire ,him40 ,he would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows while ,he was 8despised and rejected of men10 and numbered with the transgressors 7,isa4 liii474 ,he should be the mighty ,god1 the ,everlasting ,father 7,isa4 ix4 #f71 whose goings forth have been from of old--from everlasting 7,micah v4 #b74 8,a prophet like unto ,moses1 him shall ye hear0 7,deut4 xviii4 #ae1 #ah74 #h4 ,subsequent to the close of the ,old ,testament prophecy1 some very remarkable incidents marked1 to the believing ,jews1 the near approach and the actual coming of their ,messiah4 ,the angel ,gabriel appeared to ,zacharias as he ministered in the priest's office1 to announce the approaching birth of ,john the ,baptist1 who should 8go before1 to make ready a people prepared for the ,lord0 7,luke i4 #ag74 ,this visitation was made on a very public occasion1 on the great ,day of ,atonement1 while 8the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense0 7,luke i4 #aj74 ,the angel ,gabriel appeared also to the ,virgin ,mary to tell her that she should be blessed among women in giving birth to the ,messiah 7ver4 #bh71 and 8all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of ,judea0 7,luke i4 #fe74 ,the actual birth of our ,lord was next announced by an angel to the shepherds1 saying1 8,unto you is born this day1 in the city of ,david1 a ,saviour1 which is ,christ the ,lord0 7,luke ii4 #aa72 8and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host1 praising ,god and saying1 ,glory to ,god in the highest and on earth peace1 goodwill toward men0 7,luke ii4 #ad74 ,while ,god in ,his providence provides abundant evidence for the believing heart1 yet it is not so redundant that none can reject it4 ,it is the eye of faith which discerns ,god in prophecy1 or providence1 or nature1 and the opening of that eye is the effect of grace in the heart1 at first comparatively small and mixed with more or less of misgiving1 as when ,nathanael said1 8,can any good thing come out of ,nazareth80 7,john i4 #df7 but growing with the increase of ,divine grace as when he was able afterwards to say1 8,rabbi1 thou art the ,son of ,god1 thou art the ,king of ,israel0 7,john i4 #di74 ,let us consider two examples illustrating this principle4 #a4 ,that of ,simeon1 a righteous and devout man1 looking for the consolation of ,israel1 waiting for and expecting the fulfilment of prophecy1 who finding the infant ,jesus in the temple1 received ,him into his arms1 and blessed ,god1 and said1 8,lord1 now lettest ,thou ,thy servant depart in peace1 according to ,thy word2 for mine eyes have seen ,thy salvation1 which ,thou hast prepared before the face of all people2 a light to lighten the ,gentiles and the glory of ,thy people ,israel0 7,luke ii4 #bi-ca74 #b4 ,that of ,herod1 and the people of the ,jews generally1 when the wise men came to ,jerusalem1 saying they had seen the king's star in the east1 and were come to inquire where he was to be born4 ,the chief priest and scribes1 who with the people generally were also in expectation of the promised ,messiah1 said he should be born in ,bethlehem1 and referred to the prophetic declaration in that respect2 but their unbelieving hearts were aroused1 and all ,jerusalem was in an uproar1 prepared to say1 as they did at last1 8,we will not have this man to rule over us40 ,herod also1 fearing a rival king1 sent forth his soldiers to destroy the child1 by killing with undistinguishing cruelty1 all the children from two years old and younger4 ,in addition to the prophecies which marked the descent of our ,lord1 and the time and character of ,his coming1 there are numerous references made in the ,old ,testament to circumstances of ,his personal history while ,he dwelt amongst men4 ,he should preach good tidings unto the meek1 bind up the broken-hearted1 proclaim liberty to the captive1 and comfort all that mourn 7,isa4 lxi4 #a1 #b74 ,he should open the blind eyes1 unstop the deaf ears1 make the lame to leap as a hart1 and the tongue of the dumb to sing 7,isa4 xxxv4 #e1 #f2 xxix4 #ah74 ,he should feed ,his flock like a shepherd 7,isa4 xl4 #aa72 8,i will set one shepherd over them1 even ,my servant ,david0 7,ezek4 xxxiv4 #bc74 8,a king shall reign and prosper1 and this is the name whereby ,he shall be called1 the ,lord our ,righteousness0 7,jer4 xxiii4 #e1 #f74 ,he was 8to be a priest for ever1 after the order of ,melchesidec0 7,ps4 ex4 #d74 8,he shall be a priest upon ,his throne0 7,zech4 vi4 #ac74 ,he should be for a 8sanctuary0 7,isa4 viii4 #ad72 a 8rock and place of refuge0 7,ps4 xci4 #a74 ,he should 8enter ,jerusalem riding on an ass's colt0 7,zech4 ix4 #i74 ,he should 8be higher than the kings of the earth40 ,his throne should 8endure as the sun0 7,ps4 lxxxix4 #bg1 #cf74 ,he should 8open ,his mouth in a parable1 and utter dark sayings of old0 7,ps4 lxxviii4 #b2 ,isa4 vi4 #i1 #aj1 compared with ,matt4 xiii4 #ad74 ,the rulers should 8take counsel together against ,him0 7,ps4 ii4 #b74 ,his 8own familiar friend1 who did eat of ,his bread10 should 8lift up his heel against ,him0 7,ps4 xli4 #i74 8,they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver1 and cast them to the potter in the ,house of the ,lord0 7,zech4 xi4 #ab1 #ac74 8,they gave me gall for my meat1 and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink0 7,ps4 lxix4 #ba74 8,not a bone of ,him should be broken0 7,ex4 xii4 #df2 ,ps4 xxxiv4 #bj74 8,he should give ,his back to the smitters1 and ,his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair40 8,he hid not ,his face from shame and spitting0 7,isa4 l4 #f74 ,the assembly of the wicked should enclose ,him--8they pierced my hands and my feet0 7,ps4 xxii4 #af74 8,they part my garments among them1 and cast lots upon my vesture0 7,ps4 xxii4 #ah74 8,all they that see me laugh me to scorn2 they shoot out the lip2 they shake the head1 saying1 ,he trusted on the ,lord that ,he would deliver ,him2 let ,him deliver ,him1 seeing ,he delighted in ,him0 7,ps4 xxii4 #g1 #h74 ,he should 8make ,his grave with the wicked1 and with the rich in ,his death1 because ,he had done no violence1 neither was any deceit in ,his mouth0 7,isa4 liii4 #i74 ,he should 8make intercession for the transgressors0 7,isa4 liii4 #ab74 8,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do40 ,he should rise from the dead 7,ps4 xvi4 #aj71 ascend into heaven1 and receive gifts for men1 even 8for the rebellious also1 that the ,lord ,god might dwell among them0 7,ps4 lxviii4 #ah74 ,he should 8pour out ,his ,spirit on all flesh1 so that their sons and daughters should prophesy10 c4 7,joel ii4 #bh74 ,to 8one like unto the ,son of ,man0 was to be given 8dominion and glory and a kingdom1 that all peoples1 nations1 and languages1 should serve ,him2 ,his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away1 and ,his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed0 7,dan4 vii4 #ac1 #ad74 ,with what justice could the ,lord say1 8,search the ,scriptures1 for in them ye think ye have ,eternal ,life1 and they are they which testify of ,me80 7,john v4 #ci74 8,and if ,i had not done among them the works which none other man did1 they had not had sin1 but now they have no cloke for their sin0 7,john xv4 #bd1 #bb7 #ff ,if such were the evidences furnished to the ,jews1 the ,gentile who rests his hope on ,christ as the ,rock of ,ages can equally enter into and appreciate these proofs of our ,lord's mission1 and unite in the triumphant song of ,david1 8,go round about ,zion1 tell the towers thereof2 mark ye well her bulwarks2 consider her palaces1 that ye may tell it to the generation following2 for this ,god is our ,god for ever and ever1 ,he will be our guide even unto death0 7,ps4 xlviii4 #ac1 #ad74 ,as ,gentiles we can also look back to the fall of the peculiar institutions designed to point out the ,messiah to mankind1--to the present state of ,his chosen people1 scattered throughout the ,gentile world in fulfilment of their own prophecies1--to the triumphs of the faith in ,christ1--and to the multitudes who have already been admitted to realise the mansions in the heaven which ,he went to prepare for them4 ,as ,christianity is itself built on the foundation of the ,law1 the ,prophets1 and the ,psalms1 in fact upon whatever of ,divine revelation had preceded it1 and is the crowning development of the whole1 we may not disregard or lightly esteem any portion of that outward work of ,christ1 of which our blessings are the direct result1 and without which we could have no right or title to them4 ,the new ,covenant of ,grace was declared by ,christ and ,his ,apostles4 ,the seal of that ,covenant was the ,blood of ,jesus1 the voluntary offering of ,himself for the sins of men1 as typified by the patriarchal and ,mosaic institutions4 ,it was the purchase of our redemption1 and of all those gifts and graces of the ,holy ,spirit which the ,lord ,jesus after ,his resurrection gave to men 7,eph4 iv4 #h1 #aa2 ,rom4 xii4 #f1 #h2 #a ,cor4 xii4 #d2 c474 ,thus ,he is the 8foundation stone10 the 8tried stone10 the 8chief corner-stone10 and 8only hope of glory40 ,by ,himself ,he 8purges our sins40 ,by ,his death ,he delivers 8them who through fear of death1 are all their life time subject to bondage0 7,heb4 ii4 #ad1 #ae74 ,and does not the continual daily sacrifice1 morning by morning1 and evening by evening1 prescribed by the ,law1 point to the constant bearing on our minds before ,god1 of the sacrifice of ,christ1 as the foundation of all our hopes1 and petitions for mercy and grace8 the true propitiatory1 or mercy seat1 where ,god will meet with us and dwell with us 7see page #af1 and ,ex4 xxix4 #db1 #de74 8,whatsoever things were written aforetime1 were written for our learning1 that we1 through patience and comfort of the ,scriptures might have hope0 7,rom4 xv4 #d74 8,all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness1 that the man of ,god may be perfect1 throughly furnished unto all good works0 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #af1 #ag74 ,nor need any be discouraged2 the ,bible is ,god's revelation addressed alike to all men1 rich or poor1 learned or unlearned1 intellectual or of small powers4 ,god is no respecter of persons1 and to every one alike who can read for themselves1 or hear from others1 the ,bible1 without note or comment1 may prove under the influence of ,god's ,spirit1 8a lamp unto their feet1 a light to their path40 ,the less educated will escape some of the difficulties which beset the minds of others1 and more easily fulfil the conditions imposed by our ,lord1 8,except ye receive the kingdom of ,god as little children1 ye cannot enter therein20 and many are the instances in which persons of comparatively small intellectual power enjoy1 appreciate1 and bring forth the evident fruits of faith2 so that1 with the ,bible in their hands and the ,holy ,spirit to apply it1 none need despair of finding the way that leads to everlasting life4 ,the ,psalmist asks1 8,wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way80 and replies1 8,by taking heed thereto according to ,thy word0 7,ps4 cxix4 #i71 so that he may come to say1 8,o1 how ,i love ,thy law1 it is my meditation all the day0 7ver4 #ig74 8,thou through ,thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies2 for they are ever with me0 7ver4 #ih74 8,thy testimonies have ,i taken as an heritage for ever2 they are the rejoicing of my heart0 7ver4 #aaa74 8,the entrance of ,thy words giveth light2 it giveth understanding to the simple0 7ver4 #acj74 ,the #aith ,psalm also says1 8,the law of the ,lord is perfect1 converting the soul2 the testimony of the ,lord is sure1 making wise the simple4 ,the statutes of the ,lord are right1 rejoicing the heart2 the commandment of the ,lord is pure1 enlightening the eyes4 ,the fear of the ,lord is clean1 enduring for ever2 the judgments of the ,lord are true and righteous altogether4 4 4 4 ,by them is ,thy servant warned1 and in keeping of them there is great reward0 7,ps4 xix4 #g1 #h1 #i-aa74 ,the ,lord ,jesus also said of the ,father1 8for ,i know that ,his commandment is life everlasting0 7,john xii4 #ej74 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,of ,,christ4 ,having in the former pages noticed the manner in which the institutions of previous revelation have pointed to and been completed by the ,gospel of ,christ1 let us now set forth some of the leading characteristics of that religion which ,jesus1 so long foretold and typified1 came to introduce amongst men4 ,we must bear in mind that it was a ,new ,covenant with men1 which ,he came to establish4 ,the former ,covenant had grown old1 and was about to decay2 and it had been declared in prophecy1 8,this shall be the covenant that ,i will make with the house of ,israel2 after those days1 saith the ,lord1 ,i will put my law in their inward parts1 and write it in their hearts2 and will be their ,god1 and they shall be my people4 ,and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour1 and every man his brother1 saying1 ,know the ,lord3 for they shall all know ,me from the least of them unto the greatest of them1 saith the ,lord3 for ,i will forgive their iniquity1 and ,i will remember their sin no more0 7,jer4 xxxi4 #cc and #cd74 ,he who came to establish this new ,covenant1 and teach it to men1 was none other than the ,word who was in the beginning with ,god and was ,god4 ,all things were made by ,him2 and without ,him was not anything made that was made 7,john i4 #a-c72 who was the brightness of the ,father's glory1 and 8the express image of ,his person1 and upholding all things by the word of ,his power0 7,heb4 i4 #c74 ,it is no marvel therefore that the ,new ,testament should teach us that the first and cardinal point of this new faith was that we should believe on the 8,messenger of the ,covenant0--the ,lord ,jesus ,christ bearing glad tidings of salvation to all men4 ,this is done in the clearest and most precise manner4 8,god so loved the world1 that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life40 8,for ,god sent not ,his ,son into the world to condemn the world2 but that the world through ,him might be saved0 7,john iii4 #af1 #ag74 8,this is the work of ,god1 that ye believe on ,him whom ,he hath sent0 7,john vi4 #bi74 8,this is life eternal1 that they might know ,thee the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom ,thou hast sent0 7,john xvii4 #c74 8,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life3 and he that believeth not the ,son shall not see life2 but the wrath of ,god abideth on him0 7,john iii4 #cf74 8,he that heareth ,my word1 and believeth on ,him that sent ,me1 hath everlasting life0 7,john v4 #bd74 8,he that believeth on ,him is not condemned3 but he that believeth not is condemned already1 because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten ,son of ,god0 7,john iii4 #ah74 8,but as many as received ,him1 to them gave ,he power to become the sons of ,god1 even to them that believe on ,his name0 7,john i4 #ab74 8,i am the resurrection and the life3 he that believeth in ,me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live0 7,john xi4 #be74 8,believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved0 7,acts xvi4 #ca74 ,in the two verses quoted above1 ,john iii4 #af1 #ag1 ,god is declared to send ,his ,son not to condemn1 but to save the world4 ,verse #ah divides mankind into two classes--those who believe in ,christ1 and those who do not believe4 ,the former are not condemned1 and if they abide in ,him will go on to everlasting life4 ,the latter 8are condemned already0 for their not believing4 ,this condemnation is not necessarily a final state1 for if they 8abide not in unbelief10 but turn to ,christ in repentance and faith1 they will be brought into ,his covenant of grace and salvation4 ,but if otherwise1 when ,god's longsuffering patience has exhausted the pleadings1 warnings1 and wooings of the ,spirit without response1 a time must come when the word will go forth1 8,my ,spirit shall not always strive with man20 and that state of condemnation become an abiding one1 agreeably to ,rom4 ii4 #d-aj4 8,or despisest thou the riches of ,his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering2 not knowing that the goodness of ,god leadeth thee to repentance8 ,but after thy hardness and impenitent heart1 treasurest up unto thyself wrath1 against the day of wrath1 and revelation of the righteous judgment of ,god2 who will render to every man according to his deeds3--,to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality1 eternal life3 but unto them that are contentious1 and do not obey the truth1 but obey unrighteousness1 indignation and wrath1 tribulation and anguish1 upon every soul of man that doeth evil 4 4 4 but glory1 honour1 and peace to every man that worketh good0 7,rom4 ii4 #d-aj74 ,it becomes1 therefore1 an all-important point to endeavour to draw from ,scripture some of the chief conditions which are implied in these simple words1 8,believing in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ40 ,our ,lord has ,himself given us an example of what ,he meant by it when ,he said1 8,i seek not mine own will1 but the will of the ,father which hath sent ,me0 7,john v4 #cj74 ,jesus believed in the ,father1 and he that in like manner believes in the ,son must seek1 not his own will1 but the will of ,christ4 ,jesus said1 8,i am the ,light of the world20 8he that followeth ,me shall not walk in darkness1 but shall have the light of life0 7,john viii4 #ab74 8,i am the way1 the truth1 and the life2 no man cometh unto the ,father but by ,me0 7,john xiv4 #f74 ,he is the way to the ,father1 and the only way3--the very ,truth of ,god expressed in word and action1--in precept and example1--who 8did no sin1 neither was guile found in ,his mouth0 7#a ,pet4 ii4 #bb2 and ,isa4 liii4 #i71--;and the life1 the means through which alone spiritual life is given to a world dead in trespasses and sins4 ,our ,lord further defines the characteristics of the two classes as follows3--8,for every one that doeth evil hateth the light1 neither cometh to the light1 lest his deeds should be reproved4 ,but he that doeth truth cometh to the light1 that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in ,god0 7,john iii4 #bj1 #ba74 ,it is1 therefore1 a characteristic of believing in ,jesus that we bring our 8deeds to ,his light that it may be made manifest that they are wrought in ,god40 ,jesus was 8the ,light0 but ,his precepts and example--all1 in fact1 that ,he did and taught--are so many lights derived from ,him2 as well as the light of the ,holy ,ghost or ,comforter1 who shines in our hearts to give 8us the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ0 7#b ,cor4 iv4 #f72 and this bringing our deeds to the light includes trying them by ,his words and example2--the precepts taught by ,his ,apostles1 as well as by the ,holy ,spirit itself1--that by any or all of these accordant tests it may be made clear whether they are according to the mind of ,christ4 8,he that hath ,my commandments1 and keepeth them1 he it is that loveth ,me4 4 4 4 ,he that loveth ,me not1 keepeth not ,my sayings0 7,john xiv4 #ba1 #bd74 ,we have a lively illustration of practical belief in the patriarchs of old1 who1 believing in ,god's promises1 and having seen them afar off1 embraced them1 and shaped their lives in conformity to them3--viz41 8,these all died in faith1 not having received the promises1 but having seen them afar off1 and were persuaded of them1 and embraced them1 and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims in the earth4 ,for they which say such things declare plainly that they seek 4 4 4 a better country--that is1 a heavenly0 7,heb4 xi4 #ac1 #ad1 #af74 ,believing in ,christ1 therefore1 implies a belief that ,he is the ,son of ,god1 the ,messiah1 and ,saviour of the world1 the centre and spring of all our spiritual existence2--a belief in ,his teaching expressed by shaping our lives and conversation in the world by it2 accepting ,him as our ,king1 whose right it is to reign and rule in our hearts4 ,he tells us that we must be 8born again0--8born of the ,spirit0 7,john iii4 #c and #f7--;and the power to truly believe in ,christ is coincident with this new birth1 and indicative of it1 when 8the ,holy ,ghost or ,comforter10 convincing us of sin1 and of our alienation from ,god by it1 enables us to look to ,jesus as our ,saviour and ,redeemer4 ,when1 by the power of the same ,spirit1 we are enabled to lay aside our old works1 thoughts1 and propensities to evil1 and walk by the rule of faith in the light of the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,as we abide and walk therein1 we shall 8grow in grace and in the knowledge of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ20 bringing forth the fruits of the ,spirit1 which are set forth in ,gal4 v4 #bb1 as 8love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 temperance2 against such there is no law40 ,again 7#b ,pet4 i4 #e-g71 as--8,faith1 virtue1 knowledge1 temperance1 patience1 godliness1 brotherly kindness1 and charity40 ,if we examine the nature of some of these fruits of the ,spirit1 we shall see that though they are produced in us individually by the working of the ,spirit1 they are not confined to ourselves1 but will communicate to others around us4 ,thus we all know how communicative is the feeling of joy--it burns to tell others the good news1 or glad tidings4 ,the love of ,god shed abroad in our hearts makes us long that others should participate in this great blessing4--,the peace of ,god yearns that all should be brought into its heavenly atmosphere3 while the other qualities or rather graces described1--as longsuffering1 meekness1 charity1 c1--mark to others that we have been with ,jesus3 and the ,apostle ,peter winds up his catalogue with the descriptive words equally applicable to both1 8,if these things be in you and abound1 they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ0 7#b ,pet4 i4 #h74 ,thus the ,gospel 8is the power of ,god unto salvation to everyone that believeth0 7,rom4 i4 #af71 and as its fruits spring up and abound in any heart they will in some or other form overflow to those around1 and make it a minister of righteousness1 a testimony-bearer to the truth as it is in ,jesus3 it may be in word and doctrine1 in the private circle of association1 or even in the quiet testimony of a peaceful spirit1 and a faithful discharge of duties1 recommending by its example the ,gospel of ,christ4 8,for the law of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death4 4 4 4 ,that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit40 8,for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh2 but they that are after the ,spirit the things of the ,spirit0 7,rom4 viii4 #b-e74 ,allusion has been made at a former page 7#dj7 to the precepts of the law1 having been superseded by the higher principles of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,the ,new ,testament1 instead of prescribing precise instructions for conduct between man and man1 sums up our duties in the general principle1 8,thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself2 love worketh no ill to his neighbour2 love is the fulfilling of the law0 7,rom4 xiii4 #i1 #aj72 at the same time illustrations are given1 both of the fruits of the ,spirit1 and of the fruits of sin in the heart 7,see ,eph4 iv4 #bb to end1 and ch4 v42 ,rom4 i4 #bh-cb2 ,rev4 xxi4 #h74 ,the law written in the heart is the effect of the ,holy ,spirit's work there4 ,he works in us to will and to do of ,god's good pleasure2--8to do those things which are well pleasing in ,his sight20--which should 8be known and read of all men10 by its effects on the conduct1 c4 7#b ,cor4 iii4 #b74 ,it was the distinguishing feature of ,christ's coming--8,lo1 ,i come to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god0 7,heb4 x4 #i74 ,and though we cannot attain to ,his perfection1 the work of the ,spirit is always to beget within us more of the love of ,god1 and to incline our hearts to serve ,him more faithfully4 ,as we sit1 as it were1 at the feet of ,jesus1 looking unto ,him1 the ,spirit or ,comforter will take of the things of ,christ1 and show them to us1 and there will be a growth in grace1 and in conformity to the will and law of ,god2--a subordination of the flesh to the ,spirit1 which has no necessary1 or perhaps no natural1 limit1 but in the summons to quit the militant1 and join the triumphant1 ,church above4 ,it is sometimes said that ,christianity is an educational system in which the mind is trained1 by the restoring grace of the ,holy ,spirit1 to abandon sin1 and work righteousness2 and that the offer of this restoring grace implies1 as a necessary prelude1 the pardon of past sin4 ,enough has been already said to show that this is not consistent with the general tenor of ,holy ,scripture4 ,we know that the minds of susceptible children1 nurtured under ,christian mothers1 do sometimes drink in the truths of the ,gospel from their lips1 at a very early age1 in a way that makes it difficult to mark the period of decided change in them4 ,they seem to grow up with the ,gospel infused into their characters and life4 ,this is not1 however1 the common case2 neither is it the happy lot of all to be so instructed from their cradles to maturity4 ,and when sin has taken possession of the mind--whether in the milder development of what is called innocent gaiety2--the love of pleasure1 without vice2--indisposition for serious things and persons2--or whether evil takes a larger development1 and vice in its grosser form exists2 in either case they cannot be said to believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ--nor1 as a consequence1 to seek to do ,his will2 but are living under the condemnation of those who do not believe4 ,and these states1 admitted and protracted1 necessarily tend to harden in sin1 and the longer they continue1 to render it more difficult to return1 repent1 and live4 ,so that in general it is when the fear of death is brought nearer by sickness3--when aroused by the powerful ministry of the ,word1 or by the direct pleadings of the ,holy ,spirit1 convincing us of sin and of judgment to come3--then1 if at all1 they are arrested in their downward course1 and1 through ,god's longsuffering mercy1 are brought to see their need of a ,saviour1 a ,redeemer1 a sacrifice for sin4 ,under such circumstances no necessary implication of pardon will give peace2 they must feel that ,jesus has borne their sins in ,his own body on the tree1 and that by ,his stripes they are healed4 ,how many instances do we read of persons1 for long years refusing to yield themselves to ,god1 being at length brought into such depths of misery or danger 7in that longsuffering mercy which has followed them all through71 and then are they enabled to repent and put away their sins1 and1 believing on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to be saved from the wrath to come4 ,but some1 perhaps1 will say3 ,why cannot ,i believe in the ,lord ,jesus as 8the restorer of breaches10 and 8of paths to dwell in10 without going back to past ages8 ,the answer is very obvious--that if ,he be not the ,sacrifice1 ,he cannot be the ,restorer4 ,he is one ,christ1 and ,his work one4 ,if ,he atones for the sin of mankind1 ,he can be then the restorer2--the one is as much part of ,his character as the other4 ,and if we would divide ,his perfect work in two parts1 and reject ,him when suffering on the cross for our sins3--that 8we might live03--8to give ,his life a ransom for us10--can we be sure that ,he will acknowledge us when seated on the right hand of ,god8 ,can we be truly said to believe in ,him with our whole heart8 ,if we do not accept what ,he has said of ,himself2 by ,his own rule we are not seeking to do ,his will4 ,it is after 8having made peace through the blood of ,his cross20 4 4 4 that ,he is able 8to reconcile all things unto ,himself0 7,col4 i4 #ai1 #bj71 so that they who 8were sometimes alienated by wicked works1 yet now hath ,he reconciled in the body of ,his flesh through death1 to present you holy and unblameable1 and unreproveable in ,his sight40 7,col4 i4 #bb74 ,in the previous chapters of the ,epistle to the ,romans1 ,paul1 having taken a review of the mercies of ,god in human redemption by ,christ1 and of the calling of the ,jews and ,gentiles2--in the twelfth chapter he beseeches the brethren 8to present their bodies a living sacrifice1 holy1 acceptable unto ,god1 which is their reasonable service0 7ver4 #a72 and at the end of the thirteenth chapter he exhorts them to 8put on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and make not provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lust thereof0 7ver4 #ad72 while the intermediate verses contain a remarkably concise epitome of the character and duties of the members of the ,christian ,church4 ,i have endeavoured to draw the character of ,christianity as ,i find it in the ,new ,testament4 ,no place is made for lukewarmness1 indifference1 or formality4 ,every one receiving the inestimable blessing of faith in ,christ is naturally expected to embrace it2 to prize it as the 8pearl of great price02 the greatest of all treasures2 and to be wrapped up in its excellence1 counting all other things as valueless and unworthy of attention in comparison with it4 ,and the new creature is to grow up out of the new faith1 stripped of all that is old and sinful1 and clothed with all that is just and true and godly4 ,to flee from the 8wrath to come10 and take refuge in the ark or fold of ,christ1 is a work of the deepest seriousness1 and the joy of feeling that you have attained that shelter and security is depicted in the ,new and ,old ,testaments as of the liveliest kind4 8,rejoice in the ,lord alway3 and again ,i say rejoice0 7,phil4 iv4 #d74 8,whom having not seen ye love2 in whom though now ye see ,him not1 yet1 believing1 ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory0 7#a ,pet4 i4 #h71 and this in the midst of grievous persecutions4 8,and thou shalt rejoice in the ,lord1 and shalt glory in the ,holy ,one of ,israel0 7,isa4 xli4 #af74 8,i will greatly rejoice in the ,lord1 my soul shall be joyful in my ,god2 for ,he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation1 ,he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness0 7,isa4 lxi4 #aj74 8,i will rejoice in the ,lord1 and joy in the ,god of my salvation0 7,hab4 iii4 #ah74 8,rejoice evermore0 7#a ,thess4 v4 #af74 8,there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus1 who walk not after the flesh but after the ,spirit0 7,rom4 viii4 #a73 born again of the ,spirit3 believing in ,christ3 our sins borne by ,him on the tree3 8the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus making us free from the law of sin and death0 7,rom4 viii4 #b71 should we not rejoice with grateful hearts1 and through ,jesus offer 8the sacrifice of praise to ,god continually1 that is1 the fruit of our lips giving thanks to ,his name08 7,heb4 xiii4 #ae47 ,but are there not many minds who are more given to dwell in a low state1 and in somewhat of that sombreness which is cast over nature when the sun is more or less eclipsed1 to whom it is more congenial to look at the doubtful or dark side of things1 than to indulge in joyful anticipations8 ,if such be our condition of mind1 should we not strive against it1 and examine whether there be not cause for joy8 ,if through the mercy of ,god in ,christ ,jesus our sins are forgiven2 if we have passed from death unto life2 if ,christ1 who is the appointed 8,judge of quick and dead10 be ,,our ,intercessor and ,redeemer1 who is he that can harm us8 ,if by means of ,his redemption we are made joint heirs with ,him of the heavenly ,kingdom and glory1 ought we not to rejoice and be glad8 ,to have passed from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god is surely matter for joy and rejoicing1 and the feeling is one that it is the duty of all such to encourage1 and seek by prayer and meditation on the promises of ,god in ,christ ,jesus--promises which are not yea and nay1 but all yea in ,him--all unconditional--absolutely certain to all who believe in1 love1 and obey ,him1 and persevere to the end4 ,footnotes4 #f ,these were the three grand divisions of the ,old ,testament1 according to the ,jewish arrangement1 and comprised the entire volume4 #ab ,cruden says that sacrifice was offered by ,adam and his sons4 #bj ,may we not learn from this the duty of expressing our thankfulness to the ,giver of every good and perfect gift before partaking of it8 so also1 at ,feast of ,pentecost4 #ba ,in ,lev4 xxiii4 #ah1 it is stated one bullock and two rams1 but in ,numbers1 just before entering the ,promised ,land1 some alterations were made4 #db ,mark here the dignity and quality of the teacher--8the brightness of the ,father's glory and express image of ,his person10--come to teach men the things which ,he had seen and heard with ,his ,father in heaven--,john iii4 #cb1--;and so completely representing the ,father that ,he could say1 8,if ye have seen ,me ye have seen the ,father also0 7,john xiv4 #ae74 ,see also ,col4 i4 #ae4 #df ,see terms used in the account of the daily and other sacrifices 7,lev4 i4 #i2 iv4 #ca1 c471 p4 #af4 #dh;a ,the blood of goats and calves 7,heb4 ix4 #ab-ad74 #dh;b ,the blood of ,christ 7,heb4 ix4 #ad74 #ff ,see in 8,horne's ,introduction to the ,critical ,study of the ,scriptures0 a full account of the prophecies of the ,old ,testament1 with their fulfilment in the words of the ,new ,testament1 from which several of the above are extracted4 ,vol4 i41 ,appendix ,no4 #f4