that come unto God by Him;13 His church and people are assured of their continual acceptance at the throne of grace in and through Him.

The apostle therefore exhorts, Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. How wonderful is it that such an invitation should be given to the sinful children of men, that it should be said to us, Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you;14 that we should be encouraged to draw near into the presence of the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy place,15 and be assured of our acceptance with Him; that we should be directed to draw near in full assurance of faith, with the utmost confidence, believing the word of God, relying on the merits of Christ, because He is our Mediator and the propitiation of our sins, by which means every obstacle is removed that might otherwise prevent our access into the Divine presence. We are to come with a true heart, because God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth.16 Unless we are in earnest, our worship is but mockery. We must earnestly desire to obtain spiritual blessings from God, or we cannot reasonably hope to receive

13 Heb. vii. 26, 25. 14 James iv. 8. 15 Isa. lvii. 15. 16 John iv. 24.

them. A double or false heart is most displeasing to Him. His servants must serve Him in singleness of heart, fearing God.17 Our hearts must be sprinkled from an evil conscience by the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.18 And our bodies must be washed with pure water, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;19 according to the Divine promise, Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you; a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh; and I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them. And it may also be observed, that it is needful for those who draw near to God, and come to Him for spiritual blessings, also to comply with the outward ordinances which He has appointed to be observed in His church, that they may manifest themselves to be truly devoted to His service; we are to be dedicated to Him by baptism, in token of our obedience to His command.

20

We are exhorted further, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that hath promised. Here we learn that

17 Col. iii. 22. 18Heb. xii. 24. 19Titus iii. 5. 20Ezek. xxxvi. 25-29.

we hold fast our profession, not by our own strength, but by depending upon Divine faithfulness. It is by trusting in Him for strength, to be supplied according to our need, that we are to maintain our profession to His honour and glory before the world. And as members of the church, which is His body, we are admonished, Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works. We are to be followers of God, as His dear children, and to walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us. The more love to God abounds in the heart, the more good works will appear in the conduct. A holy anxiety for the welfare of the church, and the glory of God, are to be kept in view continually. And as the public ordinances of the house of God are a great means for stirring up the desires of the soul towards God and heaven, we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but to exhort one another; and so much the more as we see the day approaching. The day of death is approaching, when our opportunities for doing these things will have come to an end. But that day which is so awful to the worldling, is the day of life and blessedness to the children of God.

The Epistle for this day is full of the most important matter, which cannot now be dwelt upon at the length that might be wished. I have been able to drop only a few hints on the subject.

The text may be considered as the key to the whole, in which we may briefly notice,

First, The nature of the sacrifice of Christ, which we commemorate in a peculiar manner on this day.

Secondly, The benefit derived from it; and Thirdly, The character of the persons who receive this benefit.

First, The sacrifice of Christ is called His one offering. Of this it is said in the preceding chapter, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 21 The body of Jesus Christ was offered once for all, as a propitiation for sin, which is never to be repeated. This one offering completely answered the end for which it was made. "His one oblation of Himself once offered, was a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world." He made an offering of Himself as an atonement or propitiation for the sin of man. He poured out His soul unto death, and by His blood-shedding and death, suffered the penalty which justice demanded for sin; so that whosoever trusts in His one offering once offered for pardon, has in Him redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.23 May

21 Hebrews ix. 28, 26. 22 Isaiah liii. 12. 23 Eph. i. 7.

it be our happiness to be interested in it to the praise of the glory of His grace.

The benefit derived from the offering of Christ is to be noticed

Secondly. It perfects for ever those who are interested in it, or as St. John says, The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth from all sin,24 and therefore the worshippers once purged, have no more conscience of sins; the promise of God under the new covenant being, I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.25 The removal of the guilt of sin from the conscience, which has been deeply affected with a sense of its defilement, and with a dread of receiving its wages, or suffering the penalty denounced against transgression, is that which the gospel of Christ proposes. The punishment demanded by Divine justice for the transgression of the holy law, was suffered by our Lord Jesus Christ in His own person, and therefore it shall not fall upon them that believe in His name. They are acquitted for His sake; and it is consequently their privilege to have fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. It is important that we should have a right understanding on this subject, since our enjoyment of the favour and blessing of God depends upon it. We are to notice,

24 1 John i. 7, 3.

25 Hebrews viii. 12.