The Apostle says, "Christ came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that are near." Christ came to the Ephesians, not personally, but by the ministry of his Apostles, and preached pardon and salvation to them, as well as to the Jews.

If it is a happiness to enjoy peace with God, it is a privilege to hear it proclaimed, its nature explained, and its terms proposed. "Blessed are the people, who know the joyful sound."- "How beautiful are the feet of him, that bringeth good tidings, that pub. lisheth peace, that bringeth glad tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy king reigneth."

As the Jews were said to be near to God, because to them pertained the giving of the law and the service of the sanctuary; so these Gentiles were now said to be made nigh, because to them was preached the gospel of peace, and the offer of salvation through a Redeemer.

If they were near to God in the enjoyment of Paul's ministry, we also are near; for to us are committed the truths taught by his ministry. The doctrines, which the Apostles preached, are contained in their writings. These, through the good Providence of God, are in our possession: We may consult them in the hours of retirement; we may hear them opened and applied in the sanctuary of God. We need not say, "Who shall ascend into heaven, to bring Christ down from above ? Or, Who shall descend into the deep, to bring Christ up from the dead?" For the word is nigh us, even that same word of salvation which Christ preached, first in his own person, and then by the ministry of his Apostles. We are the people, who know the joyful sound, and to whom peace through Jesus Christ is proclaimed. God has brought us near to himself, to do his service in the tabernacle. He has sent to us the gospel of his Son: In the midst of us he has establish

ed his churches: We are invited to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

Our high privileges are not the effects of our own previous choice, but of God's sovereign grace. He has revealed to us those glorious things, which are hid den from millions of our fellow sinners.-Why is it so?-We can only say, "So it seemed good in his sight."

Let us remember, however, that to whom much is given, of them much will be required. The nearer we are brought to God, the farther shall we be banished from him, if we despise his grace. So our Lord says to Capernaum, in which he often preached and wrought miracles; "Thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be cast down to hell; for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, hid been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. Therefore it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

III. Among these Ephesians, many were brought near to God by the renovation of their souls after his image.

The Apostle says to them, "In Christ ye are made nigh, for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath abolished the enmity, to make in himself of twain one new man."

It was the design of the gospel, not only to unite Jews and Gentiles in one church, but to make them new men, that they might walk in newness of life. Accordingly the Apostle, in the 4th chapter, observes, that they had been taught, as the truth is in Jesus, that they should put off, concerning their former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, should be renewed in the spirit of their mind, and should put on the new man, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness." The old man signifies those evil habits which they had long indulged in their Heathenism. The

new man is that life of holiness and righteousness, which the gospel requires. This is called true holiness, and a renewal of the spirit, in distinction from those outward forms in which Jews, as well as Heathens, had once rested.

Now, when we are renewed in the spirit of the mind, and made holy in the hidden man of the heart, then we are brought near to God. All habitual sinners, how near soever in their visible privileges, are in their hearts far from him. They have in them a carnal mind, which is enmity against God, and will not be subject to his law. They are enemies in their minds by wicked works. They may profess to know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate, But true Christians are nigh to God, as they are partakers of his nature, renewed after his image, and conformed to his character.

If the enjoyment of the gospel brings us near to God, the efficacy of the gospel on our souls brings us nearer still; for this assimilates us to him. We may be near to him in external privileges, and yet be far off in the disposition of our minds. There are those, who draw near to God with their mouths, when their hearts are far from him. If we not only profess the word of truth, but are born of this incorruptible seed-this word, which liveth and abideth for ever, and have purified our souls in obeying the truth; then we may properly be said to be made nigh to God. "While we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with him."-" When we dwell in love, we dwell in God and he in us, for he is love."

Let us not content ourselves with a professed and visible nearness to God, but seek a spiritual union with him in a participation of the divine nature. Let us walk with him in the exercise of faith and love, in the contemplation of his perfections, in a sense of his presence, and in the observance of his commands.

When we are renewed in the spirit of the mind and walk in newness of life, we may be said to come nigh to God; for then we are like him, and enjoy communion with him.

IV. This nearness to God farther implies a state of peace with him.

The Apostle here speaks, not only of a reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles, but of a reconciliation of both unto God. "Christ hath abolished the enmity, that he might make in himself of twain one new man and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross.”

As sinners are enemies to God in their minds, so they are objects of his holy displeasure. "He is angry with them every day." And his " salvation is far from them." They say unto God, "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways." And a sentence, corresponding with this language of their hearts, is prepared for them ;-" Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity; I know you not." But when they return to God by repentance, then his anger is turned away, and the sentence is revoked. When their enmity is slain, and their self exalting thoughts are humbled, then God receives them graciously and loves them freely; he is merciful to their unrighteousness, and remembers their sins no more. "Being justified by faith, they have peace with God through Jesus Christ." They are interested in that gracious promise, "I will be a God and a Father to you; and ye shall be my sons and daughters."-" There is no condemnation to them, because they are in Christ Jesus, and they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

This reconciliation is effected "by the blood of" Christ shed on "the cross."-" The chastisement of our peace was laid on him."" He suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." And "God makes us accepted in the Belov.

ed."" He is in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses." Happy is the be liever thus brought near unto God. "Blessed is the

man, whose transgressions are thus forgiven, and his sins covered. Blessed is the man, to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." He looks back with astonishment on his former state of estrangement. from God, and on the false security which he felt, while all his sins were unpardoned, and his guilty soul exposed to eternal condemnation. He mediates with thankful admiration on the mercy of God, which has brought him within the sound of the gospel, has awakened his attention to the danger of his condition and to the relief provided, and has given him repentance and the remission of sins. He views with delight the face of a reconciled God, and finds pleasure in the consciousness of a heart reconciled to him. He looks forward with the joy of hope to that day, when he shall be admitted still nearer to God, and shall mingle with saints and angels in his presence, where is fulness of joy and pleasures for ev

ermore.

V. Another circumstance of the nearness mentioned in the text, is access to God in Prayer. "Through Christ reconciling us to God, we both have access unto the Father."

The Jews drew near to God by the sacrifices of beasts; we may come nearer to him by the sacrifice of Christ. Of this the legal sacrifices were but types, and from this they derived all their virtue. And if the blood of beasts, sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?"

The high priest under the law, having offered sacrifice for the sins of the people, entered by the blood of this sacrifice into the most holy place, to make inter