It witnesses the Mediator of the Covenant, blotting out the handwriting that was against transgressors; nailing it to his cross, removing the defilement and the guilt in his own blood, betrothing our lost nature to Himself-and enabling the least and lowest believer in the Church to say unto his soul, Thy Maker is thine Husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name." 1 Faith discovers in Him, that exhaustless storehouse of righteousness by his undeviating holiness, from which each believer may take the wedding garment of an absolute justification. It sees Him putting the beauty of his own perfection upon the soul, and presenting it to Himself and to his Father, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but comely in his comeliness, wherewith He enrobes it.

Here however, faith especially regards the PRIESTLY office of our Lord, in cleaving to Him as the Righteousness of all who believe, to the saving of the soul. Were his prophetical or kingly office more especially and exclusively concerned, as the objects of our belief, much less of Him, and much more of ourselves would probably be looked up to, in such a belief: for

1 Isa. liv. 5.

its essence would be obedience to Him as a Teacher, and submission to Him as a Sovereign, which our fallen nature's pride would construe into merit before God. But man, condemned of God for the guilt of sin, and utterly devoid of all means of providing a righteousness of his own, must contemplate the sacerdotal office of our Lord, as setting forth a propitiation, through faith in his blood. For Sanctification we must look especially to the King and the Prophet: but in the sense of sin, of its cause and defilement, we must contemplate the High Priest, Christ and Him crucified, as Israel looked to the brazen serpent in the wilderness." "By his knowledge," that is by faith in Him, "shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.”1

The Redeemer was thus proposed to the acceptance of fallen man, as the great object of the first promise made in paradise. He was thus proposed to Abel in the blood of his sacrifice; to the patriarchs, and especially to Abram, when he built the altar in Canaan; to the Jews, in all the blood of bulls and of goats, shed according to the institutions of the law. And

as the cross sums up, and includes within itself all the other acts and offices of our Redeemer, faith comes to it, as to "the fountain opened in the house of David for sin and for uncleanness." 1 As a Prophet and a King, Christ answered neither the precept, nor the penalty of the Law: as a Priest He fulfilled the one, and amply paid the other with his own atoning sacrifice. And therefore in the sacerdotal office did the Father eternally instate and confirm Him, for the unspeakably great consolation of all who come unto God by Him, saying, " Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." 2

When Joseph's brethren stood before him, greatly needing his help, he refused to see their face, except they brought their brother Benjamin with them into his presence. Faith also, as exhibited towards God, is only acceptable, only admitted, if it present the appointed Saviour unto Him. He that thus believeth on the Son, and pleads Him, his person, perfections, undertaking, and accomplishment of mercy, in obedience unto death, hath life; but he that believeth not the Son of God hath not

1 Zech. xiii. 1.

? Psalm cx. 4.

life; but the wrath of God abideth on him: and the warning comes from the lips of Him, who must enlighten man's heart by his teaching, as well as cleanse it by his sacrifice, in order to salvation.

The sense, in which Abram's faith was counted to him by the Lord for righteousness, and the doctrine of imputation itself, as stated by St. Paul, must be the subject of another discourse. I only add, that as without faith it is impossible to please God; as without faith no man can come unto the Father; as faith is the only key to unlock the treasure-house of salvation; they who have it not, are without the pale of acceptance, though blessed be God, not yet without the reach of mercy. "If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." "Lord, we would believe; help Thou our unbelief."

John viii. 24.

2 Mark ix. 24.

1

SERMON XIX.

JUSTIFYING FAITH IN ITS BLESSING.

GENESIS XV. 6.

HE BELIEVED IN THE LORD, AND HE COUNTED IT TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IN studying the lives of eminent men, we enter even into the minute circumstances of their histories with attention: because the least particular concerning them may afford some instruction but we reserve our main interest for those parts and passages of their conduct or fortunes, which were most important, and from which therefore the most profitable lessons may be derived. According to this rule, while every part of the life of Abram demands attention, there are scenes in it, brought before our eyes by the Holy Ghost, which demand our especial regard. Such in an eminent degree are all those, where he is exhibited, not merely as a