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blood of His cross” (Col. i. 20). We who were far off are “made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. ii. 13). We are justified by His blood” (Rom. v. 9). He has- “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Rev; i. 5); “th e blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (I John i. 7). But the cross was not only for our sake; its primary ob ject was to glorify God in respect of sin: to meet the claims of His holy throne; “to declare His righteousness” (Rom. iii 25, 26). Anticipating the cross, the Lord Jesus said, “I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to -do” (John xvii. i , . And at Sychar He said, “My m eat is to do the will of Him th a t sent Me, and to finish H is work” (John iv. 34). It was first for God’s glory, and then for our sal vation. There, and there only, was ful filled th a t word, “Mercy and tru th are m et together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psa. lxxxv. 10). Thus th e one great barrier to the outflow ing of divine love was removed, for “now, once in the end of the world hath He ap peared to put away sin by the sacrifice of H imself” (Heb. ix. 26). “When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb. i. 3). God’s answer to th a t cross was His glorious resurrection, and His present place at the right hand of God, “crowned w ith glory and honour.” Well may every one of us exclaim w ith the Apostle, “God forbid th a t I should glory save in th e cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Apart from the atoning blood of Christ, God’s infinite love, and His infinite power, could not save a sinner. He must he con sistent with Himself; and if any guilty soul is to, be saved, it must be done in perfect righteousness; th a t is, there must be atonement for the sin; there must be expiation for the guilt; divine justice must be satisfied; and divine righteousness m u st be maintained. In other words, the death sentence must be
borne, and borne by the One upon Whom death had no claim. Hence, H e hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; th a t we might be made th e righteousness of God in Him (II. Cor. v. 21). I am not picked up out of the gu tte r and brought into the favour and accept ance of God without there being, first of all, a righteous basis for this transcend ing grace. I am not saved, merely be cause God is merciful; but because H e is holy and righteous; Christ having ob tained eternal redemption for us by offer ing “Himself, without spot, to God,” an all-sufficient, and all-atoning sacrifice. “Without shedding of blood is no rem is sion ;” but we are redeemed by “the pre cious blood of Christ.” Thus sin is pu t away; the conscience is purged; and the soul set free to worship, and to serve, th e living God; and ere long, th a t precious blood shall be the theme of heaven’s eter n a l, song; and He Who shed it, the Ob ject of heaven’s eternal praise. George de Mattos. PRA YER POWER ' How little most Christians know of th e power and confidence in prayer th a t L uther had! “At the time the Diet of N uremberg was held,” says Tholuck, “L u th er was earnestly praying in h is own dwelling; and, a t the very hou r when the edict g ran ting free toleration to all P ro testan ts was issued, he ran out of his house, crying o u tr'W e have gained the victory! Do you understand th a t.’ ” afe a » NONE ARE IMMUNE There is no morning on which we can arise and go fo rth into the world, and say, “No enemy- will come ou t against me today.” There is no n igh t in which we can retire from th a t world, and th ink to find safety in th e solitude of our own chambers, and say, “No evil can enter here.”
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