fixed and incommunicable, eternal and unchangeable! "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's; for this he did once, when he offered up himself."-Heb. vii, 26, 27. "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entered into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered from the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."— Heb. ix, 24-27.

2. It was necessary that this high priest, who offered himself as a ransom for all,-as a propitiation for the sins of the world,-should be infinite in power, merit, and goodness. And such is the Redeemer. He is the Almighty God! the Father of eternity! "This man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood: wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." He has all power in heaven and in earth; and he is as merciful and good and kind, as he is powerful. "Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”— Heb. iv, 14 For he can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, and on them that are in need; and he will have compassion upon us!

IV. His sovereign authority-Prince of Peace.

1. As a priest, he purchased and procured peace between God and man. As a prince, before he suffered, he bequeathed peace to his disciples; and promised them that, although in the world they should have tribulation,

yet in him they should have peace. All those who avail themselves of reconciliation through him, and are justified by faith, have peace with God and their own consciences. The love of God is shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto them; and having received the Spirit, they enjoy, and bring forth the fruit thereof: and the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. As the Prince of Peace, he is the constant giver of peace to all that love and obey him; and commands his subjects to live at peace with each other, and to follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

2. As a sovereign, the Prince of Peace has his subjects, -all true believers in earth and in heaven;-his laws,the precepts of his holy gospel ;-and his kingdom, external, the holy church, militant and triumphant ;internal,-the kingdom of God is within you, even that kingdom which is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. This empire of mind will increase, and extend, and prevail, till the kingdoms of tuis world become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. When his kingdom is truly set up in the heart, the efficacy of it shall endure and increase for ever. As it is set up on earth, it will continue to diffuse its influence, till his authority be universally submitted to, and produce universal harmony; so that men will beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; and even this shall be increased and perfected in heaven for ever. "In the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; but break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Yes, this kingdom of Christ will destroy everything in every earthly government that is opposed to the glory of God, and the peace and happiness of men; and yet in such a way as to leave all political governments unchanged: and it shall stand

for ever: it shall prevail over all time and space: the whole earth shall be filled with its glory. Amen and Amen.

PARDON AND PRIVILEGE.

ROMANS V, 1.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

THERE are three facts connected with Scripture and experience, as touching our salvation, which St. Paul, in the former part of this Epistle, clearly demonstrates. The first is, the extent of the fall, or the total depravity of human nature, and the consequent reign of sin and death. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Secondly, that man cannot by his own power, or works, or righteousness, atone for his own sins, or save himself, in whole or in part. "For by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight." And that, therefore, thirdly, all men, in all ages, who ever have been saved, or will be saved, have been, and must be, saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and by that alone; for " As by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life;" and "he therefore that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." As was the faith of Abraham, and all his spiritual seed in all ages. Having fully established these facts, the apostle proceeds, in the words of our text, to des cribe the benefits resulting from this mode of salvation. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." I purpose, I. To describe the justification of a sinner. II. To shew that it is by faith, and why. And, III. To point out some of the benefits resulting from it. I. The justification of a sinner.

1. The word justification is a forensic or judicial term,

and implies an acquittal from the condemnatory sentence of the law, either on account of innocence, satisfaction made by the criminal, or the free pardon of the judge or injured person, granted on account of some other consideration.

2. The justification of a sinner is a term peculiar to that act. The comparison of it to temporal courts and proceedings, may in some degree be illustrative of it, but it will always be found deficient and unworthy. Sin is high treason against the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth; and yet the sinner, though a traitor, can be justified by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, as the mediator between God and man. God can be just, and yet the justifier of those that believe in him. This is far above all human jurisprudence. If a traitor be arraigned before an earthly tribunal, his case is thoroughly and impartially investigated; and if treasonable words and deeds cannot be proved against him, he is acquitted: he is found not guilty, and therefore justified on the ground of innocence. But if, on the other hand, it be manifest that he has spoken and written disloyal and traitorous language, and conspired against his sovereign and his country, he is convicted. He cannot be justified, because he is guilty; and therefore the extreme sentence of the law is passed upon him. It is true that after judgment is given upon him, he may receive the royal pardon; but he cannot be justified. When he left the dock, and went to his cell, it was in the character of a guilty traitor; and when he receives the pardon, and leaves the cell, he is a guilty rebel still; and as such, is not eligible to hold any responsible office under his sovereign. By the clemency of the prince he is forgiven; but this does not obliterate his crime. He has made no satisfaction to injured justice; neither has any other person paid any ransom, or expiated his crime: he is not therefore a justified person, but a pardoned criminal.

3. Not so with the saved sinner. Jesus Christ having become his surety and mediator, and having given himself a ransom for all, and made reconciliation and atonement, the penitent traitor is not only pardoned but justified and regenerated, forgiven and restored to the favour and image of God, and also adopted a child of God,-and

if a child, then an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ, received to the comfort, privileges, and inheritance of God's dear children, just as if he had never sinned at all. Thanks be to God for such a salvation!

4. If we consider sin in the light of a debt, we have another view of justification and of Christ. In this light, Almighty God is the creditor, and the sinner the debtor but he is insolvent, he has nothing to pay. Well, but Jesus Christ paid the price, and purchased a pardon for every sinner who will take him at his word. Yes, when he had overcome the sharpness of death, he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

II. I am to shew that justification is by faith, and why. 1. Although faith is the most powerful thing in the world, it is, in its nature and exercise, so simple, that it is difficult to define it. The only definition of it in Scripture is this:-"Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." How can things only hoped for have a substance? How can things not seen have an evidence? Answer,-by faith. The object of the faith here described is probably the recompense of the reward; but yet the definition will apply in our present state. Jesus Christ is not, at present, the object of our natural vision: we cannot see him with our eyes; but we can behold him with the eye of the soul; we can believe in him whom, having not seen, we can confide in and love. Faith is a lively apprehension of the able, willing, present Saviour,-of his atonement and intercession,-of his office as a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and remission of sins; by which the penitent sinner is enabled fully and confidently to cast himself upon him and to take his word for present and eternal salvation and as soon as ever he can, by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus simply trust, rely, depend, confide, he is graciously and freely justified. Not by deeds of law, not by the observance of any outward ceremony, -not by the assent to any particular creed, or the being connected with any particular sect. Neither is it by repentance; penitence is the aspect of the soul in its struggle to the cross-the legitimate sign of a contrite heart but godly sorrow, sighs, and tears have no merit nor power to save. Christ is the only meritorious cause

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