REMARKS ON THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

THE Old Testament types, as well as the visions in the Revelation, most prominently set before us the death of the Son of God. In the tabernacle service, sacrifices were continually being offered; and blood was so frequently sprinkled, and in so many places, that a spectator could hardly fail of perceiving it at almost every turn. And in the visions of glory, beheld by the beloved disciple, how strikingly the blood of the Lamb seems to light up the eternal scene, and fill the hearts of all with a never-ending song of joy and praise!

When we think that the death of the Lord Jesus is the great manifestation of God's love, the fountain that hath been opened for sin and for uncleanness, and that it is the ground of our access with confidence unto the Father, surely we cannot too often exhort one another to meditate upon Him, and His finished work.

To know forgiveness of sins, and peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus, is very blessed. Most gracious it is of God to bring any soul to rest in the all-prevailing efficacy of that blood which was shed for sinners; but it is only the first lesson of the Cross of Christ the beginning of the knowledge of the grace of God. The Scriptures present to the spiritual eye other lessons of most important truth, in connection with the death of Christ, of a deeply practical kind. Those who have grown in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, find a remedy in the Cross for every soul-disease-a cordial for all soultrouble-a continual admonition to walk in the Spirit, and enough to warrant their having the largest expec

tations from the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. They know there is virtue in one tree alone to sweeten all their bitter waters; and a savour in the agonies and groans of the slain Lamb to temper all their joys. They prove the "broken body" of Jesus to be "meat indeed," and His blood to be "drink indeed"; to be substantial realities, to satisfy the daily craving of their hungry and thirsty souls. It was that Cross that was the first meeting-place between God and their souls; and they know that it is, and ever will be, the sole ground of their abiding in the presence of God. They know also, that in time of trial and temptation, that Cross speaks of unfathomable resources, and of an unfailing refuge in God, while it withers up fleshly expectations and confidences, and enables them most heartily to subscribe to the declaration of the Holy Ghost, "That no flesh should glory in His presence," but that he that glorieth should glory in the Lord.

The Scriptures testify of Christ, and it is well to be diligently, earnestly, prayerfully occupied, in dependence on the Holy Ghost, who testifies of Christ, in searching for Him. "Search the Scriptures," said Jesus, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me;" and I am persuaded that the death of Jesus is there presented to us in a great variety of ways, for reproof, correction, and instruction, as well as for comfort and practical separation unto God. Let us, as God may help, consider a few portions.

In the epistle to the saints at Colosse, we are taught, that it is through the death of Christ that the believer

is presented without spot to God. "And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in His sight." (Col. i. 21, 22.) In the epistle to the Hebrews, the same doctrine is expressed. "By one offering, He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Heb. x. 14); and in the fifth of Revelation, the song of the glorified saints expresses the same truth: "Thou art worthy.... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.... and hast made us unto our God kings and priests," &c.; and in the seventh chapter, when the question is asked, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they?" the answer is, "They have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, therefore are they before the throne of God," &c. (See also 2 Cor. v. 21.)

In Ephesians ii. we have the double action of the Cross of Christ. First, reconciling to God; secondly, bringing the members, both Jews and Gentiles, nigh to one another. "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished, in His flesh, the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity. thereby."

In Heb. x. we find the death of Christ presented to

us as our ground of access into God's presence. "Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh," &c.

In Galatians vi. the Cross of Christ is set before us as the power of separation from the world. How can a Christian love the world, when he sees all its elements, moral and intellectual, civil and religious, among great and small, bond and free, united in crucifying the Lord of glory? And will the world (for it is made up of the same elements as ever it was,) love any one whose single purpose is to honour and exalt the earth-rejected, crucified Son of God? "God forbid," said Paul, “ that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

In Galatians iii. the death of Jesus is used to shew us that we have full deliverance from the law. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; as it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Rom. vii. teaches us the same truth. "Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ.... Now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (ver. 4, 6.) Ephesians ii. also asserts, that Christ "abolished, in His flesh, the law of commandments contained in ordinances;" and in Gal. v. 1, saints are exhorted to stand fast in this liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

In Rom. vi. the spiritual contemplation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is set before us, as the power of practical holiness, shewing us the judgment, death, and putting out of sight of "our old man," and that we have a new life as risen with Christ. When the question is asked, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" The answer is, “God forbid. How shall we that are. dead [have died] to sin live any longer therein? .... Our old man is crucified with Him .... Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead [to have died] indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

In Rom. viii. 32, the wonderful grace of God, in delivering up His own Son to unsparing wrath for our offences, is used by the apostle to shew the willingness of His heart to freely give us all things; thus making the sufferings and death of Jesus the warrant for our having the largest expectations from God. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

We thus see how the Spirit of God uses the Cross of Christ to give liberty and happiness of soul, to enable us to rise above the flesh, to live in practical separation unto God, and to trust in Him at all times. Now, let us look at the first epistle to the Corinthians, for a few examples of the deep practical value of the Cross of Christ.

In chapter i. 11, when a spirit of contention and division was so working, as to induce some to say, "I am of Paul;" the apostle proposed this most touching and searching question, "Was Paul crucified