should not arouse them; and thus that they should still be in their graves, or "seeking The Living One amongst the dead," after the call to "those who hear" has passed by gathering out "the Firstfruits unto God and the Lamb." (John v. 25 (foreshadowing Matt. xxvii. 52, 53.); Luke xxiv. 5.)

This is no time to be learning with the "schoolmaster" (Gal. iv. 24-27) which prepared the Jewish Nation unto the Coming of The Messiah; that perfect unrelenting Law, showing to the people who made their boast in it the impossibility of man's attaining to its righteousness; and making the more conspicious to the world, through the Jews also "falling short," the need of the Dispensation of grace to both Jew and Gentile. And now, in this Day of Salvation, men are called to accept the pure and unfettered Gospel shining in the full Light which the rent Veil permits to fall upon it from those past teachings, now quickened into life, being fulfilled in The Risen Saviour. We know that The Son of God is come, and has manifested Him Who is True, and that we are called to be and live and move in Him The True God Who giveth eternal life. We know that He, The Christ, in Whom dwelleth the fulness of The Godhead bodily, is by His Spirit Present in His Church; and will soon be here Present in His own Person, as He ascended into the heavens, clothed in His Glorified Humanity. And, meanwhile, He "being come an High-Priest of good things to come," and having entered into The Presence of The Father,-which Holy Place was but figured in the earthly Temple, but is opened to us in The Person of The Blessed Son of God Who calls believers in Him His " brethren," He, there enthroned upon the Mercy-Seat which His own Blood sprinkled, makes intercession, and offers with the prayers of all, even the weakest of those who trust in Him, incense which " none may compound" but He Himself,-the "sweet spices, of each a like

weight,-tempered together, pure and holy, beaten very small;" the incense of His own Virtues pressed out in the Garden of the oil-press [Geth-semane]:-and which no "priest" on earth can offer, for there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. (Ex. xxx. 34-38, 9; Lev. x. 1, 2, xvi. 12-14, vi. 12, 13; Num. xvi. 18, 46.) The Only High-Priest was once offered," the Sacrifice and Sacrificer being One, "to bear away the sins of the many," and He Who "became dead" " ever liveth to make intercession for transgressors." "To those who look

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for Him, He will Appear the Second time, without a Sin-Offering, unto Salvation," bringing in the Great Salvation which is "ready to be revealed in the Last Time." The people of the Lord waiting for this Glory, will "speak often one to another of Him, fear Him, and think upon His Name;" as the faithful have ever done in every Age (Gen. vii. 1, xviii. 19; Deut. vi. 5-7; Mal. iii. 16; John xx. 19, 26; Luke xxiv. 53; Acts ii. 1, 46, iv. 20). They will "pray one for another," acknowledging by their manner and practice that they “know not what they should pray for as they ought," therefore waiting upon God "in The Spirit," Who "helpeth their infirmities, making intercession for the saints with groanings (Rom. viii. 26, 23 ; 2 Cor. iv. v.) which cannot be uttered," and Whose intercession, being according to the will of God The Father, is fruitful in blessings. And for those who do not pray for themselves prayer will be offered continually by the believing and faithful; and for those upon whom lies the responsibility of the earthly governments; but in the Sanctuary, to present all these spiritual sacrifices, is One Priest only, present with the two or three as with the multitude of worshippers, and through Whom, and in Whose Perfect Name, the prayers and thanksgivings and praises all ascend, from the ends of the earth; and His Priesthood passes not to another, for He liveth Ever,-He is "The Living One" giving "life, and breath, and all things." The Chris

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tian's true privilege is to be sealed by His Spirit, and to have His Spirit dwelling in him; and to be a member of His One Body, enjoying the communion of that Body, and ministering according to his own special calling to the Body's edification (Eph. ii. 20-22, iv. 15, 16); but it is also his inestimable privilege to receive his life and guidance only from The Head and through that same "Comforter."

Accordingly, the Apostles John, and Peter, and Paul exhort,— "Dear Children! keep yourselves from idols!" and from making yourselves "lords over God's heritage;" from assuming " dominion over the faith" of the saints; from receiving the unqualified reverence due only to God and not to "brethren and fellow-servants of the Prophets," who were "not crucified for the Church, into whose name it was not baptized." Be co-workers with God!-so the Apostles teach,-plant and water, diligently sowing beside all waters! but worship God only (Rev. xiv. 6, 7, 9-11), and direct that all worship shall be offered to Him alone Who "giveth the increase;" to Whom every knee shall bow, every tongue confess (Rom. xiv. 10, 11; Isa. xlv. 22-25); Who, while He declares that He is Jehovah and that there is no other God, no other Saviour, and that not to another will He give His glory; yet associates in that glory from the days of Eternity One Who took man's nature; Him "Who is " the "Fellow" of Jehovah," in the Bosom of The Father; ""My Shepherd" against Whom the Sword of Divine Justice was called to "Awake!" (Isa. xlii. 8; John xvii. 5 (Micah v. 2), x. 30, xiv. 9); pointing to The Righteous One Who gave The Tree of Life in Eden, and restores its fruit in the Eternal City of the World to come,-The Creating Word of Jehovah, The Breath of His Mouth giving Life and pronouncing Judgment; The Holy and Divine Redeemer victorious in the flesh,—through death,―over all the enemies of God and man.

In this Compilation, the English version of the Bible Society or its marginal readings, has been adhered to; with occasional variations quoted from such translators as Dr. C. J. Vaughan, Trench, &c.: and where the sense is not injured or is more correctly rendered by such omission, the words of the English version supplied in italics are left out.

1866.

C. P. O.