September 10

ousness, that induces you to rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh, and urges you to pray for more of that grace which is alone sufficient for you. Indeed the very willingness to come to this standard is a token for good. "Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Blessed is the man that can kneel and pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."

SEPTEMBER 10.—"Sit thou at my right hand."—Psalms 110:1.

It will be remembered how our Saviour perplexed the Pharisees, by showing that these words were addressed by the Father to the Messiah, whom David calls his "Lord," though he was his "son." But let us notice the expression itself, and the more so because the expression occurs so frequently in the Scriptures. It may be considered as importing repose and refreshment after all his exertion and toil. For he did labour as he said, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, wherein no man can work." At the close of life therefore he could acknowledge, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." And though from the state of his mind and heart, to do the will of him that sent him and to finish his work, was his meat and drink, yet he was no stranger to weariness and suffering. But he hath entered into his rest, having ceased from his own works as God did from his. He bleeds, he "dieth no more." "For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Sitting at the right hand denotes pre-eminence. At the last day the saints are represented as at the right hand of the Judge. Joseph wished the right hand of his father to be imposed upon the head of Manasseh his first-born. At Solomon's right hand sat the queen, in gold of Ophir. The greatest honour a king can show to any person is to seat him at his right hand. Hence all the glories of empire therefore were to descend from this station, as we see in the Psalm before us. From thence his enemies were to be made his footstool; from thence he should send forth the rod of his strength out of Zion, and rule in the midst of his foes; from thence, in the day of his power, he should obtain a willing people, numerous as the dew of the morning; and from thence he should strike through kings in the day of his wrath, drink of the brook in the way, and lift up his head as more than a conqueror. Hence the Apostle considers it the extreme of dignity: "To which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" And again; "He set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only

in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet."

Much of this is at present unrealized. But we see Jesus, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour. And the view should gratify our affection. Love delights in the glory of its object. If therefore we love in sincerity, after sympathizing with him in the garden, and smiting on our breast at the cross, what a satisfaction shall we feel to view him possessed of power over all flesh, all power in heaven and in earth, and exalted far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. John could not go on with his description of him without pausing to express the adoration of his heart; "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Let the view also encourage our hope. We are deeply interested in his elevation. It was expedient for us that he went away. In his ascension he received gifts for men. As glorified he gives the Holy Ghost. As exalted he is a Prince and a Saviour to rule and relieve his people, and to make all things work together for their good. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." He is our head and representative, and by reason of our union with him we are "quickened together with Christ, and raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ."

And let it wean us from the earth. Where the treasure is there will the heart be also. But he is your treasure, and he is in heaven. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen. Follow him; and "seek those things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God." What an inducement was it to Jacob, at a period when nature dislikes a change, to leave his own country, and go down into Egypt, when he heard the message, "Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me ruler throughout all the land of Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me—and there will I nourish thee." At once his aversion and fears gave way. "And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die." And what says Jesus to his people? Come up hither. I am Lord of all the region into which ye shall enter—Come, and be near me—Come, and be for ever with the Lord.

And let it embolden us, while here, to acknowledge and honour him. Were we to be ashamed of him, or to deny him, we should be far guiltier than Peter. For we run no such risk in confessing him as he did—He trembled for his life. And when he disowned him his Lord was a prisoner at the bar, and going to be crucified, under a charge of blasphemy and sedition—But we deny him on the throne, angels, principalities, and powers being subject unto him, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the world to come. "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."