May 28

Hebrews 10:1. For the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect.

2. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5. Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. 6. In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God! 8. Above, when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt-offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law; 9. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O

Had God no pleasure in sacrifices and offerings which he had prescribed, and the neglect of which was regarded as a disrespect to himself? Was the blood of bulls and of goats absolutely without effect as to the sins for the remission of which it was appointed? The words of the apostle should not be pressed to this extreme of contradiction. According to Leviticus 17:11, the blood of the altar was "an atonement for the soul." The Mosaic law was at once a civil, a ceremonial, and a moral code, and infractions of the civil or the ceremonial law, which did not involve serious moral transgression, were compensated by the prescribed sacrifice or offering. But, in respect to transgressions of the moral law, the blood of the victim could not be the instrument of a true propiti-

God! He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. 15. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us; for after that he had said before, 16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18. Now, where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

tion, it could only express the humiliation, penitence, and self-condemnation of the offerer, and set forth the divine provision of an atonement as indispensable to salvation. The very repetition of the sacrifices proved that they could not operate to wipe out sin and its penalty. But the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin,—from sin in heart as well as in life; and this offering, therefore, was made once for all, and awhile always. The atonement of Christ was complete and final. Nothing can be added to its worth, and nothing shall hinder its final triumph over sin and death. The remission of sins is followed by the sanctification of the believer, and his redemption here shall issue in his perfection hereafter.

APPROPRIATE HENNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 16, 42.

Gracious God and Father in Christ Jesus, we lift up our hearts to thee this morning in the love and confidence of children. We acknowledge thy mercy, which hath surrounded our persons and our habitation through the night, and hath made the incoming of the morning to rejoice over us. As a family, we bring to thee our morning sacrifice of prayer and praise. Oh! fill our home with thy peace; fill our hearts with thy love.

Especially do we bless thee for the revelation of thy redeeming love through our Lord Jesus Christ. We praise thee that he loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. May his atoning sacrifice take away our sin, and his perfect righteousness be our shield! And, oh,

may his Spirit write thy laws in our hearts, and incline us to keep thy commandments always!

We pray that He who has so freely loved us, and who has done so much for us, would make us still his care, keeping us from all evil in this present world, and finally taking us to himself.

We adore thee, O our blessed Redeemer! for thy teaching and example, for thy sacrifice and mediation. Hasten the day when those who have not heard thy name, nor seen thy glory, shall know the truth, and be delivered from the bondage of sin. Soon may all nations hear of Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! Soon may Jesus our Lord see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied! Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us: God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. Hear these our petitions, gracious Father, in the name of our Redeemer. Amen.