April 19

EXCLAMATION.

PART II.

Now the testimonies of the prophets of which Jesus had been the Alpha and Omega, were all accomplished. It behoved him that every promise should be fulfilled, every prophecy accomplished. In Jesus every promise had now been realized, and every prediction embodied. Now ancient types and shadows were all doomed to pass away, seeing that the truth and the substance had appeared. Now for ever ceased the ceremonies of the law, and another victim should never be offered which should be acceptable to God. Now all preceding dispensations were about to expire, and the last and best that God should ever give to man was being ratified with the blood of the Cross. Now was struck the fatal blow, by which the gates of hell were shaken to their centre, and which should finally issue in the total ruin of Satan's empire in the world. "Now was the judgment of this world —now was the Prince of this world cast out." When Jesus exclaimed, "It is finished," a new æra in the history both of heaven and earth commenced. Earth was now to be, in a more universal and glorious sense, the theatre of the divine operations. From this instant Christ was to commence his aggressive attacks upon Satan's usurped dominions, and by which he should ultimately rescue our enslaved world from his tyrannical grasp, and thereby subdue all things unto himself. Now heaven's portals, which would have been closed against every child of man, were thrown wide open, and the tree of life, in the midst of the Paradise of God, was rendered accessible to the whole human race. O, how glorious, how blessed was Christ's dying exclamation! Here is the foundation of my hope. Here is my reply to every accusation from the enemy. Here is the object of my trust and joy. God forbid that I should glory in anything, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.