of love toward his people. Glorious perfection, I repeat, for this you observe is the state described. The Apostle declares that the Church is to be "a glorious Church : but wherein shall her glory consist? It shall consist in this, her freedom from spot or blemish, yea, her holiness, complete unsullied holiness, in one word, her likeness to her Lord.

On earth, indeed, the Church, in a certain comparative and limited sense, is holy. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." True Christians are changed in heart. They are separated from the world. They love God. They choose his ways. They follow after holiness. But perfectly holy they are not.

Blessed be God, however, they shall be so. In that day when Christ shall come to gather together his elect, and take them to the mansions in their Father's house, then each one of them shall be found blameless, yea, "without fault before the throne of God," clothed in that "fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of saints," not that righteousnesss for justification, which they have from Christ imputed to them, but that which constitutes their sanctification, wrought in them by his Holy Spirit, and in which they shall stand "perfect and complete in all the will of God." Then it is that the Church will appear a glorious Church," sinless, pure, and holy, like to Christ. Most blessed thought! "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him."

66

Now this then is the issue of the Saviour's

plan of love. All the counsels of eternal mercy had this for their end, the glorious perfection of the Church. All that Jesus did and suffered for his people, and all that by his Spirit He now works in them, is to terminate in this one result, their spotless holiness. And when that result is gained, Jesus will be satisfied. This will be his joy, to "present to Himself," to have before Him, in the day of his appearing, as his own possession, this sanctified Church, holy, and without blemish.

Let me close with one or two reflections. And first, let us mark the instruction which our subject yields: instruction as to what is the real character of Christ's salvation. Take the mass of men in this Christian land, ask them what it is that Christ, as a Saviour, hath done for his people? He has died for them, you will be told and why has He died for them? you ask: To deliver them from hell, will be the reply: and there, with the vast majority of people, lies the whole of Christ's salvation. Deliverance from hell, this is the grand blessing which men, for the most part, think of Christ, as procuring for his people. They go no further. But let me ask, Is this the whole of Christ's salvation? Is it merely our rescue from eternal woe? Far otherwise. There is much more than this. This is but a part. Yes, and in fact it is but a step to something else. Christ delivers his Church from God's wrath and damnation, in order that He may do something more.

Observe the text: He" loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and

cleanse it:" here was the end and purpose of his redemption: for this it was He saved his people from eternal death, that He might have them a possession for Himself to sanctify, and make them pure, spotless, holy, and perfect for ever.

The instruction then is this. See the object of the Gospel. See what has been the Redeemer's aim all through. It is his people's sanctification. He could not make them holy while the wrath of God was yet abiding upon them. Therefore this is the first act of his love. He gives Himself for the Church, to ransom her from wrath and ruin, in order that then He might sanctify and cleanse her, and present her atlength unto Himself glorious in her perfection.

Then secondly, I would say, out of this truth there arises a very important admonition.

It is this. Have any of us been wont hitherto to think of the salvation of Christ only as a deliverance from condemnation? Has this been all that we were anxious for ? Did we know that we were safe from hell, should we be satisfied, and say that it is all we want? Then plainly we know nothing aright of Jesus and his Gospel. We do not understand what salvation is.

Sinner, it is so with you. Men of the world, it is so with you. All that you look to Christ to do for you, all you ask, all you hope, it is simply this, that when you die you may not go to hell. Now, let me warn you, that is not the salvation of Christ. The salvation of Christ is a deliverance from sin, the love of sin, the power of

sin, the practice of sin: it is the being brought to holiness, and to God. This you have never sought. Therefore I said you know not what salvation is. May the thought awaken you.

But lastly, there is consolation to be gathered from our subject; consolation for all true children of God. Wherein does it lie?

Christian, let me ask you, why do you prize the Gospel? Is it not for this, that it brings you sanctification? Had the salvation of the Gospel been no more than freedom from guilt, damnation, and death; had it left you in sin to serve Satan, and to be a worker of iniquity; what would you esteem it? No salvation at all!

You long for holiness. You pant after it. O, to be perfect! Well, you shall be so. This is Christ's design. His salvation has for its end just the thing which you desire. It is holiness. For this He loved you; for this He redeemed you; for this He now cleanses and sanctifies you; to make you glorious in holiness for ever.

Rejoice then, believer. Jesus will perfect that which concerneth you." In his faith and love fight on against the devil, the world, and the flesh; yet a little season, and you shall be satisfied, for you shall "awake up after his likeness."

SERMON IX.

HEBREWS VIII. 10.

THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE
OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAITH THE LORD ;
I WILL
PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MIND, AND WRITE THEM IN
THEIR HEARTS.

A precious promise this, my brethren, to all the people of God!

True, the house of Israel it was, to whom the promise first was made. But it does not belong to them alone. St. Paul is speaking here of a new covenant which the Lord will make with them. But then, what covenant is it? It is the covenant of the Gospel: the very same into which we are called, and of the blessings of which all the true Israel of God, all the faithful in Christ Jesus, do partake.

Therefore, while our text makes mention of Israel, and sets forth mercies yet in store for them, when they shall remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord, it also serves to gladden the hearts of all believers, all of every kindred of the earth whom the Lord our God sh all call.

I place the words of our text, then, now before your minds, beloved Christian brethren,