if we die in this state, they will go down with us to the grave, rise with us at the resurrection, be found upon us at judgment, and for ever bar against us those gates, through which nothing unclean In this case, so far as we are concerned, the Saviour might as well have never come into the world, nor have laid down bis life nay, better; for if our filthiness be found upon us at the last day, it will be the bitterest of all aggravations, that the kingdom of Christ has been nigh unto us. can enter. : Thirdly Though the believer, who hath passed from death to life, shall never come into condemnation; yet he standeth in need of continual cleansing from his daily defilements. The notion that it is inconsistent for a believer to pray for the pardon of his sins, is contrary to the express directions of Christ, and to the example of the godly in all ages. It belongs to a life of faith on the Son of God; and without it, whatever self-flattering ideas we may entertain, we are dead while we live and in whatever degree we come short of such a life, wearing away our transgressions by forgetfulness, instead of washing them away by repeated application to the blood of the cross, we incur the displeasure of Christ, and forsake our own mercies. EVANGELICAL TRUTH THE GRAND OBJECT OF 1 Peter i. 12. Which things the angels desire to look into. IT is a truth allowed by all Christians, that the dispensation under which we live, affords us far greater advantages for spiritual ity and heavenly enjoyment, than any other which preceded it. To us, life and immortality are brought to light. The spirit that properly belongs to it, is not a spirit of bondage, but of adoption; crying, Abba, Father. The happiness attainable under it ap proaches near to that of the heavenly world; so nigh does its land border as it were upon it, that believers in the present state are said to be come to mount Sion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the innumerable company of angels, to the spirits of the just made perfect, &c. Yet it is not less true, that the greater part of professing Christians live as though they stood upon no such ground, and possessed no such opportunities. We possess an Old Testament spirit amidst New Testament advantages. A promise is left us of entering into rest; but we seem, at least, to come short of it. How is this? Is it not owing, in a great degree, to the neglect of the gospel? Having assented to a system of doctrines, we fancy we know almost the whole that is to be known upon this subject, and have nothing more to do but to hold them fast against the errors of the times, and take heed that we do not dishonour them by inconsistency of conduct. Hence what is called religious conversation seldom turns upon the gospel, unless any part of it be called in question : but either upon our own want of spirituality, or the pleasures that we have formerly experienced ; or perhaps, upon the talents of this or that popular preacher. When a company of Christians meet together, and feel a wish for improving conversation, let one of them take a Bible and read; and, as he reads, let him frequently pause, and let any one who can, make a remark, or ask a serious question, so as upon the whole to promote the understanding of what is read. This would draw off the attention from less profitable things; and the blessing of the Lord attending it, would, ere we are aware, produce those holy pleasures which, while poring over our own barrenness, we shall sigh after in vain. To comfort the primitive Christians, who, as well as we, were in heaviness through manifold temptations, Peter took no other course than to declare unto them the glorious truths of the gospel, and the vast advantages which they had over all others of former ages, in possessing the knowledge of them. Three things in particular he holds up to their consideration : 1. That the prophets were ministering servants to us; Not unto themselves, but unto us, did they minister things which are now reported. They sowed that we might reap. 2. That the things which they foretold, and which we possess, were the objects of their own most intense research. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently; searching what, and what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify, when it testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 3. That such is the excellence and glory of the gospel, as not only to be the study of prophets, but of angels: Which things the angels desire to look into. It is generally supposed, I believe, that the phrase look into, alludes to the cherubim which were placed bending over the mercy-seat, and looking as it were with intenseness at it. Thus Mary stooped, and looked into the sepulchre, in hope of discovering her Lord; and thus believers are described as looking into the perfect law of liberty, or the gospel of Christ. In former ages, the angels employed their capacious powers on other themes. At first, the display of the divine perfections in creation furnished them with matter for praise and gladness. The morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy. Afterwards, the providence of God, in the government of the world, enlarged their mental boundary. One cried to another, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory! But since the coming of the Son of God in our nature, and the laying down of his life, they appear to have been so engaged on this subject, as to be comparatively indifferent to every other. In the other works of God, they had seen sometimes one perfection glorified, and sometimes another; but here all unite their beams, and form one general blaze. These are the things, therefore, which now they desire to look into. The powers of angels are far superior to those of men. Their means of instruction also, and long experience of divine things, must render them far more capable of understanding the gospel * Пægaт, to bend, or stoop. than we. Yet, with all their advantages and discoveries, such is the fulness of the subject, that they are at an infinite distance from comprehending it all that is said of them is, that they desire to look into it. Angels were doubtless acquainted with the general design of salvation, from its first discovery to man; but the particular way in which it should be accomplished, appears to have been, in a great measure, hidden from them. It was a way so much above what any creature would have expected, that though there were hints of it under the Old Testament, and some very plain intimations, yet it was far from being clearly comprehended. The prophets, as we have seen, did not fully understand their own prophecies; but diligently searched into the meaning of them : neither did the apostles, with all their advantages prior to the event; neither did evil angels, with all their subtilty; for if Satan had known that from the death of Christ his cause would receive so deadly a wound, it is scarcely conceivable that he would have stirred up Judas and the Jewish rulers to accomplish it. He appears to have entertained a kind of forlorn hope, that by getting him put to death in the most ignominious form, and by the only religious nation upon earth, he should be able to stamp everlasting infamy upon his name, and that all future generations would be ashamed to own him. The disappointment and unexpected shock that he and his adherents met with on this occasion, seem plainly intimated by our Saviour's having spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them on his cross and though the holy angels might be supposed to understand much more than fallen ones, yet were they not equal to this subject till events made it manifest. Hence it is said, from the beginning of the world to have been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent, that now unto the principalities and powers it might be known by the church, (that is, by the redemption of the church,) the manifold wisdom of God. When the event transpired, therefore, it was like a flood of light bursting forth upon them. The resurrection of Christ filled all heaven with transport. Hence, perhaps, we may account for the question of the angel to Mary, Woman, why weepest thou? q. d. Did you but know all, you would not weep! It is not you that should weep adversaries !' now, but your The cross of Christ, instead of issuing in disgrace, is followed with glory. His friends learned to glory in it; yea, and to glory in nothing else and well they might. It was glorious to see the powers of darkness stripped naked, as it were, to their shame ; to see Satan foiled by the woman's seed, and his schemes exposed to the derision of the universe ; to see him taken in his own net, and falling into the pit that himself had digged. It was glorious to contemplate the numerous and important bearings of this one great event. By this, the divine displeasure against sin is manifested in stronger language than if the world had been made a sacrifice :— by this a way is opened for the consistent exercise of mercy to the chief of sinners :-by a believing view of this, peace arises in the mind, and at the same time, purity in the heart :-for this he is crowned with glory and honour in the heavens, principalities and powers being made subject to him. This is the only hope of a lost world, the only medium of acceptance with God, and the only admissible plea in our approaches before him. This it is which will put every grace in exercise in this world, and impart all the happiness in that to come, of which created minds are suscep tible. These are a few of the bearings of the doctrine of the cross. Is it any wonder that angels should desire to look into it? Rather is it not matter of wonder and shame that we who are more immediately interested in it than they, should be so far behind? How is it that we should be the last to bring back the king, who are his bone and his flesh? Our Redeemer took not upon him the nature of angels; yet they love him, and the gospel of salvation by him ; and wherefore? They love God and therefore rejoice in every think that glorifies him in the highest :-they love men, and therefore rejoice in that which brings peace on earth, and good will to them they rejoice in every instance of the prosperity of Christ's kingdom, and in being themselves made subject to him. Had we but their love with our interest, we should not only emulate, but exceed their highest praise. While they, in innumerable myriads, were saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was : |