2. Access. Jesus Christ gives us " access." Now that expres- sion is but an imperfect rendering of the original. If it were not for its trivial associations, one might read, instead of " access," introduction, — " by whom we have introduction into this grace wherein we stand." The thought is that Jesus Christ secures U3 entry into this ample space, this treasure-house, as some court officer might take by the hand a poor rustic, standing on the threshold of the palace, and lead him through all the glittering series of unfamiliar splendour, and present him at last in the central ring around the king. The reality that underlies the metaphor is plain. We sinners can never pass into that central glory, nor ever possess those gifts of grace, unless the barrier that stands between us and God, between us and His highest gifts of love, is swept away.
^| I recall an old legend where two knights are represented as seeking to enter a palace, where there is a mysterious fire burning in the middle of the portal. One of them tries to pass through, and recoils scorched ; but when the other essays an entrance the fierce fire sinks, and the path is cleared. Jesus Christ has died, and, I say it with all reverence, as His blood touches the fire it flickers down and the way is opened "into the holiest of all, whither the Forerunner is for us entered." x
1 A. Maclaren.
296 THE HARVEST OF THE JUSTIFIED
3. Access into this grace. There is clearly a metaphor here, both in the word " access " and in that other one, " stand." " The grace " is supposed to be some ample space into which a man is led, and where he can enjoy security and liberty. Or, we may say, it is regarded as a palace or treasure-house into which we can enter. Now, if we take that great New Testament word " grace," and ponder its meanings, we find that they run something in this fashion. The central thought, grand and marvellous, which is enshrined in it, and which often is buried for careless ears, is that of the active love of God poured out upon inferiors who deserve something very different. Then there follows a second meaning which covers a great part of the ground of the use of the phrase in the New Testament, and that is the communication of that love to men, the specific and individualized gifts which come out of that great reservoir of patient, pardoning, condescending, and bestowing love. Then there may be brought into view a meaning which is less prominent in Scripture but not absent, namely, the resulting beauty of character. A gracious soul ought to be, and is, a graceful soul; a supreme loveliness is imparted to human nature by the communication to it of the gifts which are the results of the undeserved, free, and infinite love of God.
T[ The one gift assumes all forms, just as water poured into a vase takes the shape of the vase into which it is poured. The same gift unfolds itself in a variety of manners, according to the needs of the man to whom it is given ; just as the writer's pen, the carpenter's hammer, the farmer's ploughshare, are all made out of the same metal. So God's grace comes to you in a different shape from that in which it comes to me, according to our different callings and needs, as fixed by our circumstances, our duties, our sorrows, our temptations.1
T| This House of Grace is the home in which the Christian lives. Its foundation is the Eock of Ages ; its dome is in heaven. Its entrance is by that " new and living way which he hath con- secrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh." Like the Father's house, it has many rooms ; and all of them are tapestried with the beauties of holiness. Over its door is the legend, " The Just shall live by Faith." Its table is spread with a feast of fat things and wine upon the lees; and this feast is furnished with guests clothed in fine linen clean and white.2
1 A. Maclaren. a D. J. Burrell.
ROMANS v. i, 2 297
4. Wherein we stand. This word "stand" is very emphatic here. It does not merely mean " continue," it suggests the Chris- tian attitude. Two things are implied. One is that a life thus suffused by the love and enriched by the gifts and adorned by the loveliness that come from God, will be stable and stead- fast. Resistance and stability are implied in the word. One very important item in determining a man's power of resistance, and of standing firm against whatever assaults may be hurled against him, is the sort of footing that he has. If you stand on slippery mud, or on the ice of a glacier, you will find it hard to stand firm ; but if you plant your foot on the grace of G-od then you will be able to " withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand." And how does a man plant his foot on the grace of God? Simply by trusting in God, and not in himself. So the secret of all steadfastness of life, and of all successful resist- ance to the whirling onrush of temptations and of difficulties, is to set your foot upon that rock, and then your " goings " will be established.