efficacy that transcends all conception. It has reconciled God to a guilty world : and, when sprinkled on the hearts of men by faith, it fills them with " a peace which passeth all under- standing." And as Moses, in the quality of God's high-priest, sprinkled the blood both upon the altar and the people, so does our "great High- Priest," the Lord Jesus, now sprinkle his blood for us before the throne of God, and sprinkle it also on our hearts, whensoever we go to him for that purpose. The covenant too itself is continually exhibited to us as sprin- kled with his blood ; so that we may be certain that God will fulfil it to us in all its parts. If only we accept it, and rely upon it, all its blessings shall be ours, both in time and in eternity.]
3. The acceptance of it —
[There was much in the people's acceptance of that cove- nant worthy of our imitation : but there was also much which it becomes us carefully to avoid.
In the first place, guard against their ignorance. They were evidently not acquainted with the requisitions of the covenant to which they subscribed. They heard its contents read to them indeed ; but they did not enter into their full meaning, neither had they duly considered them. Let not this be the case with us, lest we " begin to build without counting the cost." Let us consider that it requires us to receive every thing as persons wholly destitute, and to receive it in every part without the smallest partiality or reserve. Let us re- member, that though it does not require holiness as a merito- rious condition of our acceptance, it promises holiness as one of its chief blessings f: and that, if we do not desire, and strive, to be " holy as God is holy," and " perfect as God is perfect," all our professed hope in the covenant is vain and delusive. We can no more be saved by the covenant without holiness, than we can without faith. Let this be known, and weighed, yea and be wrought into the soul as a fixed principle, before we presume to think that we have any interest in Christ, or in the covenant which he has sealed with his blood.
In the next place, guard against their self-righteousness. They imagined that they could so fulfil their obligations as to earn and merit all the blessings of the covenant. Let not us make so fatal a mistake. Let us rather acknowledge, that " if we had done all that is commanded us, we should be only unprofitable servants." But who will say that he has done all that is commanded him, or indeed any one thing, in which God could not discern some imperfection and defect ? If this be so, then do we need mercy and forgiveness even for our best actions ; and consequently can never merit by them the salva- tion of God. Let this then be also engrafted in our minds,
f Ezek. xxxvi. 25 — 27.