enumerates in the passage before us : and we shall consider them in the order in which they lie —
I. A state of favour and acceptance with God —
[Man, as a sinner, is exposed to the wrath of God, and is under a sentence of actual condemnation. But being justified by faith in Christ, he is freed from guilt through the atoning sacrifice which has been offered for him, and is brought into a state of reconciliation with God. From the moment that he believes in Christ, " the anger of God is turned away from him ;" and there remains, if we may so speak, no longer any thing upon him, which can call forth the Divine displeasure against him : his sins are all washed away in the Redeemer's blood ; and he is clothed from head to foot in the robe of the Redeemer's righteousness, so that in the sight of God he stands without spot or blemish a. Having thus perfect recon- ciliation with God, he has peace in his own conscience, even that " peace of God which passeth all understanding."
Into this state " he has access by faith in Christ;" and in it " he stands," having this peace as an abiding portion. It is the very portion which Christ himself promised to all his faithful followers; " In me ye shall have peace:" " My peace I give unto you." And hence the Lord Jesus bears, as his own peculiar title, that glorious name, " The Prince of PeaceV]
Next, in succession to this blessing, is,
II. A joyful hope of his glory —
[The believer, being made a child of God, is become " an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ0:" and he immediately begins to look forward to that inheritance to which he has been begotten, which is " incorruptible, and undefiled, and never- fading ; and is reserved in heaven for them, as they are reserved by the power of God for itd." To this inheritance our blessed Lord encouraged his Disciples to have respect continually, and to anticipate in their minds the everlasting fruition of it : " In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be alsoe." And accordingly we find the Apostle Paul sweetly assured of the possession of it, as soon as he should be liberated from this earthly tabernacle f; and teaching all to expect the same portion at the period of their dismission from the bodys.
a Eph. v. 27. Jude, ver. 24. b Isai. ix. 6.
c Rom. viii. 17. d 1 Pet. i. 4, 5.
e John xiv. 2, 3. f 2 Cor. v. 1. Phil. i. 21, 23.
e 2 Tim. iv. 8.