it with augmented energy ; " As we said before, so say I now again. If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed ^."
To the death of Christ he ascribes every blessing we possess. We are " reconciled to God by the blood of his cross ;" we are '' brought nigh to him," " have boldness and access with confidence" even to his throne ; we " are cleansed by it from all sin ;" yea, " by his one offering of himself he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." But there is one passage in particular wherein a multitude of spiritual blessings are comprised, and all are referred to him as the true source from whom they flow. The pas- sage we speak of, is in the first chapter to the Ephe- sians, where, within the space of eleven verses, the same truth is repeated at least eight or nine times. In order to enter fully into the force of that passage, we may conceive of St. Paul as maintaining the truth in opposition to all its most determined adver- saries, and as labouring to the uttermost to exalt Christ in the eyes of those who trusted in him : we may conceive of him, I say, as contending thus: " Have we been chosen before the foundation of the w^orld ? it is m Christ. Have we been jwedestinated unto the adoption of children ? it is in and by Him. Are we accei)ted? it is in the Beloved. Have we re- demiHion, even the forgiveness of sins ? it is in Him, through his blood. Are all, both in heaven and earth, gathered together under one Head ? it is in Christ, even in Him. Have we obtamed an inheritance? it is in Him. Are we sealed zvith the Holy Spirit of promise ? it is in Him. Are we blessed zvith all spiritual blessings ? it is in Christ Jesus. When the Apostle has laboured thus to impress our minds with the idea that our whole salvation is in, and by, the Lord Jesus Christ, is it not surprising that any one should be ignorant of it ? Yet we apprehend that many persons, who have even studied the Holy Scriptures, and read over this passage a multitude of times, have yet never
B Gal. i. 8, 9.