us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption p."
But that which renders the Gospel pre-eminently suitable to us, is, that it finally secures to us the full possession of its blessings. It represents salvation, with all its attendant benefits, as contained in an everlasting covenant, and made over to all who truly believe in Christ q. It represents that covenant, also, as " confirmed by God himself with an oath, in order that, by two immutable things, in which it is impos- sible for God to lie, we may have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before usr." It further represents Christ as the Mediator of that covenant3, and all its blessings as treasured up in him for our use*: and therefore treasured up in him, because, if they had been com- mitted to us, they would have been insecure, or, rather, would infallibly be lost. The statements of Scripture upon this head are as strong and express as can well be conceived. The Lord Jesus Christ himself is said to live in the believer : " I am cruci- fied with Christ : nevertheless I live : yet not I ; but Christ liveth in me11." But stronger still is the Apostle's language in another place : " Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory x." Here, not only is Christ called our life ; but our life is said to be " hid with Christ in God :" and from that very circumstance we are justified in hoping, that, when he shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory. But I appre- hend that the real force of these words is not generally seen. I conceive the true import of them to be to the following effect. When God first made man, he committed the life of the whole universe to Adam, as their head and representative, that they might stand in him, or fall in him. But, notwith- standing Adam was perfect, and had but one single
p 1 Cor. i. 30. q Heb. viii. 8—10. r Heb. vi. 17, 18.
8 Heb. ix. 15. t Col. i. 19. " Gal. ii. 20.
x Col. iii. 3, 4.