sacrifice that takes away our sin1. The soul, once purged by the Redeemer's blood, is cleansed for ever111; and, once freed by his almighty grace, is free indeed'1!]
This beautiful view of the Gospel will easily ac- count for, II. The regard which the Christian pays to it —
A man immured in a dungeon, would not treat with indifference a proclamation of pardon ; nor can he who is in earnest about salvation, disregard the Gospel —
He endeavours to understand it — [He does not inspect it to gratify a foolish curiosity : he searches into it with care and diligence. Like the Beraeans of old, he maturely weighs its declarations0, and " proves all things in it, that he may hold fast that which is good." Even the angels themselves desire to investigate its mysteries: much more does he, who feels so great an interest in its con- tents. Nor does he do this in a transient manner, but with persevering diligence p.]
He labours also to obey it — [What he hears or reads is not suffered to escape his memory: he at least " gives earnest heed to it, lest at any time he should let it slip." He cannot be satisfied to " see his face in a glass, and presently to forget what manner of man he wasq:" he desires to have the word engraven on his heart, and transcribed into his life. When he hears of liberty, he feels a solicitude to obtain it; or, having obtained it, he strives to honour his almighty Deliverer. He is well aware
i John i. 29. m Heb. x. 14.
n Johnviii. 36. ° Acts xvii. 11.
P It is worthy of observation that as St. Peter, speaking of the angels, uses the word irapatcvxpai in reference to the bending posture of the cherubims that were over the ark, 1 Pet. i. 12 ; so St. James, speaking of the Christian, uses both TrupaKvxpag and 7rapa/j,Eirag, in reference to the continuance of the cherubims in that posture. The ark was an eminent type of Christ ; in it was contained the law ; and over it was placed the mercy-seat : overshadowing all, were the cherubims of glory; Heb. ix. 4, 5. These things were typical of evangelical truths ; Heb. x. 1. They represented God as reconciled to us through Christ, by whom the law was kept inviolate : compare Ps. xl. 7, 8. with Heb. x. 7. And the cherubims represented, not angels only, but men also, as contemplating and searching into this stupendous mystery.
1 ver. 23, 24.