him they have boldness to enter into the holiest," and to pre- sent themselves before the majesty of heaven.]
Nor shall the sacrifices which they offer be pre- sented in vain —
[They come not indeed with the blood of bulls and of goats; but they bring the infinitely more pi'ecious blood of Christ. On account of his atonement, their prayers and praises, their alms and oblations, yea, all their works of righteousness come up with a sweet savour before God, and their persons as well as services find a favourable acceptance in his sight"1. Nor though, through the infirmity of their flesh, their offerings be very imperfect, shall they therefore be despised : if only they be presented with an humble and willing mind, God, even under the law, and much more under the Gospel, has promised to accept them11.]
Let us learn from this subject,
1. Our duty —
[Whatever be our attainments in the divine life, we have one daily and hourly employment, to be " coming to Christ :" by these means we shall be advanced and established ; but, if we neglect them, we shall fall and perish. Nor must the opinions of men be of any weight when opposed to this duty : whoever despise, we must " choose " him ; whoever abhor, we must account him " precious :" if the whole universe should combine against him, we must be firm in our adherence to him. Nor must we rest in cold uninfluential professions of regard. We must devote ourselves to him, while we build upon him ; and present ourselves, and all that we possess, as living sacrifices unto our God and Father.]
2. Our privilege —
[Being brought nigh to God by the blood of Christ, it is our privilege to maintain fellowship with him as our reconciled God. We should banish all doubts about the acceptance of our feeble endeavours ; and come, like the high-priest himself, even to his mercy-seat, there to make known our wants, and obtain the blessings we stand in need of. Methinks our state on earth should resemble, in a measure, the state of those in heaven : we should possess the same humble confidence, the same holy joy: and our sacrifices, enflamed with heavenly fire, should ever be ascending from the altar of a grateful heart, that God may smell a sweet savour, and " rejoice over us to do us good."
Thrice happy they who so walk before him ! Let it be the
m Heb. xiii. 15, 1G. n Lev. xxii. 19 — 23. 2 Cor. viii. 12.
1S8 l PETER, II. (J. [2393.
ambition of us all to do so : then shall we indeed be " temples of the Holy Ghost0:" we shall "draw nigh to God, and God will draw nigh to us;" we shall " dwell in God, and God will dwell in us;" and the communion, begun on earth, shall be carried on and perfected in glory.]
0 1 Cor. vi. 19.