This, beloved reader, is at once the cure for legality and levity. The Cross, in its double aspect, delivers from both. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Gal. i. 4). By the Cross the believer is as completely delivered from this present evil world as he is forgiven his sins. He is not saved in order that he may enjoy the world, but that he may get done with it entirely. We know few things more dangerous for the soul than the combination of evangelical truth with worldliness, ease and self-indulgence--the adoption of a certain phraseology of truth where the conscience is not in the presence of God--a merely intellectual apprehension of _standing_ without any earnest dealing with the practical _state_--clearness in doctrine as to title, without any conscientious reference to the moral condition.
We trust our reader will suffer the word of exhortation. We should deem ourselves deficient in faithfulness were we to withhold it. True, it is not an agreeable task to call attention to practical evils--to urge the solemn duty of self-judgment--to press upon the conscience the claims of practical godliness. It were far more grateful to the heart to unfold abstract truth, to dwell upon free grace and what it has done for us, to expatiate upon the moral glories of the inspired volume, in a word, to dwell upon the privileges which are ours in Christ. But there are times when the true, practical condition of things among Christians weighs heavily upon the heart and rouses the soul to make an urgent appeal to conscience in reference to matters of walk and conduct; and we believe the present to be such a time. The devil is ever busy, and on the alert. The Lord has granted much light upon His word for some years past. The gospel has been brought out with peculiar clearness and power. Thousands have been delivered from a legal state; and now the enemy is seeking to hinder the testimony by leading souls into a light, careless, carnal condition--leading them to neglect the wholesome and indispensable exercise of self-judgment. It is the deep sense of this that has suggested a word of warning on "_Legality and Levity_."
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"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus ii. 11-14).
The veil is rent:--our souls draw near Unto a throne of grace; The merits of the Lord appear, They fill the holy place.
His precious blood has spoken there, Before and on the throne: And His own wounds in heaven declare, Th' atoning work is done.
'Tis finished!--here our souls have rest, His work can never fail: By Him, our Sacrifice and Priest, We pass within the veil.
Within the holiest of all, Cleansed by His precious blood, Before the throne we prostrate fall, And worship Thee, O God!
Boldly the heart and voice we raise, His blood, His name, our plea: Assured our prayers and songs of praise Ascend, by Christ, to Thee.