infinitely greater deliverance.· Salvation from death for the human race, through the virtue of his death as its Representative and Head, is the fundameutal truth of the. Christian system. On this truth rests the whole fabric of the kingdom of God among men. It is a kingdom founded, built up, consummated, glorified, by the power of .a crucified Redeemer. We are reminded how- " All the souls that are were forfeit once, And he who might the vantage best have took Found out the remedy." "We have redemption through his blood," delivered by it from "the power of -darkness." And the destroying angel cannot touch the house that has taken shelter .under the shield of its efficacious grace. 3. The pledge and seal of a consecrated life. 'l'he first Passover marked the beginning for tbe Hebrews of a new and distinctly national existence. However slow they may have been to recognize the full meaning ·-0f this, the most prominent feature of their position ever after was that principle oi separation and consecration to the Lord, of which the blood of the Paschal lamb was the 8ymbol and the seal. Special emphasis is given to this by the fact that the Passover was at first a purely family observance. Its moral influenc.i began at the very fountain-head of national life-the family circle. It was thus the memorial of a covenant that existed before the Law, before the priesthood; and may well be regarded as prefiguring a grace that is independent of all national and ecclesiastical conditions, all Churches, priesthoods, ritual orders-the bond of the fellowship of the elect and reconciled children of God. Thus is participation in Christ, "our Passover," the beginning of a new life, the seal of a new Divine relationship, the charter of spiritual freedom, the pledge of personal consecration, the passport to citizenship in the eternal kingdom of God. II. THE EXHORTATION. "Wherefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven," etc. 'l'he seven days' Feast of Unleavened Bread followed the slaying of the Paschal Jamb. In "the feast" the apostle may possibly have indirect reference to that sacred observance of "the Lord's Supper," in the institution of which he himself developed the Jewish Passover into its simpler Christian form (Luke xxii. 15, 16). This also, though no sacrifice, is both a memorial and a prophecy. " As often as ye eat," etc. •~l Car. xi. 26). But the relerence is far broader. It indicates the life-long feast of Christian fellowship and service. We are reminded: 1. That the value of all the solemnities of our religion-sabbaths, sacred seasons, special Divine manifestations, acts of worship, etc.-lies in the influence they exert on our personal character and conduct. Let our daily life be a " sacrament," a solemn yet joyous Passover of love, cand gratitude, and trust, and praise. 2. That in order to this we must be "purged from -0ur old sins." 'l'he evil of the past must be resolutely abandoned. "Malice and •wickedness" cast out from our dwellings, that "sincerity and truth" may take their place. Simplicity of mind, singleness of heart, honesty of purpose,-these are the ,cardinal Christian virtues, the very "bread and staff of life" to all Christian strength and nobleness.-W. Vere. 7, 8.-The Passover and the Lo1·d's Supper. The Lord's Supper is not the Passover; but the one sprang from the other, and is to Christians what the other was to Hebrews, the memorial of redemption. I. TllE MEANING OF THESE ORDINANCES, In the Passover were two parts, closely connected and yet distinct. 1. 'fhe sacrifice of an unspotted lamb. 2. Tbe feast 011 the sacrifice kept by each household. Under the established ritu,il in Israel, the rormcr :was rendered at the sanctuary. It required an altar, and the hand of an authorized priest or Levite. The latter was within the domestic circle. lt required no other celebrant than the head of a household. There was no altar, but a family table. 'l'he .service was not propitiatory, but commemorative and social. The Lord's Supper can never be clearly understood if these two elements are superstitiously confused together. 'l'h.ere is an exhibition, not a renewal, of the sacrifice of Christ. 'l'he altar has beeu -served, and its occupation is gone. We have no more nl:)ed of altar on earth, or sacrificing priest. Christ our Passover "has been sacrificed." What remains is the feast of commemoration and communion; and for this a table only is wanted, with one 18-! THE .FlHST El'lSTLE TO THE UOHJN'l'HlANS. [ea. v. 1-13.
unka,·encd condition, and only" the unleavened hread of sincerity and truth" be found in our homes. A pure, transparent, honest lile, corresponding in all things to the truth, becomes those who rightly "keep the feast."-Il.