say~ the blood figured lltonement, th'e water ablution. The side of Chrlgt, he mS,-S,i waa the fountain of our sacl"&ments. , , ·• ry. ~veness of si~a lis a fund'!'m~nta.l element of this redemption. The irospel of Chmt 1s II gospel of forgiveness. Sin 1s blott.ed out freely thron"h Christ's merit. We need nothing -short of forgi'\"enes.<1, &nd should not rest till, we ha~e it. V. All this is t.o be enjoyed in union to Christ. "In whom" we have redemption. Thus union to Christ is the turning-point of all blessing. , Ver. 10.-<Jhrist ths Head of all. "To gather t.ogether, under,.one• head all thin"'s in Christ.'' Unity a characteristic of God's works. Unity of the solar system,· the i;tars, the heavens. In the moral and spiritual world there are diverse orders of holy beillg. Te us only two are known-angels and men. Btit there may-be many more. All these it is God's purpose to form into one economy. Jesus Christ is·the Centre of this great plan. We have some glimpses of this in the Apocalypse,' .. Besides countless 1lngels, "Every creatme which is in heaven, and on -the earth, and -under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying," etc. (Rev. v. 13). This does not imply that there will be nothing outside this glorious host of holy beings; for the Apocalypse affirms the contrary. I. Tnis subject gires us &n exalted conception of the place of honour t.o be occupied by.Christ in eternity. As was his humiliation, so will his glory be. II. It gives us also. an exalted conception of the glory and dignity of all true believers. How glorious the fellowship of such an order of beings I How insignificant the honours of earth, for which men toil so hard I Vera. 13, 14.-Tlie seal oj the Spirit and the earnest of the inheritanr,e, 1,I. THE SPIBIT IS Him!ELF THE SEAL BY WHICH BELIEVERS ABE KNOWN AS Gon's. 1. In h·is inward opero,twn.& on their hearts. (1) Revealing t.o them the all-sufficiency' of the Saviour. (2) Enabling them to close most heartily with his offers. (3) Satisfying them with Christ and his blessings. (4) Drawing out their hearts in love, trust, and cheerful obedience. (5) Conforming their wills and affections to the will of God. 2. In the out1llll,rd effects of his working. (1) Generally, in their contrast to their former life. (2) In. their renewal in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. (3) In their specific points of resemblance to Christ. (4) In their 11,ctive interest_in Christ's work and kingdom. (5) In their visible ripening for heaven. • II. THE SPIRlT 18 ALSO ·'rB:E EARNEST OF THE INHERITANCE. Heaven a coridition more tha.n a locality. Heaven is brought to men before they are brought to-:hee.ven. Ilenewa.J. of 801ll is the beginning of heaven. It is thus the :firstfruits· of their inheri- tance. 'It is the pledge and assurance of "more t.o follow." Apart from this there is no heaven. " Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.n Vera. 15-23.-Pmym- for B'jliritual growth. General characteristics of ·Paul's prayers (see Exposition, ver. 16). The prayer is (1) retrospective; (2) prospecti1Je. L RETROSPECTIVE. Consists of thanksgiving (ver. 16). Happy key-note for prayer. . . II. PBOSPECTIVE. Of supplication. Here we may note : 1. The name by ,which God is invoked (ver. 17; see Exposition). 2. The blessing sought, viz. further illumi- nation in the knowledge of God's will. 3. The points needing to be more fully revea,led, viz.: (1) The hope of his calling, or to which he calls. (~) The riches of the gl_orJ of his inheritance in the saints. (3) The greatness of his power toward believers. 4. The workinu of ,God's power in Christ, as foreshadowing his working in believers. (1) In his res~ection. (:.!) In his elevation to God's right hand. (3) In his universal dominion. (4) lu his relation to the Church. To what a glorious elevation we are carried in such prayers I We seem to luxuriate iu inanit,e stores of bleseing. Obs£:rve, again, that all is connected with Christ and his redemption. If the power tha.t rai8ed Christ 11hould raise us, to what a glorious elevation should we rise! Vtr. ?:2.-Chri8t Tit:ad over all things for the Church. 'l'he double headship of Christ -(I) Head l'Jj tl,e Cl,urch; a,,d (2) l.'ead 011er all t/,ings/vr the Church. on. r. 1-23.]' THE EPISTLE TO THE EPIIESIANB. 11
I. As HEAD OF TllE CnuRoH, he is the eole Fountain of authority, grace, influence, blessing., No other to be eet above him or alongside of him on hiH throne. U. As HEAD OVER ALL THINGS FOB THE CHURCH, he has complete control: 1. Over the devil and all his hostR, to restrain their malice, etc. 2. Over the angels, to com- mand their services. 3, O?er all kings and rulers, heathen and Christian, to counteract their opposition or summon them to his side. 4. Over Nature and all her resources. 6;, Over the whole realm of mind-philosophy, art, soience, literature, etc. 6. Over all the stores of grace and blessing (eee Ps. ii.). But this headship of Christie not to be held as superseding civil authority, which is a Divine ordinance in its own sphere. '.l'hough Christ is Head over all things for the Church, he has not called bis ministers to she.re this authority ; he keeps it in his own hands. , Ver. 23.-The, Olmrch the fulness of Ohrise. The Church, when completed, will show the fulness of Christ's love, grace, wisdom ; it will reflect the fulness of his meek- ness, self-saorifice, forbearance, ana bountifulness; it will show the fulness of his power to bless the individual and to regenerate the world.