render service in the lower sanctuary of" this present evil world." 'l'hc "saints in ,ight" are "without blemish," "faultless." God, who is himself" light," is our pledge, that in that mberitanee there shall be "no darkness at all," nothing "that defileth," etc, (Hcv. xxi. 27). II. A CHANGE OF CHARACTER. "Who made us meet," etc. The rtfercnce is not here to that growth in the elements of spiritual-mindedness by which we becorno increasingly filled for the employments and enjoyments of the heavenly inhoritnnco. Paul bus been praying for these (vers. 9-11); but l1ere he recognizes that tho new nature which God has bestowed on us has already qualified us "to be partakers," etc. A king's child is already, by his birth, capable of taking some part in the life and tho engagements of the palace. The penitent robber could talrn a place in Paradise on the day of his conversion. If we are partakers of the Divine nature wo are meet for the Divine inheritance. Already we are "children of the light." Our darkness is past, never to return; the light shineth, and when we change our pince it must needs be to an inheritance suited to our new natures and present characters (John xvii. 24). Without the new birth we shall be as unfit for our inheritance above as a boorish peasant, who had suddenly come to a peerage, for his new position, and as incapable of enjoying and really " inheriting" it as one who had no taste for art or sacred music would be if admitted to a picture-gallery or an oratorio; he could not "see the kingdom of God." ·what a glorious gift our new nature is I It is only by means of it we are made capable of receiving the blessings offered to us; as though a monarch could not only give us a high place in his service, but at the same time could endow us with power to discharge its duties, without which the mere position would be a bu1·dcn rather than a blessing. Thus God deals with us (2 Cor. v. 5 ; Eph. ii. 10). III. A CB.ANGE OF KINGDOMS. (Ver. 13.) 'l'he change of nature is accompanied by a twofold deliverance-we arc rescued from a lawless tyranny (ver. 13) and delivered from a lawful condemnation (vcr. 14). We speak of a change of kingdoms, for else- where we read of the "kingdom" of Satan who is "the prince of this world." But here the term suggests mere power (" the power of darkness," spoken of by Christ, Luke xxii. 53). 'l'he agents of Satan are described as "the powers, the world-rulers of this darkness" (Eph. vi. 12). We were under their power and under the tyranny of" the prince of I.he power of the air," who is at their head (Luke xi. 21; Eph. ii. 2). The mental anarchy of demoniacal possession is a fit symbol of the lawless tyranny of the kingdom of Satsn. From that tyranny the Father, with a strong band, rescued us, emancipated us, and transferred us into a Divine kingdom, of wbicl1 "the Son of his love" is the Head. LoYe is as much the essence of the only begotten Son as it is of the Father (1 John iv. 8-10). So that his kingdom is a kingdom where love is the ruling )JO'l"l"er, and where promises, privileges, and benedictions are the main motives for wearing bis easy yoke. We are made free citizens of that kingdom and shall share iu itti triumphs here and in its final glory. IV. A CHANGE OF STATE. (Ver. 14.) The kingdom which Christ established in our hearts is based on bis work as a Redeemer (Rom. xiv. 9; Phil. ii. 7-11). The pardon of sins and the translation into the kingdom are inseparable. Each blessing would be incomplete and insufficient without the other. Pardoned sinners left under the power of Satan can no more be thought of than subjects of Christ's kingdom still under wrath. We were under a lawful condemnation as well as a lawless tyranny. From that merited curse we have been ransomed by the Father's love through the redeeming work of Christ (Eph. i. 7; Titus iii. 5-,). The fundamental facts and doctrines of the gospel are all implied here (Rom. iv. 25; v. 1-11; 1 Cor. xv. 3, 4; Gal iii 10-13, etc.). We thus enjoy a change of state, being justified and no longer condemned. Note the words, "in whom," etc. Luther remarks that there is a good deal of divinity in the pronouns; so is there also in the prepositions. Christians not only receive hle~sings through Christ, but in Christ (ver. 19; 1 Cor. i. 30; 1 John v. 20, etc.); from whose fulness we receive (like the air, in which we live and move and draw our breath without limitation or restraint; not like water, supplied to us from time to time in a limited cistern). Notice too the necessity of all these four ~lcs~in~s tu us, and how absolutely dependent we are for them upon the love of God which 1s m Christ Jes\lil our Lord. Our enfranchisement in the kingdom of Christ includes free furgin[Jess, secures for Wl, by the work of the Spirit," the &anctificatiot1, without which C,11, J, 1-29.J THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSBIANS.
no mnn can seo tho Lord," nnrl ensures our admission to the heavenly inheritance. "Blessed aro they thnt wnsh their roLcs," etc. (Rev. xxii. 14; see also Acts xx. 32; xxvi. 17, 18; Rom. viii. 29, 30; Phil. iii. 20). \Vhat motives for "givina tha11k8 unto the Father" arise from the reception of such glorious gifts 1-E. 8. P. "