1 Pc-t. i. 12). The entrance of sin and its sprMd amona the human rnce mn.y hnve rrotlncc<l, t.hc,n~.h not distrust, yet something like dismay. Ilut tho death of Christ I:c1·cnlc<l the ml\Jesty and mercy of God as they had never been combined before. 'l'ho ,·ery fact. thl\t the lost sons of men could be "ma.de nioh" by the death of Christ brought these celestial sons of God still nenrer. 'l'he bonds which unite these unfallen yet finite creatures to God become firmer than ever, and thus the harmony of the universe becomes more complete. Such are some of the jewels in the crown of our Dh·"ine Mediator and Redeemer. , Learn: 1. The glory of the cross. Though "all the fulness" dwelt in Clirist even he could not effect a reconciliation except by death (Gal. vi. 14). 2. The eflfo~cy of the cross. Though erected on this tiny globe, its power extends throuahout 0 the universe. 3. The motives from the cross (2 Cor. v. 14, 15, 20).-E. S. P. Vcrs. 21-23.-Tlie apostle's comprehensive view of salvation. The work of Christ, though comprehensive enough_to affect the w~o\e universe, is so penetrative and personal that not a smgle human soul 1s overlooked In It. Note how Paul narrows his range of ,·icw from the universe to the individual: "To reconcile all things . . . you bath he reconciled . . . I was made a minister." But in his view of what the salvation of each individual was, there was no narrowness. In vers. 21-23 he gives us a com- prehensive Yiew of salvation. He speaks of the past, the present, and the future. I. WnAT wE WERE. "Alienated." True in an especial sense of the heathen Colossians (Eph. ii. 11, 12; iv. 17-19), we yet must not shrink from recognizing this as a descrip- tion of the natural state of all sinful men who have not yet accepted the offer of reconciliation. It thus agTees with our Lord's verdict on humanity (John ill. 3). If we do not relish communion with God or conversation about him, and have no eager desire to do his will and enjoy his favour, these are clear signs of alienation, that there is a gulf between us and our Father. Such alienation does not end in mere indifference; it leads to positive enmity (Rom. viii. 7). This" hard saying" of Scripture can easily be justified in the court of conscience, and needs to be impressed on the hearts of the unconverted. They may feel a complacent regard towards a God of their own imagining, but a positive aversion to the living and true God, who hates iniquity and "is angry with the wicked every day." Are they subject to the Law of God ?-that is the test. They are not. Both hearts and acts are in antagonism to him; "enemies in your mind in your evil works." Not to speak of those sins of the flesh from which they may have been restrained, selfishness and all its kindred sins of the Spirit are sufficient proofs of the alienation and enmity of mind in its relations to God. The lamentable indifference of men to Christ and his salvation is the crowning proof of the enmity of the heart towards God (John iii. 18, lD). II. WnAT WE A.RE. "Reconciled." The work of reconciliation is twofold. Thero was a reconciliation effected on the cross (ver. 23; 2 Cor. v. HJ). There is a reconcilia- tion still to be accomplished in the heart of every impenitent sinner (2 Cor. v. 20). For there are two obstacles in the way of complete reconciliation-the one is in the character of God; the other, in the character of man. The first arises from God's holiness; the second, from man's wilfulness. The first was removed by the work of Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice-" that he might himself be just, and the Justifier of him that bath faith in Jesus;" the second is taken away, immediately by the work of the Holy Spirit on man's heart, but mediately through the death and resurrection of Christ and all the spiritual powers that flow therefrom (John xvi. 7-11; Rom. v. 10). What a manifestation of" the riches of his grace which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence," thus to open a pathway by which a holy God might righteously make the first overtures of mercy to a reluctant rebel race I And was it not equally glorious to be able, without destroying man's freedom or doing any violence to his nature, to overcome his own unwillingness, and open a .rathway into his sinful heart for " the peace of God which passeth all understanding"? But at what a. cost this has been done! Paul never shrinks from " the offence of the cross." In the face of false teachers at Colossre and amongst ourselves, he affirms the reality of the sacrificial death of the Divine Son in whom" all the fulncss" dwelt. None but incarnate God could effect this reconciliation, and even he only "in the body of his flesh through death (Heb. i. 5-10). OJJ, L 1 -20.) 'l'HE EPIS'l'LE 'fO 'l'HE COLOSSIANS.
III. WrrAT WF: BJIALT, ~F:, "Presented fauH!ess." That the ~postle is lookin 6 forwnrd to the futuro we infer from ver. 23. He holds out before us the prospect of ntto.ining that perfection of character which we are striving to attain to, but which, as nn ideal, is perpetually risin:; and receding as we reach after it (Phil. iii. 12-14). We sbnll gain that holiness which we now" follow" (Heb. xii. 14; 1 Pet. i. 1.3--16). We sho.11 be "unblamable," or " without blemish" (a sacrificial term). The precept in Hom. xii. 1 will be perfectly fulfilled then. The confession in l Cor. iv. 3 will be needless then. We shall be" unreprovable." Now Christ must at least say," I have a few things against thee," and we confess Job ix. 20, etc. But then neither the accuser of the brethren, nor our own enlightened consciences, nor God himself, will reprove us (Rom. viii. 33, 34). And all this" before him." We shall be pure enough to bear the scrutiny and to be happy in the presence of that God whose holines~ is a con- suming fire and whose presence would therefore be intolerable to a sinful soul (1 John iii, 1, 2; Jude 24, 25). But there is a condition attached. Paul describes it in terms of generous confidence:" If, as I would take for granted," etc. (cf. Phil. i. 6). There is a truth to be believed ('' the gospel"), a confidence to be maintained (your" faith," 2 Cor. i. 24), and an expectation to be cherished ("hope;" cf. Heb. iii. 14; vi. 11; 1 Pet. i. 3-5; Jude 20, 21). Learn: 1. Our steadfastness in Christ is the best evidence of our reconciliation by Christ, and our earnest of a presentation in glory. The loss of faith is the knell of hope. 2. Our assurance of reconciliation and our hope of final perfection are both bound up with the glorious gospel, and may be the privilege of all; ior that gospel ia a message of salvation for every creature under heaven.-E. S. P.