but to do that which is good is not. For the good which I would I do not : but the evil '.which I would not, Umt I practise." Can the Law help us in this need? Can it inspire us with strength to do the true and the good? H has no power to convert or strengthen, or sanclify tho soul. It shows us our obligatio::i, but it affords us no help to discharge it. "What tho Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh " otc. (Hom. viii. 3, 4). ' II. THE 0APADILITY OF TFIE LAW. "The Law made nothing perfect, but it was the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God." We adopt the rendering of the margin of the Authorized Version, and the interpretation of Calvin, ~brard, et al., that the Law made nothing perfect, but it prepared the way for the better hope.1 'l'hia hope is the gospel hope; the hope which has been brought in by our great High Priest, The Law led the way to this. "The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ." "A large picture-book," as Dr. Binney says, "was put before the scholars in the splendid objects of the Levitical institute. 'l'he series of things included in this was like a series of prints arranged in order, bound and gilded, and spread before the young, wondering eyes of a. number of children. The altar with its fire a.nd blood; the laver with its purifying contents; the sacrifice with the penitent putting upon it his sin, or lifting his eyes and bis hands to heaven; the priest in the garments expressive of humiliation, or in his gorgeous robes of 'glory and beauty;'- these things, with many others that might be specified, were all like so many significant objects, vividly portrayed on the several leaves of an immense picture-book. By familiarity with them the minds of the learners were gradually to open to the spiritual idea. contained in each; or were to be prepared for apprehending it when, 'in the fulness of t.ime,' it should be revealed. . . . With new views of the central figure, so much the theme of prophetic song, and the object of national desire, the whole of the Levitical system undergoes a. change. It comes to have an intention, to be looked at as constructed for a. purpose, which gives to it a deeper and diviner significance thau was at first suspected. Priest and sacrifice, altar and propitiation, cease to be realities; they are understood to be only shadows and signs of what was to be found substantially in the person and work, the acts and offices of the great High Priest of our profession." This hope, for which the Law prepared the way, was better than any which the Law could inspire. 1. It is clearer as to its object. The Christian hopes for perfection of being; for holiness of heart and life here, and for heaven hereafter. These things are brought into clearer light in this gospel age than they were under the Law. 2. It is firmei· in itsfoundation. It rests upon Jesus Christ. He is the Rock upon which our confidence aud expectation are based. He has revealed God the Father unto us. He has rer:dered perfect obedience to the holy Law. He offered himself a Sacrifice for sin, of infinite and perpetual efficacy. He ever liveth to represent us in heaven, whither he has entered as our Forerunner. He is "a tried Stone, a sure Foundation" for the hopes of men to rest upon. 3. It is more blessed in its influence. " Through which we draw nigh unto God." The Judaic priesthood tended to make men feel their distance from God, and to keep them at a distance. 'fbe priesthood of Jesus Christ brings men near unto him. We need not now the human priest and the bleeding victim for our acceptable approach to the Divine Father. Through the Saviour we may draw nigh unto him in our penitence for sin, and obtain forgiveness; in our consecration to him, and meet with gracious acceptance; in the presentation of our needs to him, and receive suitable and abundant supplies o1nd in hallowed communion with him, and find in it the foretaste and earnest of heaven.-W. J.
Ver. 25.-0lirist's pc1fect pc,we.1 to eave. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost," etc. The text suggests the following obserl'ations :- 1. THAT C11R1s·r's SAVING POWER IS INFINITE. "He is able to save them to the uttermost." Notice: 1. The nature of this salvation. It may be viewed: ( l) Negatively. It is deliverance from sin; not merely from the punishment of sin., but from its guilt, its pollution, anll its power. (2) Positively. It is the conference of dernal 1 If the translation of the Revisocl Version, and the interpretation of Alford, Bleek, et al., be preferred, still the main lines of thought we aro pur~uiug would 1?0 suitable by taking vera. 18, 19 as text, iintl m,tkiug the chief divisions: l, The ubroga.tion of the ceremou111l law. 2. 'l'he intl'oductiou of lho better hope. l!'l6 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [en, vn. 1-28,