attribute which is the very crown of all the culture of humanity; for it carries the soul up nee.rest to the everlasting Fountain of wisdom, power, goodness, from which it came. It enters in only where repentance opens the way, and spiritual renewal puts the heart into wholesome relations with the Divine will. It is the peculiar gift for which the world stands indebted to revelation, and it is multiplied just in proportion as the heart is formed into _the likeness of Christ's. It is the summit of manhood, but no less the grace of God. It is achieved by effort, because your free will must uso the meaus that secure it; and it is equally the benignant inspiration of that Father who hears every patient petition." 2. How shall we pwrsue holiness? Not by efforts, however sincere and earnest, after self-reformation or self-improvement. It is assumed that the persons who are exhorted to follow arter holiness have accepted Christ as their Saviour and Lord. Supposing that we are sincere Christians, wo should seek for holiness. (1) By keeping our spiritual nature open to Divine impression and action. We must let Christ enter, and dwell, and work, and reign within us. (2) By com- munion with Jesus Christ. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise." " We all, with unveiled face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord," etc. (2 Cor. iii. 18). (3) By conscious and deliberate imitation of Christ. " Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me." "I have given you an example," etc. (John xiii. 15). "Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps." This imitation obviously includes endeavours to render complete and hearty obedience to the Divine will. (4) By diligent use of Divine ordinances. The holy Book will be prayerfully and thoughtfully read, "the assembling of ourselves together" will be welcomed, and the ministry of the Word and the sacraments will be devoutly considered and accepted. (5) This pursuit should be continuous. "It is not by fits and starts that men become holy. It is not occasional, but continuous, prolonged, and lifelong effort8 that are required; to be daily at it; always at it; resting but to renew the work; falling but to rise again. It is not by a few rough, spasmodic blows of the hammer that a graceful statue is brought out of the marble block, but by the labour of con- tinuous days, and many delicate touches of the sculptor's chisel. It is not with a rush and a spring that we are to reach Christ's character, attain to perfect saiotsbip; but step by step, foot by foot, hand over hand, we are slowly and orten painfully to mount the ladder that rests on earth and rises to heaven" (Dr. 'l'homas Guthrie). (6) The pursuit both of peace and of holiness should be zealous. The word used by the writer in enjoining it shows this. It means to pursue rapidly, to follow eagerly, to earnestly endeavour to acquire. Half-hearted efforts are of little avail. As the miser seeks to amass temporal wealth, as the enthusiastic student strives after knowledge, so let us follow after peace and holiness. And with even greater eagerness should we -pursue them because of their greater importance. III. HoLINESS AS A QUALIFICATION FOR REA VEN. "Sanctification, without which no man shall see the Lord." 1. Heaven is the place of the supreme manifestation of God. (Cf. Ps. xvi. 11; xvii. 16; 1 John iii. 2; Hev. vii. 15; xxii. 3, 4.) 2. Holine:;s is an essential qualification for the perception of this manifestation. " Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see God." "The pure bee.rt," says Tholuck, "itself is the organ whereby the vision of God becomes attainable by us." Without holiness a person bas no more fitness for heaven than a blind man h&s for the enjoyment of a beautiful picture-gallery or a glorious landscape. 3. If it were possible for an unholy soul to enter heai•en it could find no peace or happiness there, but would realize intense misery. " Heaven would be hell to an irreligious man . . . . How forlorn would be wander through the courts of heaven I He would find no one like himself; he would see in every direction the marks of God's holiness, and these would make him shudder. He would feel himself always in bis presence. He could no longer turn his thoughts another way, as be does now, when conscience reproaches him. He would know that the eternal eye was ever upon him; and that eye of holiness, which is joy and life to holy creatures, would seem to him an eye of wrath nnd punishment. God cannot change his nature. Holy he must ever be. But while he is holy, no unholy soul can be happy in heaven. Fire does not inflame iron, but it inflames straw. It woul,l cease to be fire if it did not. And so heaven itself would be fire to those who would fain escape across the great gulf from the torments of hell. 'l'ho finger of Lazaru~ would but increase their thirst. Tho very 'heaven that is over their heads' will li<1 380 THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE HEBREWS. [ce. xu. 1-20
'brl\ss' t_o th<;tn" (Dr. J. H. Newml\n). Therefore, let us "follow after peace with all 1,1l'11, :rno hohness, ·without which no man shall sec the Lord."-W. J.