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118 THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

only asks for them that He may preserve them and purify them-who invites us to Himself, that He may prepare us for His own heaven; for participation in His own glory.

SERMON VI.

THE BELIEVER DEAD UNTO SIN.

ROMANS Vi, 2.

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The re

THIS injunction is based on the truth asserted in the preceding verse. sult of Christ's death is here stated, "For in that He died, He died to sin once;" and the purpose of His life, "But in that He liveth, He liveth unto God."

The penalty affixed by the Divine Lawgiver to the breach of His law is death! The incarnate Son suffered that penalty!

yet "He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners;" but (as St. John reminds us) "we know that He was manifested to take away our sin, and in Him is no sin."

Burdened with the heavy load of our iniquities, He stooped, and groaned, and died! And thus the weighty, the terrible charge of the law was met-the penalty paid the bond cancelled!

"Once

He died unto sin once-once only-because one offering was sufficient. in the end of the world He hath put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." The atonement was complete! it CAN receive No addition! it requires none! it is resplendent with the glory of eternal perfection! "By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

Desolation and anguish shall no more pervade His spirit through the withdrawal of the Divine countenance; nor shall the sword of justice be again commissioned to

awake and smite the Shepherd. "In that He died, He died unto sin once :" He then finished the work that the Father had given Him to do.

"But, in that He liveth, He liveth unto God;" the ransom having been effected by His death, the grave must resign its captive and as "the great Shepherd of the sheep," He is "brought again from the dead." "I," said He, "am He that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore."

Christ's eternal life in human nature, at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, is especially for the glory of God; it ensures the accomplishment of all the purposes of His grace.

Sin being removed, He lives to carry on and consummate the majestic design for the regathering of all things-their reunion in Himself; for the introduction of the new heavens and the new earth wherein righteousness shall for ever dwell.

The high priest under the law, having offered the sacrifice without the sanctuary, entered with the blood into the holiest, and sprinkled it upon and before the mercy seat. The blood of the everlasting covenant having been shed, is carried by the High Priest of His Church into heaven itself, where He " appears in the presence of God for us ;" and by Him the Holy Spirit is sent to "convince of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment;" to reveal the glories of His salvation, and make it known that "there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit," that they may be encouraged to "reckon themselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here then we arrive at the exhortation in the text, wherein the condition represented, and the estimate prescribed, may engage our attention.

First. The condition represented,

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