Sunday after Ascension.

"THE FORERUNNER."

Learn, Heb. vi. 17-20. Passages to be referred to,—Gen. xlv. ; Lev. xvi. ; John xiv. ; Rev. v.

IN seeking for some title of our Lord by which we may follow Him in His ascended life, we are led to that very striking one, only mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Heb. vi. 20. The Forerunner (according to the original) was the advance-guard or pioneer of an army. He went in front to spy out, take possession, or prepare for the coming host. And thus we, of the army of the living God, look on into heaven, "whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.” But why for us?

1. To prepare a place, John xiv. 2. How blessed the thought of home associations, longsevered ones meeting never to part, 2 Sam. xii. 23; 1 Thess. iv. 16-18. The home of God is the hope of the redeemed, Ps. xxvii. 4. Their citizenship (explain) is in heaven, Phil. iii. 20. They are of the household of God, Eph. ii. 19; Ps. xcii. 12, 13. They are members of the heavenly family, Eph. iii. 15. Jesus, the elder brother,

must go and make ready for us in the Father's house, John xvii. 24; 1 Pet. 1, 4, 5. Joseph must go first, through suffering, into Egypt, that his brethren may follow, Gen. xlv. 5; Ps. cv. 17. He is the Forerunner.

2. To carry on intercession, Heb. ix. 24. It was essential that, as our great High Priest, He should fulfil the second part of His workpleading, Heb. vii. 25; 1 John ii. 1, 2; sympathising, Heb. ii. 17. How very blessed the words of Exod. xxx. 36. Everything all our wants, necessities, &c.-"put before" the Lord, Heb. iv. 14-16. How precious Exod. xxviii. 12, 29; the names of His people borne collectively before God on His shoulders, Eph. v. 25; individually on His heart, Cant. viii. 6. Think of His appearance to His people from heaven, Acts vii. 56, ix. 4, 5, &c. He is the Forerunner.

3. To send the Holy Ghost, John xv. 26. The Spirit could not come to dwell with God's people till Jesus was gone into heaven, John xvi. 7. There must be the Saviour's intercession, John xiv. 16. There must be His glorification, John vii. 39. Upon that the promise was built, Acts ii. 33; see Acts i. 4. But no sooner has Jesus passed into the heavens than the Holy Spirit descends to be an abiding comforter; to carry out the work of Christ on earth; and thus, again, is He the Forerunner.

What boldness this thought gives us in approaching God! Heb. iv. 16, x. 19-22. "Our

Saviour Christ has gone before," Eph. ii. 18; see Gen. xlv. 26-28. He has promised not to leave us comfortless, John xiv. 18, 26. Be this our joy, our hope in the thought of our ascended Lord!

Whit-Sunday.

"CHRIST."

Learn, Acts ii. 33-36. Passages to be referred to, Cant. i. 1-7; Isa. xi. 1-9, lxi. 1-3; John xvi. 7-15; Acts ii. 1-36.

THE title of our Blessed Lord which we have chosen for our lesson this Whit-Sunday is one familiar to us all. It seems to be connected in a peculiar manner with the event of the day of Pentecost-the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; for Peter declares, "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and CHRIST," Acts ii. 36; see John vii. 37-39.

Now let us first see what this name signifies. The word Christ is the same as Messiah, and means Anointed, John i. 41 (margin). It points, therefore, to our Lord's official capacity. Great people, as you may be aware, in ancient times were anointed, and so set apart to their various offices-Prophets, as Elisha, 1 Kings xix. 16; Priests, as Aaron, Ps. cxxxiii. 2; Kings, as Saul, 1 Sam. x. 1.-Even now the custom is observed at the coronation of our kings and

queens; and thus was our Lord the Christ, as we shall see by inquiring—

1. How He was anointed. distinctly, Acts x. 38. The

Peter tells us this Holy Spirit is often in Scripture compared to oil, Ps. xlv. 7; cf. lxxxix, 20; Zech. iv. 12. It was by the Holy Ghost that our Lord was anointed to be the Prophet of His people, Isa. lxi. ; see Luke iv. 16-21; the Priest of His people, Heb. ix. 14; see Exod. xxix. 21, 29; the King of His people, Acts ii. 36; see Ps. lxviii. 18; and this is the anointing that we must have, to be made unto God kings and priests, 1 John ii. 20, 27: the unction of the Spirit.

2. Why He was anointed. It was surely not for Himself. He needed nothing, Col. i. 15, 16. No; it was entirely for His people, Col. ii. 10; that they might receive from His fulness, like the water from the spring, the light from the sun, John i. 16; Eph. iv. 7. He is the anointed Prophet, that we might have His teaching, John xiv. 26, xvi. 13. He is the anointed Priest, that we might partake of His sacrifice and intercession, John xvi. 14; Heb. vii. 25. He is the anointed King, that we might enjoy His gifts and largesses, Eph. iv. 8; and thus are we who believe in Jesus partakers of the anointing, Rom. viii. 9. We have the Holy Spirit to communicate the fulness of Christ.

This is the great lesson for us to lay to heart on Whit-Sunday. Am I in Christ? 2 Cor. v. 17.