wash, if we read the sentence in another manner.

It is

not enough that Jesus does some particular thing for thee; he must wash thee; for thou art filthy from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot. 66 But," sayest thou, "he teaches and instructs me." And so a Judas might boast, and yet perish. "But he has heard my prayer, and conferred benefits upon me." This he has done to many, who are now consuming in the hottest hell. "And he preserves me from many ebullitions of sin; he often knocks at my door, and frequently refreshes me with his words." it so. The question here is, "Has he washed thee?" If Be not, whatever else he may have done to thee, woe betide thee! It is the washing alone which proves effectual.

Read a third time, "If I wash thee not," and lay the emphasis on the word thee. "I know very well that I must be washed," sayest thou. But this knowledge is not sufficient. "I have also directed many to the fountain of the house of David." That may be: but hast thou been thyself in this bath? "This and that individual also received the forgiveness of their sins." We wish them joy upon the occasion. But listen. "If I wash thee not," saith the Lord, "thou hast no part with me." Hear it, and awake from thy delusion. O take this saying of the Lord, addressed to Simon, home with thee, as directed also to thee! I really know of nothing more important to inscribe on the tablets of thy memory, than these words in their three-fold reading. He must wash-thou must be washed—and he must wash thee, or else thou wilt remain what thou art, a sinner, and worthy of death.

But wherewith is this washing accomplished. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son," exclaims the apostle, "cleanses us from all sin." The Church triumphant has "washed its robes, and made them white in the blood of

the Lamb." It is said to those who are justified in the sight of God, "ye are come to the blood of sprinkling." He who partakes of the blessing procured by Immanuel's passion, possesses the robe that is washed by blood, and is free and cleansed from his leprosy. There is no more condemnation to him. The sins of his life have received their reward. They are punished, compensated, atoned for, and blotted out of God's remembrance. They are buried as soon as committed-buried before they are committed. And if the blood of the Lamb removes the spots -it also serves for a beauteous dress, and a mark of distinction. He to whom the chastisement which Christ endured is imputed, also receives the benefit of Christ's spotless obedience. Even as justification proceeds from the latter, so sanctification likewise in an equal degree. Live in this blood by faith, and like a miraculous dew, it will cause the virtuous germ of thy new nature to spring up and expand. It will flow like oil into the flame of thy love, and will assist humility in obtaining the victory in thee. It will render thee merciful, and forgiving, and patient. It will embitter to thee the vain delights of the present world, and give thee courage and fortitude in the distresses of life, as well as at death. Yes, in whatever way thou regardest it, it is true what the Scriptures say, that "life is in the blood."

The saints above sing the song of the Lamb, and that with reason. They are exclusively indebted for what they have, are, and enjoy, to his blood. That the Lamb was slain for them is the cause, the only cause of their being in heaven. With it they attained at the same time, their worthiness, as well as their inheritance, in the most easy, comfortable, and gratuitous manner. Their salvation has cost them nothing, except possibly, the lying and

visionary image of a righteousness of their own, which they were compelled of necessity to sacrifice to truth. The entire purchase-money for the glory to which they are exalted, has been paid by another. And this payment was sufficient, once for all. The capital was ample, and required no addition of any kind from any other quarter.

O thou blood of the Lamb of God-thou wondrous and omnipotent blood! if the world count thee as unclean, and tread thee under foot, I will speak thy praise as long as there is breath in me, and esteem thee as my highest and dearest possession! Were should I be, hadst thou not flowed for me? Thy living flood swept away the hateful image of my corrupt nature. Sprinkled with thee, I came forth a new creature, and out of thee sprung up my palm of triumph over hell and the grave. But who can sufficiently praise thee, and the boundlessness of thy power and efficacy? Blood, a drop of which is sufficient instantaneously to render blood-red transgression as white as snow; which in a moment, washes me cleaner than even the angels themselves after a sanctification of a thousand years; which arrays me in an innocence and acceptableness in the sight of God, to which the beauty of Adam in paradise did not extend; which covers my sinful head with crowns of life, and opens out the road to me, even into the presence-chamber of the triune God, which makes room for me to stand with joy before his face, and elevates, capacitates, and gives me a right to an endless repose in his arms, and on his paternal bosom. Praiseworthy and miraculous blood-who can worthily praise thee? Mayest thou never remove from the sight of my spirit, when this world shrouds itself in night and darkness before the closing eye of this mortal frame. O that I might behold thy lustre, blood of the cross! when eternity unfolds itself be

fore me, and when in its sight, the register of my sins in all their blackness once more presents itself more vividly than ever to my view. O then I shall be strong! Then I shall fear nothing. In beholding thee, I shall overcome all my terrors. Continue therefore ever present to my faith! Redden the threshold of my heart with the brightest radiance! O sacred blood, come upon all of us, for our everlasting atonement and reconciliation! Amen.

XIII.

THE WAY TO BE HEALED.

In the midst of a barren waste, not far from Bethlehem, a simple stone elevates itself, covered with the moss of age, which silently relates to the listentng ear of the traveller, many a mournful as well as consolatory and heart-cheering tale. The patriarch Jacob set it up over

the

grave of his beloved Rachel, and this simple witness of a highly significant event, stands upon record to this day. Come, let us socially take our seats for a few moments round the stone, and likewise listen to the wondrous voices which whisper from it. They are voices of very profound and glorious truth, bearing upon their wings ideas both of life and death.

It was here, where the stone stands, that Rachel was gathered to her fathers. Almost the whole of believing Israel died "on the road to Bethlehem." In the prospect of the appearing of the great morning-star, they lived, rejoiced, wept tears of joy, nor heeded reproach or the toils. of life; but in this prospect their eyes grew dim, and their hearts ceased to beat. They heard the bells of Bethlehem from afar; but were not permitted to behold Bethlehem's glory. Rachel's lot was also the lot of her children. They died on the march to the city of David. Rachel died indeed on the journey; but nevertheless the worthy soul arrived at home. Such is still the case with many. O, if only the pole of our carriage is but directed towards Bethlehem-let the wheels be unable to reach the spot on