Heb. i. 14.

The foundation was thus laid of an universal peace and reconciliation, as well with man and all the lower creation on earth, as with the holy angels also in heaven, as they are severally, and according to their measure, capable of it.

Angels are restored to man's interests, and "sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation." They are now confirmed, also, as we have reason to think, in their state of purity and happiness by the one Eph. i. 10. great Pacificator, and are "gathered together in one" harmonious body under Christ.

Ps. ii. 8.

Acts xiii. 9.
Rom. viii.

19.

Rom. viii. 21.

The creature, and especially the heathen world, are virtually and in promise "given" to Christ" for his inheritance," and are " waiting," like the suppliant of Macedonia, in the vision to St. Paul, for the minister of reconciliation to "come over and help them." Their" earnest expectation is directed towards the manifestation of the sons of God."

The fabric of nature and the irrational animals are restored in some measure, and re-established, each to its proper end; and "delivered" in part "from the bondage of corruption" and the abuses to which man's apostacy, cruelty, and idolatry, had subjected them.

Jews and Gentiles, moreover, began to lay aside their pride and enmity; and numbers of them at the day of Pentecost united, and all of them will hereafter unite, in the faith of the one Mediator, "who is our peace, and hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between

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us, and reconciled both unto God in one body by Eph. ii. 14 the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."

so all Israel shall be saved."

"And Rom. xi.

26.

And, as the reconciliation is more and more carried into full practical effect, man will be united to man all over the world, till at length" the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them"-" and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain;"" for the earth shall be full of Isa. xi. 6the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

9.

22, 23.

And at last, in the heavenly state, the reconciliation will be perfected-things in earth and things in heaven will be entirely pacified, and man will be translated to the glorious "city, the heavenly Jeru- Heb. xii. salem, and an innumerable company of angels, and to the general assembly and church of the first-born which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant."

What a sublime scene is here presented to us in the vast extent and efficacy of our Lord's reconciliation!

If men would send us to angels and saints for any part of our salvation, we resent the suggestion as blasphemous. The Lord Christ is more than sufficient for us. We inquire not whether the angels and saints, whom certain divines recommend to us, have

the merits necessary to expiate any one of our sins, or the power and omniscience needful for the knowing and supplying of the least of our wants; for, whatever they are, they are nothing to us in this matter. We want them not. Having Christ in the blood of his cross as our intercessor and head, why should we go to creatures? Having "the image of the invisible God" in our Almighty Reconciler, what have we to do with fancied subordinate mediators? Our faith follows the revealed purpose of the Father, by him to reconcile all things unto himself, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. We cling to this simple and glorious way of access to the throne of grace. We will not lose our own souls, nor cast an insult on our divine Reconciler, by giving to creatures, "visible or invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers," any part of the honour, which they are so far from deserving, that they themselves needed first to be reconciled and "gathered into one" by him. No; they were created by him and for him," and " by him they" every moment "subsist;" and in him they have received the confirmation in holiness and joy which they now at length possess. To Christ, therefore, both they and we adhere. To him, our "Head," our "First-born from the dead," our "Reconciler," our High Priest, our Propitiatory Sacrifice, our Intercessor, the one only and all-sufficient Mediator between God and us, we look for pardon, peace, adoption, strength, answers to prayer, and eternal life.

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LECTURE X.

APPLICATION OF CHRIST'S RECONCILIATION TO THE COLOSSIANS.

COL. i. 21-23.

THE apostle having laid a broad foundation for his doctrine of reconciliation, proceeds to the application of it to the case of the Colossians. For man, sinful man, is, as we have observed, the only party properly, and in the strict meaning of the term, that needs to be reconciled to his offended Maker, as he alone is the transgressor, and the cause of all the misery in the world; as he alone is capable of pardon, renovation, adoption, and union with his God, in which reconciliation formally consists; and as he alone will and must be lost for ever, unless he obtains these blessings. It is to the salvation of man that the Scriptures, therefore, everywhere refer whatever they propose to us in all the branches of this doctrine.

In these verses, then, we have the apostle's application of the doctrine of our Lord's universal reconciliation set forth to the Colossians; in which, 1st. The corruption of our nature is deeply painted; 2nd. The meritorious cause of this reconciliation again distinctly marked out; 3rd. The end in view

I

proposed; and 4th. The necessity of continuing stedfast in the faith declared.

21. And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight. 23. If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.

Particulars move the mind more than generals. The apostle, therefore, comes to the individual case of the Colossians, as ministers now should do to that of their hearers. After stating the immense glory of Christ as Reconciler, and the vast extent of his work, St. Paul, coming to the individual case, says, And you you Colossians-you in particular—you to whom I am writing-you whom the seducers are endeavouring to draw aside-you were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your minds by wicked works.

1. Observe how strongly the corruption of our nature is depicted in several particulars.

The Colossians, and all men since the fall, are by nature alienated, estranged from God and goodness, from Christ and salvation, from the knowledge and obedience of faith, from the life and love of their Creator, from spiritual feelings, affections, and duEph. ii. 12. ties; in a word, from the "commonwealth of Israel, and the covenants of promise; being without hope and without God in the world."