is written, "He suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us unto God-He died for our sins according to the scriptures-He was made a curse for us, that he might redeem us from the curse of the law, and that we who sometimes were afar off might be made nigh by his blood, and might through him have access by one Spirit unto the Father." In these most precious gifts, in this everlastingly meritorious Sacrifice, consists the office of our divine priest; and upon him the believer He is enabled upon this foundation to build all his hopes of acceptance. The great atonement made by Jesus's obedience unto death, is all his salvation, and all his desire-all his salvation: for he looks no where else, but to Jesus and him crucified: he depends upon nothing else to save him from suffering and death, from the curse of the law, and from being eternally separated from God. And this is all his desire to get a closer acquaintance, and more intimate communion with the crucified Jesus. This is his one study and delight

rests.

I have determined, says he, to know nothing but Jesus, by whom I have now received the atonement. God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. I would look upon all other things as dross and dung, compared to the excellency of the knowledge of that one offering, by which he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. In this his priestly office, bleeding and dying for me, he is beyond description, beyond conception, full of grace and truth; and daily he becomes more lovely in mine eyes. As I discover more of the exceeding sinfulness of my heart and life, my meritorious Priest grows more dear to me: I rest more safely on his atonement, satisfied of its infinite sufficiency to bring me near to God. And finding my faith and hopes established in it, and through it a free access to the Fa ther, Jesus, the sacrificed Lamb of God, becomes day by day more precious to my heart. His blood and righteousness are the continual rejoicing of my soul. Oh! how happy am I in this my royal Priest: for

now, even now, have I redemption in his blood, the forgiveness of sins-I am safe from the destroying angel under the blood of sprinkling; and I have also boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Daily do I experience more of the riches of his grace, comforting, strengthening, and sanctifying me through faith in his most precious blood. Through this he saves me from hell; through this he bestows upon me heaven; and for this shall be my song of everlasting praise. Unto him who hath thus exceedingly loved me, and hath washed me from my sins in his own blood, and hath made me, the vilest of sinners, a king and a priest (amazing grace!) unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

These are the breathings of the believing soul, now become well grounded upon the atonement, and living upon the priestly office of the Lord Jesus Christ, for peace and joy, and expecting to be established in them continually by his power, which makes another of his offices necessary for some cor

ruption or enemy, temptation or trouble, will be always trying to draw the eye of faith from looking unto Jesus the High Priest of our profession; and such is the believer's helplessness, that he could not be fixed a moment, was not Jesus a priest upon his throne, almighty to make all his enemies his footstool, and to rule in and over his people as: their

KING. In this relation he exceedingly endears himself to them: for they are in themselves weak and helpless. They are without strength to resist the least temptation, or to overcome the weakest enemy. They cannot of themselves subdue one corruption, or get the victory over a single lust. Neither can they perform one act of spiritual life. They cannot make nor keep themselves alive to God by any power of their own for without Christ they can do nothing. Most mercifully then is his kingly office suited to their weakness. He is the great king over all the earth, as God; but he has a peculiar rule in and over believers as God-man, the Head of the body the

church; to which he is connected by as close and near a bond, as the members of the body are with the head.

He is the

first in dignity, as the head is, and in all things has the pre-eminence; and what the natural head is to its members, the same he is to the members of his spiritual body: for he is the Head, from which all the body, by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. And for the ministering of proper nourishment and influence to his members, he has all power in heaven and earth in his hand. He is the Lord God omnipotent, whose kingdom ruleth over all. It is not an outward thing, like the kingdoms of the world; but, says he, the kingdom of God is within you. He sets it up within, in the hearts of his people, and there he sways the sceptre of his grace, subduing all the evils within, and conquering all the enemies without, by his almighty arm. He takes them and theirs under his royal protection, and manages all their matters for them, until he bring them by his power, un