For every one that useth milk, is unskilful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. Heb. v. 13. THE apostle, with some severity of expression, tells the Hebrews, or converted Jews to whom he wrote, that instead of being capable of strong meat, or attaining to the perfection of Christian doctrine, and being skilful in the word of righteousness, they chose to continue babes in knowledge; and, like children, had all their work to begin again. It is, therefore, a matter of the greatest importance to know what that word of righteousness is, in which they were unskilful, not having their senses exercised to discern between good and evil, truth and error. Let it only be observed, that they were looking back to the law, and consequently in danger of returning to it for justification, and thus falling from the doctrine of grace. The design of this epistle was to keep them stedfast in the faith; and it will appear at once, that the righteousness which they were ignorant of, or ready to reject, is that of Christ, "who, by one offering," the finishing act of his obedience, "hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Heb. x. 14. How many, at all times, who have the name and appearance of well-grown Christians, are just such babes as the Hebrews were, and have the same need to be told that they are unskilful in the word, reason, or ground of a justifying righteousness, and exhorted to go on to perfection in Christian doctrine, as well as to further degrees of Christian holiness! Unskilful I am, O Lord, I sip the milk of thy sweet word, But ask for stronger meat. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power. Y 1 Thes. i. 5. By the Gospel the Son of God and divine truths are revealed to us; and by the Spirit they are revealed in us. External revelation by the word, and internal by the Spirit, are both necessary to salvation. Tho' Paul was separated from his mother's womb to be called by the grace of God, yet he had not an inward revelation of Jesus Christ to his heart till he heard the external word of Christ with his ear, saying" Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Acts ix. 4. Hence learn to prize both the outward testimony of the word and the inward testimony of the Spirit. The Gospel is a revelation of Jesus Christ, without which we could never have known that our sins are atoned for by the blood, our persons justified by the righteousness, and our souls everlastingly saved by the work of Christ; but is this knowledge all that is necessary to salvation? No; persons may attain a notion of these things in the head, and understand somewhat of them, and yet the heart be without precious faith in Christ, destitute of the love of Christ, and of any saving hope in him. Professor, Look well to it; many have said, Lord, Lord, and have heard Christ preach in their streets, who little expected to meet with this rebuff from him, I know not whence ye are; depart, ye workers of iniquity!" Many heard the gospel preached in Thessalonica; but they alone were blessed, to whom it came " with power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." The gospel is like sun and show'r, If once the Spirit seals the word; It comes with truth, and comes with pow'r, And will both light and life afford. To reveal his Son in me. Gal. 1. 16. FROM hence begins spiritual life: - a life proceeding from God, and holding communion with God, and tending to the glory of God the honour and happiness of our souls ariseth from this revealing of Christ in us. Oh, for the reviving comfort of this, while we consider it! To reveal Christ in us, is to make such a clear discovery of the matchless charms and glory of his person to our souls, as we never saw before; so that our hearts are enamoured with him, we choose him, love him, delight in him, and cleave to him in all his offices and characters; for, by the eye of our soul, we then behold his glory, — the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth to us miserable sinners; hence he is the only beloved of our souls. Without this revelation of Jesus Christ in us, alas! what is all outward profession! No more than mere talk, dry formality, and heavy drudgery. O my soul! O my dear frends! be not content to live without a constant revelation of Christ to your souls! This makes the conscience, peaceful, the heart heavenly, and the soul happy. This inspires love, subdues lust, captivates the affections, makes the whole man happy in God, and creates Heaven in the soul. If Christ be within the heart, all will be right and well without in the life. If you believe in Christ as revealed in the word, this blessed promise is for you, "I will manifest myself unto him." John xiv. 21. Great God, thy Scriptures will impart Yet, oh! reveal him in mine heart, And let me feel his presence there! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. WHATEVER We do of ourselves, in answer to our convictions, is a cover ing, not a cleansing: and if we die in this condition, unwashed, uncleansed, unpurified, it is utterly impossible that we should be admitted into the blessed presence of the holy God. Rev. xxi. 27. Let no man deceive you with vain words. It is not the doing a few good works, it is not an outward profession of religion, that will give you an access with joy unto God. Unless you are washed from your actual transgressions in the blood of Christ, and cleansed from the pollution of your nature by the Spirit of God, you shall not inherit the kingdom of God; yea, without this washing you will be an horrible sight unto saints and angels, to yourselves, and to one another, when the shame of your nakedness shall be made to appear. If, therefore, you would not perish, and that eternally; if you would not perish as base defiled creatures, an abhorring unto all flesh, then, when your pride, and your wealth, and your beauty, and your ornaments, and your duties, will stand you in no stead, look out betimes after that only way of purifying and cleansing your souls which God hath ordained. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." Heb. ix. 22. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." "Ye were redeemed not with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." No works of ours, the most or best 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. The blood of Christ, our great High Priest, I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a cove nant between me and the earth. Gen. ix. 13. grace THE rainbow is a token of the covenant of preservation made with Noah, and with all the creatures of the earth; it is fixed and sure; it may be considered also as an emblem of the covenant of grace (Isa. liv. 9, 10); or rather, it may be an emblem of Christ himself (Rev. x. 1.) as appears in many particulars. When we are apt to fear being overwhelmed by the rain, Jehovah shows this seal of his promise that we shall not. Thus he removes our fears, when we weep for sin and are afraid of a flood of wrath, by reminding us of the covenant of established in Jesus. The thicker the cloud, afterwards the brighter the bow in the cloud; so when afflictions abound, consolations do much more abound. The bow appears when one part of the sky is clear; which intimates mercy remembered in the midst of wrath. The rainbow is caused by the reflection of the beams of the sun; so all the glory of the covenant of grace and the significancy of the seals, are derived from Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. The bow speaks terror; but this is without string or arrow, is directed upwards, and not to the earth. God looks upon the bow to remember his covenant; so should we, that we may be mindful of the covenant of grace with faith and thankfulness. Christ's open arms like rainbows stand, Oh! take me, Lord, within thy bow, |