"THE first duty is to attach oneself; detachment comse afterwards. The chrysalis covering in which the butterfly was prisoned only breaks and falls away when the insect's wings have grown-it is by opening that these burst their melancholy integuments. We only begin to detach ourselves from the world when we have learned to know something of a better. Till then we are but capable of disappointment and weariness, which are not detachment."-Alexander Vinet. IX. ACCESS AND SEPARATION. HERE are two Advocates appointed to us, TH for the maintenance of our two-fold lifeChrist on the throne, and the Spirit in our hearts. "If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," is the declaration of Scripture concerning the one; "I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Advocate, that He may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth," is the promise of Christ concerning the other. The work of Christ for us is still going on in heaven, where "He ever liveth to make intercession.” And this last saying, from the Epistle to the Hebrews, describes exactly what He is now doing for us above-viz., living for us, and interceding for us. Does not the Scripture declare that being "reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life"? This refers to His risen and glorified life. Our being is so linked with His, our salvation and John xiv. 16 (Marginal, R. V.) Rom. v. 10. peace are so entirely centered in His person that for Christ to live is for us to live. Hence His blessed saying, when referring to His departure out of the world, "Because I live, ye shall live also."* And hence also that other saying of Scripture, addressed to those who are dead and risen with Christ, "Your life is hid with Christ in God." As by the death of Christ on the cross our sins were put away, our condemnation removed, and our justification perfectly accomplished, so now by the life of Christ upon the throne our spiritual growth is maintained and the work of our sanctification carried on. Meanwhile as our great High Priest within the veil, He is interceding for us; and His intercession is but the reiteration of His atonement, a perpetual appeal to the merit of His sacrifice and death. How significant, that He who on the cross was "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world," is now "in the midst of the throne a Lamb standing as though it had been slain." Amazing words, which would tell us that the marks of His passion, the memorials of His vicarious death, are still visible on His person, and that while He intercedes for us they utter their pathetic plea to God, who is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Such is the ministry which our Advocate with the Father is continuing for us on the throne. * John xiv. 19. † Rev. v. 6, R. V. The other Advocate is meantime perfecting His work in our hearts; and the two ministries exactly correspond. The Comforter within is upholding and developing the inward divine life: "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." * He is also continuing an inward intercession according with the outward one: "The Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." + Such is the double advocacy by which our two-fold life is carried on. And observe more particularly, how each of these ministries exactly supplements the other. The love of the Father in giving His Son to be a propitiation for our sins, is the truth which is proclaimed from every wound on our exalted Saviour's person; and here we are to turn for the assurance of our acceptance. The moment we get taken up with our own love, as evidenced in our inward consciousness, we shall fall into darkness. God's love, as set forth in the slain Lamb upon the throne, is the only resting-place for our faith. But this is not all; for our comfort and sanctification He also gives us His love within us, as it is written, "Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us." Again, if any challenge our justification, we turn at once and confidently to the cross where that justification was accomplished, and to the throne where it is Rom. v. 5. *Rom. viii. 10. + Rom. viii. 26. |