nations." They were to warn sinners of their danger, and to call upon them to look to Jesus, and to him only, for salvation. For he, who commandeth all men every where to repent, hath exalted Jesus to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance unto his people, and forgiveness of their sins. It is a gift of his royal grace. One of the high honours of his exaltation-that he can freely forgive every iniquity, and transgression, and sin, be they ever so many, or ever so great. For Jesus can take away all iniquity, and receive the sinner graciously.—We, says Peter, are witnesses of these things: and so also is the Holy Ghost; whom God hath given to them that obey him-that come at his call in the gospel, and obey it: the Holy Ghost turning them from self to Christ, from sin to righteousness, from a life of sense to a life of faith, thereby witnesses their true conversion, which is a continual work of his grace in that repentance which is not to be repented of; and when he enables them to glorify God for this mercy he gives great joy and peace in believing

the forgiveness of their sins: according to the commission which our Lord gave to St. Paul at his conversion," I send thee to the Gentiles, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me." When this commission is opened to a sinner in his name, and credited by the power of his Spirit, then the conscience is purged from guilt, by that one offering, which perfecteth for ever. The believer in it has a clean heart given him. It is sanctified, and made a temple for the worship of the true God. To this the word witnesses; and the Holy Ghost is also a witness to him, that he may now enter with boldness into the holiest of all by the blood of Jesus. Every possible hinderance being removed,

he

may have access with confidence to the throne of grace-to a Father of mercies, loving him, and blessing him with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. When he lives up to these privileges, then he feels as

he ought to do. His faith relying steadfastly upon the divine promises, and giving full credit to a faithful God, he has a good conscience purged from dead works to serve the living God, and his heart consecrated for this service, he may sing of pardon and peace in as high a note of praise, and with as much spiritual joy, as ever any believer experienced. They had much in the Old Testament, when they sung the triumphs of the Lamb of God in the twentieth Psalm. The argument of which is thus given us in Bishop Horne's Comment. "1-4. The church prayeth for the prosperity of King Messiah, going forth to the battle as her champion and deliverer. For his acceptance by the Father, and for the accomplishment of his will:-5, 6, 7. She declareth her full assurance of faith, and her resolution to trust in him alone, and not in the arm of flesh;-8. -8. She foreseeth the fall of her enemies, and her own exaltation: and 9. concludeth with a prayer to the God of her strength." As long as the temple stood, and the service of God was regularly carried

on in it, the true worshippers had every day a solemn commemoration of that sacrifice, which was to put away their sins. They were taught to look to that precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, whom God had set forth in every sacrifice to be the great propitiation and atonement; through which alone they were to expect pardon and peace. While the lamb was burning on the altar every morning and evening, they celebrated his praises with the choicest instruments of music, and with the sweetest voices, making also melody in their hearts at the same time unto the Lord. Among other hymns given by inspiration of God for this joyful occasion, they used to sing the twentieth Psalm, in which they triumphed in the God of their salvation, and declared their faith and hope in him in full concert, after this manner:

"Jehovah will hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob will

defend thee. He will send thee help from his sanctuary, and he will strengthen thee out of Sion: he will grant thee according to thy heart, and he will fulfil all thy purposes. Then we shall shout for joy in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we shall set up our banners, when Jehovah shall fulfil all thy requests. Now I have known Jehovah will help the Messiah-his Christ, and will answer him from his sanctuary with the mighty power of the right hand of Jesus. Some put their trust in chariots, and others in horses, but we will cause the name of Jehovah our Alehim (the Trinity in covenant) to be remembered. They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen, and made still to stand safe for the King (Jesus) will put forth his power to save us: he will answer us in the day when we pray unto him."

These are the words of the hymn; in which they express their faith in the future triumphs of the Lamb of God, and their hope in that one offering of his which was to perfect them for ever. The divine appoint