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even the best of God's saints upon the earth— whose righteousness, steady-going though it be in the main, is yet, to their own knowledge if not that of others, fitful,-is it not well to have a righteousness that is not fitful, yea even that is "everlasting"?

How much does such a priceless boon cost? Cost for you? You know somewhat as to its cost for him. Gethsemane and Calvary tell you. But what do we have to pay for it? Rom. 5:17 answers: "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." It is then a "gift," "without money and without price."

And how received? "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference." You just reach forth and take it by your faith. In one sense, therefore, your faith saves you, but not really. You are in danger of death by starvation. Bread is offered you. You reach forth your hand to receive. What is it that saves you your hand or the bread? You are dying of thirst. Water is brought. You eagerly grasp it. Which is it that saves you the hand or the water? Your hand is an instrumental cause

but the real cause is the bread or the water. Jesus offers himself to you in your need as the bread and water of life. You stretch forth your hand, that is, your faith, in eager reception of this living bread and water. You live. But is the glory of your salvation to be attributed, in the last analysis, to your hand, your faith, or to the living bread. and water? Surely to the latter. Your faith is an instrumental cause, but the real cause, after all is said and done, is the "bread of life which came down from heaven of which if a man eat he shall live forever." He is the Alpha and the Omega of your salvation. To him be all the glory. Amen.

The results of its reception are most refreshing and blessed. Among them the Apostle mentions the "peaceable fruit of righteousness." "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." There will be peace in the soul, peace between souls, and peace between the soul and God. And when this becomes universal, as it will, for he is to reign "from the river unto the ends of the earth," then under the benign sceptre of the "Prince of Peace" there shall be "nothing to hurt or to destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord."

And your crowning time will be by and by when the crown of righteousness will be placed upon

your brow. “For I am

now ready to be offered," said the great Apostle, "and the time of my departure is at hand.”

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

CHAPTER XII.

JUSTIFICATION.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Here then the Apostle introduces you to justification. It will be well for you to have an intelligent grasp of this doctrine, having to do, as it does, with your standing before God and the reasons therefor. This will so confirm you in the truth, as to the way of life, that there will be insured to you greater restfulness, comfort, peace, as well as a larger, more grateful and fruitful recognition of Christ as the author and finisher of your faith.

As a matter of fact, it is already settled by your believing acceptance of Christ as your redeemer. Your standing now before God is that of one who has been "justifed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Your heart gives him glory and sings his praise, but if your head reinforces your heart by a larger insight into the ways of God towards you, as revealed in his word, your praise will be richer in

volume, as your whole being will be called more fully into play. "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." All the varied faculties with which God has endowed you are thus to reinforce each other in giving him glory.

As to the importance of the fact of justification before God-this was emphasized in the opening chapter. All history, sacred and profane, attests it. The question of the ages has been, "How shall man be just before God." But being blessedly assured, experimentally, by the faith of Christ, so far as each believer is concerned, there yet remains to be possessed such knowledge of its nature as will confirm your faith, deepen your reverential devotion, enlarge your adoring estimate of his grace, and quicken you to more fully and joyfully "Crown him Lord of all."

In justification you become before God a holy and righteous person not actually but legally or in God's estimation. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." You have passed over from death to life, from bondage to liberty, from being an alien to sonship, adopted into God's household of redeemed children through grace. Your state has been changed from being that of a sinner condemned to that of a sinner justified. And in all accusations and con

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