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life." The characteristic of a babe or a child in infancy is absolute helplessness-dependence-trust, -absence of disquietude-ignorance of the future, utter oblivion to care, and misgiving, and foreboding. It reposes on its mother's breast, or is sung to sleep in its cradle with the mother's lullaby. Picture of the babe-the new creature in Christ Jesus, reposing in its Heavenly Father's arms, and kept in perfect peace, cradled in the Saviour's love. If you are conscious of a babe's weakness, seek to cherish and manifest a babe's simple dependence-" They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

It is well to remember in connection with these reflections, how marvellously that very faith that was rebuked as a "little faith" grew to be a strong one. Trace the story of Peter's after-life, as recorded in the Acts. He seems almost to have lost his personal identity. We fail to recognise the same rash, impulsive spirit he once was. The harsh music of his nature is toned down, every discordant note subdued into harmony. "And such also," may it not be averred, "were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. vi. II).

RISTO

V.

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST."-Eph. i. 3.

N no other portion of St. Paul's writings do his favourite words occur more frequently

than in the glowing utterances of the "Great Encyclical"—that 'circular letter' which, we have good reason to believe, was not intended exclusively for the Church of Ephesus, but for "the saints" (at all events in three other cities of proconsular Asia-Colosse, Hierapolis, and Laodicea), who had never "seen his face in the flesh" (Col. ii. 1), or listened to his burning words. From the frequent allusions, indeed, contained in it to Him who was emphatically his “Beloved," it has been well called "the Song of Songs" of the New Testament Scriptures.1

See, in this one chapter alone, from which our

1 The question for whom the (so called) Epistle to the Ephesians was intended, is discussed in "Howson and Conybeare," vol. ii. pp. 405-410. The theory of the "circular letter" now accepted by a majority of the best critics, originated with Archbishop Usher.

" chosen in Him before Does he speak of their

motto-text is taken, how the Apostle loves, for himself and others, to be served heir " IN CHRIST" to "all spiritual blessings" (ver. 3). Is it the opening dedication? (ver. 1)—he speaks of believers as "the faithful in Christ Jesus." Does he impart in the same sentence the apostolic benediction? The grace and peace invoked, are "from God the Father" conjoined with "the Lord Jesus Christ" (ver. 2). Does he speak of their election? (ver. 4.) They are the foundation of the world." adoption? (ver. 5.) It is the adoption of children "by Jesus Christ to Himself." Is it their justification and acceptance in the sight of God? (ver. 6.) "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Is it the free gift of redemption and forgiveness? (ver. 7.) "In whom we have redemption through His blood." Does he advert to the grandeur of the future dispensation ? (ver. 10.) It is that "He might gather together in one all things in Christ." Is it the purchase of the eternal heritage of the saints? (ver. II.) "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance." Is it the sealing of the Holy Ghost? (ver. 13.) "In whom" (i.e., in Christ) " ye are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." Does he speak of the revelation of "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints?" (ver. 18.) It is "according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought IN CHRIST" (vers. 19, 20).

We see thus, in glancing over the contents of one chapter, independent of those which follow, how the

Apostle loved to sit under that same gracious shadow. Hopes, promises, blessings, prayers, the privilege of grace here, and the boundless prospects of glory hereafter, focus and centre in the Person of his adorable Lord. To some of these passages just quoted, we may recur for more special meditation afterwards. Meanwhile, surely it is remarkable to trace, within this brief compass, so many successive and unbroken links in the one golden chain-" CHRIST all and in all."

In the verse selected above, we have Jesus brought before us as the great channel for the conveyance of spiritual blessings to the souls of His people. Moreover, a peculiar phrase is employed descriptive of these blessings. They are spoken of, as we noted in a previous meditation, as " in heavenly places." The same expression occurs five times in the epistle (i. 3, 20; ii. 6; iii. 10; vi 12). It is no part of this volume to enter into exegesis; but it may be well to observe that, in the original Greek, there is nothing corresponding to the substantive which is added in our own authorised version. Many Commentators, ancient and modern, have considered that there is an ellipsis-a word or words which require to be supplied. Hence, some have suggested "heavenly things; others, as in the English Bible" places." 3

1 Ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις.

» 2

2 Such as Chrysostom and Theodoret, Luther and Michaelis.

3 This rendering is supported, among others, by Jerome and Bengel, Grotius and Olshausen.

Peculiar, however, as the idiom is, it seems, viewed in the light of the Apostle's monogram, to require neither of the additional nouns, and to be better without either; simply retaining the intransferable beauty and energy of the plural original-" In the heavenlies.” 'IN CHRIST,' Paul and all believers have reached a higher spiritual sphere. In Him, "things in heaven and things in earth" are one; heaven 'brought nigh' IN CHRIST; heaven within, heaven above, heaven around. His assertion, elsewhere, is the best comment and interpretation on this disputed phrase in the Ephesus letter, "Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. iii. 20); or yet in that other noble description of the Christian's franchise, and his immunities as an inhabitant of the heavenly Zion :-" Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph. ii. 19). Heaven to the believer consists not in locality, but in the conscious enjoyment of Christ's nearness and love :- "IN WHOM, though now we see Him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet. i. 8). Chrysostom and Luther, in further rendering the two concluding words of our motto-verse, "heavenly places through Christ," would to us despoil it of its distinctive meaning and significance. True, doubtless, it is through Christ, and through Christ alone, that "the heavenlies are attained. But is it not more in harmony surely with our Pauline formula-the dominat

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