and its members under grace; for, in the fulness of time, God sent forth His beloved Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them under its curse, and on Calvary did the rain of heaven descend, and the storm beat on the second Adam; then was the wall broken down and the gulph filled up; then was a way of access prepared and the wrath dispelled; then from the bosom of the "beloved Son," Adam's child could once more cry " Abba, Father."

Magnificent plan! "Through Faith," (and that very faith God's gift,) the sinner becomes partaker of the righteousness and perfect work of his new parent; by Faith he is grafted into the mystical body of Christ;-for, after the will of the flesh, he was begotten of Adam, but, by the Spirit, is begotten of God;-and thus, being united by faith to Christ, he dies with Him, is buried with Him, and rises again with Him. Wonderful as it may seem, God looks on the believing son of Adam and the "beloved Son" as one person; and to borrow the language of another "he" (the believer,)" obeys in Christ's

obedience he suffers in Christ's death-he is buried in Christ's grave-and conquers in Christ's victory."

Oh, glorious truth! How completely is brought to my comprehension the depth of Christ's meaning, when he speaks of the union between Him and His people,-"I in them and they in me;" how completely do I see why marriage is represented by our Church, as typical of the "mystical union betwixt Christ and His Church;" and why, at the Lord's Table, she assures the faithful recipients. that they "dwell in Christ and Christ in them," "that they are one with Christ and Christ with them;" for the key to the whole is before me in the text, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

II. Our second subject for consideration is THE DEDICATION, which the scene before us represents.

Henceforth is this plan for man's restoration continually set before his eyes. Quickly

do our first parents discover their nakedness, but, as quickly, is provision made for their clothing; and in the very covering provided, (the skins of animals,) is brought to their remembrance the death of a victim, even "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

"And Adam knew his wife, and she conceived and bare Cain and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord," or as it might be rendered, "I have gotten a man—the Lord."

In that birth she looked for "the beloved Son; " but in that birth had bitter proof that she had handed to her offspring that direful taint which should mark, as with a brand, the last of the human family.

Behold the first worship recorded: behold the two worshippers approach their Maker. The first-born, Cain, presents the first fruits of the earth-with self-satisfied eye he seems to say "these flowers have gotten their bloom from Thy smile, and these fruits their ripeness from Thy warmth; I will wreathe round Thy

brow a diadem of flowers,-but no more; I acknowledge no sin, I see no curse; all seems bright and smiling; take that thine is."

Thus worshipped Cain.

Abel, his brother, found nothing that he could bring as an acceptable offering; he saw that the blight of the curse and the taint of sin had fallen on all nature. But he was made to see God's pleasure in the "beloved Son;" and he brings of the firstlings of his flock, and, reeking in its blood, he lays it on the altar; and connecting it with the promise made to Adam his father, "by faith he offered a more excellent sacrifice."

Such worship as that of Cain is a black mark in all churches; it is the way of Reason, and by Jude is called "the way of Cain:" the worship of Abel is the way of Revelation, and is designated "the more excellent way.'

2. To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were the promises more explicit,-"In thee and in

thy seed shall all families of the earth be blessed;" and as sinners increased and sin

abounded, the nation through whom the "beloved Son" shall come, is gathered from among

men.

Israel is the chosen seed, and around her is built a wall of ordinances to keep her intact from the abominations that encircled: to Israel is transmitted an elaborate ceremonial, each item of which should convince of sin and lead to the Fountain.

From heaven, midst thunderings, Moses, the servant of the Most High, received the Law, "Do this and Live, infringe it and Die;"-but, with the same, comes the way for the sinner's justification: an Ark must be made, its minutest detail explained, and " over it, the mercy seat," where God would always be found; and around it, is set up "the tabernacle," which grasped within its broad folds the two attributes of heaven, "mercy and truth; ”—In the Law, see Justice: In the ark, the hope of eternal life, and that life in the "beloved Son."

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