November 17

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. - Hebrews 12:22.

THE apostle refers to this as a privilege of the evangelical dispensation, and as distinguished from the Levitical economy. There are five different ways in which this may be exemplified. First, “We are come” to the revelation of it in Scripture. Here we have an answer to the question, “How shall we come before the Lord, and bow before the most high God?” The Jews had types and shadows of the Messiah who was to come; but we are come to a much clearer development of the mind and will of God, according to the words of our Saviour, who said, “Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things that ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things that ye hear, and have not heard them.” They had the dawn; we have the day.

Then, Secondly, We are come to the publication of it by the ministry of the word. Thus the subject of it is not suffered to lie in the background, but is brought out from week to week by those who feel it their highest pleasure to place it before their hearers, and say, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Then, Thirdly, We are come to a saving knowledge and experience of it by the influences of the Holy Spirit, so that we can say, with Paul, “He loved me, and gave himself for me.” Thus the Christian’s condition is distinguished from that of many to whom the Saviour is made known in the Scriptures, and who hear of him by the preaching of the word, but in whom he has not as yet been revealed as the hope of glory.

Fourthly, We are come to a participation of it as an established ordinance in the Christian church. For Jesus said, when he took the cup, “This is my blood of the new testament;” thus the institution was intended to be a memorial of him. “Do this,” said he, “in remembrance of me.” It was intended to be not only a memorial, but an emblem, wherein he is held forth as being food for the soul; and what a simple and a fine emblem it is!

Fifthly, This coming is a distinguishing privilege. “Ye are come.” Herein believers are distinguished from others; for how many are there who can turn their backs upon the Saviour as if he were “a root out of a dry ground”! There are some who would gladly repair to his table; but, though he is “all their salvation and all their desire,” they fear they have no part or lot in the matter. And how many are there who neglect and despise this Saviour, who continue to live in sin and worldly indulgences! There are others who do not honour him, but rather degrade him, by supposing that their case is too bad to be remedied, who think their sins are too many or too heinous to be forgiven.

It is no easy thing to comfort a despairing soul: nothing will effectually satisfy the conscience of a convinced sinner but that which satisfies the justice of God. But surely that which satisfies his justice is enough to satisfy our conscience; and by believing we are enabled to enter into rest, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.