A WORD ON HEE .X. 19-24; 12:I, 2 ;13:10-13.

There are just two or three things I would like to bring before our hearts, dear brethren, in connection with these three scriptures, and I shall be brief.

The first brings before us the blessed results of the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross. The blessed Lord came, saying, " Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God," and that will was to have a people in nearness and in suitability to Himself; to gratify His own heart in the display of His grace to us, both here and "in the ages to come." Therefore we get the Lord Jesus giving Himself, and His blessed and perfect work meeting everything on and in us unsuited to God, clearing it away forever; and then we are invited to "draw near." The way into God's holy presence is opened up and "boldness" given to us to approach as happy worshipers.

The apostle brings before us the great contrast between the priests in the Old Testament, whose work was never done and who never "sat down," and the work of the Lord Jesus, who offered His one sacrifice for sins and "for ever sat down at the right hand of God." There was no seat in the tabernacle. The priests never sat down. The fact that the Lord has sat down is the proof of His work being done. " Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening," as psalm 104:tells us, and when evening comes he goes home to rest ; his day's work is done. He has a right to rest and comfort at home when he has finished his work, and no one would grudge it to him. How sweet then to know that the blessed Lord has' finished His work of atonement and gone in and sat down. He has sat down in perpetuity. His work on the cross has "perfected forever them that are sanctified." God has nothing against us and there is nothing between God and our souls. Christ is there in the presence of God for us. We know the one who is there for us, and He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever; "and just as He never changes, neither does the value of His perfect sacrifice; it abides forever before God. I need not enlarge on that I think.

But there is the blessed result of that to look at.

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He hath, consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say His flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near." Just think of that! Boldness to enter into the holiest. The very presence of God in heaven is open to us and we are invited "to draw near." It is no longer "set bounds about the mountain." No! No! It is Heaven itself is open. "Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, but into heaven itself" (Heb. 9:24). We are "new creation" in Christ a new people a heavenly people. And we are privileged to draw near and occupy a new position as purged worshipers and "offer the sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

There is a rent veil and a seated Christ. God rent the veil when Christ died. As others have said before, "The same stroke that slew the Lamb rent the veil from the top to the bottom." There is nothing now to keep anyone out of (if they are willing to go and fit to go) the immediate presence of God. The veil was not let down from the top, nor rolled up from the bottom, nor removed altogether; it was rent; and we are told it typified " His flesh." It is by a Christ who has died we enter into God's presence, and we have boldness to enter. God cannot have us at a distance from Himself; He says, "draw near."

Then it is a new way; it is "through the veil." It is a living way, for we can go in without the penalty of death being executed on us for daring to do so as we see was the case in the instructions given to Aaron in Lev. 16:1:Thus we draw near with hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and bodies washed with pure water, – fitted, both inside and outside as it were, morally fitted both in our hearts and in our ways. In perfect suitability to God we draw near and tell out before Him the thoughts and feelings of our hearts about His beloved Son, and that is what satisfies the heart of our God. He delights to hear us speaking well of His Son whether to Him or to others.

People sometimes ask, what is worship ? Suppose I take a glass and fill it with water and keep pouring more water into it, what will be the result? Why, it will run over. Very well then; if God fills my heart with Christ, and keeps pouring in, as it were, more and more of Christ, the result is the same; it runs over, and it runs up, and that is worship. It is the overflowing of a heart that is filled and satisfied with Christ. How few really worship God.

The next thing I want is patience to run the race (chap..12:i, 2). As in the world, and on our way to another scene, we are viewed as "running a race." But there are dangers and difficulties and discouragements, and we need patience and energy of soul and purpose of heart to continue the race. It is one thing to make a good start; it is another thing to make a good, finish or continue without a breakdown. When a man runs a race he strips; he does not carry an ounce more than he can help. He lays aside every weight. He keeps his eye on the goal at the end. He runs; nor does he slack his speed till he has passed the winning post. Now this is what ought to characterize us, beloved brethren. There are heaps of things we get occupied with that are not sins, but they are weights. Young Christians specially are prone to carry weights. You will hear them saying sometimes, "Well, I see no harm in doing so and so, or going to such and such a place; it is not a sin." No, it is not a sin but it is a weight, and sometimes a very heavy one; and every one else can see the effect it has on you, but yourself; and it hinders you even running, much less running with patience.

Then again we are long-distance runners and need patience to continue at it; therefore anything that would hinder us must be laid aside and we must go on. The world, the flesh, and the devil all combine to hinder us and trip us up. Let us go on, brethren. Let us go on. We have a glorious example in the Lord Himself:"Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." How many, alas, make a fair start but do not continue; let not that have to be said of any one of us. Don't give little holidays to the flesh. Don't say, We are not at the meeting now, or among the saints, and give liberty to the flesh; but plod on; keep up the pace; exercise patience-"Ye have need of it" for "yet a little while and He that shall come will come." Don't let Him find us off the course, or sleeping or sinning instead of running. We have boldness to enter in; we need patience to run while out.

Then we have the exhortation in chap. 13:12, 13. " Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." And what is needed for that ? Courage. Yes, courage is needed. The Jews thrust the blessed Lord out of their holy city and crucified Him outside the gate, and we are responsible to "go forth unto Him "as witnesses, seeing we are privileged to go inside as worshipers.

When David was persecuted by Saul and was in the cave of Adullam, you remember there went out a great number to him. They were a strange company indeed-" Discontented and in debt," etc. But they went out to David to share in the fortunes or failures of David. And by and by when he came to the throne and set forth the deeds of "his mighty men," in all probability some of them were the men who came to him in the cave and shared his reproach in the day of his reproach. David would not forget it, you may be sure.

The camp was Judaism, and Christians were exhorted to go outside of it to Christ. Now whatever
assumes such a place to-day, as Judaism occupied in that day, is the camp. We have not far to look or seek to find it, and our place is outside-" unto Him." They cast the blind man out of their synagogue because Jesus had opened his eyes, and he told them simply who did it and how He did it. But Jesus went after him and gave him increased blessing. He revealed Himself to him as the Son of God and the man became a worshiper. Surely it was better to be outside with Jesus than inside with the Pharisees. You will find that the moment you say, I am going to be for Christ and have Him as my object and seek to satisfy His heart, you will find the devil roaring about you, and you will find you have to bear "His reproach." But as Peter says, " If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." The Lord always makes it up to such an one, and gives them the sense of His presence and favor, and comfort.

Where is Christ in relation to the camp to-day ? He is in the same place they put Him in that day

-outside. Where is our place ? " Outside the camp

-unto Him." But I will not dwell on it. Are we satisfied to have Himself and be outside ? Or do we hanker after the sights and sounds and things inside to fill our hearts ? An unsatisfied heart is a dread-ful thing for a Christian. Yet what numbers there are-they would not own to it were you to challenge them as having it; but their ways and whole manner of conversation declare it to everybody else. If we sing, "Jesus Thou art enough" then let Him be enough. The Lord give us to understand better, dear brethren, what it is to have boldness to enter in as worshipers; patience to run the race as witnesses in the path of faith; courage to go forth unto Him and bear His reproach till we reach the end.

"Nothing but Christ, as on we tread,
The Gift unpriced-God's living Bread ;
With staff in hand, and feet well shod,
Nothing but Christ-the Christ of God."