From very familiarity with them, we may grow so accustomed to truths which '' many prophets and kings desired to see and did not see," that they lose their power over us, and we forget we are dealing with things that will fill heaven with praise and all intelligent creation with wonder. Oh, how it shames us that we can go over a long list of blessings, brought to us through the sufferings of Christ, with our cold hearts but little moved by them! Could we have a better proof of our nature than this, and at the same time a more touching illustration of that "patient and forbearing love that never turns aside "?

Such thoughts are suggested by the subject before us. We can enumerate the blessings attached to the Christian's position, but how do they affect us ? Not, let us trust, like Laodicea, saying, "I am rich;" rather like David, "Who am I?" The Father seeketh worshipers, and all the matchless grace shown to us is to end in that.

In the passage before us, we have an eightfold view of the Christian's position. The number is significant. It reminds us of new creation. "If any man be in Christ, it is new creation." We are on new ground, with new objects before us. These objects mentioned here are, (i) Mount Zion; (2) The
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; (3) An innumerable company of angels, the general assembly; (4) The Church of the first-born, who are written in heaven ; (5) God the Judge of all; (6) The spirits of just men made perfect; (7) Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant; (8) The blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

(i) Mount Zion is in contrast to Mount Sinai, the mount that might be touched; and if touched by beast or man, death was the penalty. Covered by blackness, darkness, and tempest, burning with fire, it was a fitting place for the giving out of that law which could only condemn the guilty. The awful trumpet announcing the presence of a holy God, the voice of words declaring what He required of man for obedience-no wonder even Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake." The effect of Sinai was, to drive the people away. The voice of God struck terror to their guilty souls, they did not want to hear it again. And that fear was but a sample of that more awful terror that shall fill the hearts of all who stand before the great white throne. On the other hand, Mount Zion was the place where David dwelt. The man whom God raised up to be king of His people when they had failed under the judges and under Saul. He was the man after God's own heart, a beautiful and striking type of Him who alone could give unmingled delight to God. Zion suggests grace and blessing in contrast with the law and cursing of Sinai. God might come to Sinai, He did not dwell there. Of Zion it is said, " In Judah is God known, in Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling-place in Zion." (Ps. 76:) "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her, and the Highest Himself shall establish her." (Ps. 87:) " Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion. . . . Walk about Zion, and go round about her:tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks." (Ps. 48:) "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest forever:here will I dwell, for I have desired it." (Ps. 132:) These, from among many scriptures, show that Mount Zion is the center of God's gracious dealings on earth. The prophet Isaiah dwells much upon the future glories of that now apparently forsaken and rejected place. We are said to have come to Mount Zion in contrast to the law. We are in the place of grace, where blessing is centered in Christ and dependent upon Him. It is earthly blessing that is first contemplated. Zion is the earthly center. But how can Christians be said to have come to the place of earthly blessing ? First, as we have seen, grace in contrast to law. Then, too, there is a real sense in which we of this dispensation shall share in the joys and glory of the earthly scene, though our portion is above.

(2) So we come next, most naturally to what is distinctive of us as Christians. The city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.-

(To be continued.)