Many of the truths in the epistle to the Hebrews are described by the Spirit of God as Great, Eternal, Living, Better, Perfect, and New. And this is necessarily so, because it is connected with Christ's person, atoning work, and present priestly intercession on behalf of all those who come unto God by Him.

Hence we are not called upon to consider ourselves or our experiences, even as Christians, but to consider Him, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Therefore, in considering Him as Apostle and Priest, we consider and are occupied with perfection; for that which He inaugurates as Apostle and maintains as Priest must be perfect; and it is in relation to those who believe in Him, in every detail. And this is Christian perfection. Everything in connection with Christ's sacrifice and priestly intercession is perfection. If any believer, then, desires a book on Christian perfection, let him or her read again and again the epistle to the Hebrews. All is ours, through faith, by virtue of His death.

Christianity, then, flows not from us, but from Christ; and we pass from all connected with ourselves to what God presents to us as having come to pass in Christ as our Apostle and Priest. And surely, beloved children of God, it is only in the measure in which we are thus occupied-Christ-occupied-and divinely instructed that there is a corresponding answer in our walk and ways in this world. For have we not all in some degree learned that occupation with objective truth in Christ, the crucified, glorified and coming Saviour, alone can produce, by the indwelling Spirit who thus occupies us, a corresponding subjective state ? The more clearly we see by faith what is true of us in Christ, the deeper will be the subjective work in us by the Holy Spirit, thus showing forth the virtue, the heavenly life of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

This is the way the Spirit of God operates. He glorifies Christ to us, and thereby produces a life in conformity to that which He occupies us with. We all, looking on the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image (2 Cor. 3:18). This verse explains exactly the office of the Holy Spirit and occupation of the saint as contemplated in Hebrews. The glory of the Lord is fully unveiled, and the veil is off the heart of the saint to gaze upon the glories of the Lord. And it is this that brings about the transformation from what is described in chapter 3:8-17, to the heavenly disposition and ways described in chapter 13-love, hospitality, undefilement, gracious conversation, the end of which i's Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever-association with Christ outside the camp, continual praise, doing good, obedience, and prayer. What a transformation! It is the special ministry of the Holy Spirit to the saints.

Let us trace, now, how the Spirit of God uses the striking words before mentioned to designate the truths in this epistle.

I-Great.

Everything in this epistle is "great," in contrast to what had been, and still was, linked up with Judaism. In chapter a the salvation is a "great salvation." Surely those who through misteaching think that anything in or of themselves can affect their salvation, have not the enjoyment of God's great salvation ; for the salvation which is by and through Christ is a great one; the ups and downs, shortcomings or attainments of believers cannot touch it, nor affect it in the least. Yet we would be careful to say that the indifference of believers to the Lord's claims upon them, a life of coldness or indifference, what form soever it may take, will affect their joy and apprehension of it. The believer's enjoyment of this great salvation is often broken by self-pleasing, self-gratification, or a path of self-will. How often do we need to pray, like the Psalmist, " Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation"! (Ps. 116.) As believers, we are privileged to joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the reconciliation-a Spirit-given joy in Christ; and we are bidden to "rejoice in the Lord always."

In chapter 4 the Lord Jesus is presented as our "great" High Priest, in contrast to Aaron, because Aaron's priesthood was not permanent, whereas Christ has an unending priesthood. Then in chapter 12 the cloud of witnesses with which we are encompassed is a "great" one, a great cloud of witnesses to encourage us to run the race set before us -the race from earth to heaven.

Finally, in chapter 13 the Spirit bears witness to the glorious fact that our Substitute who went into death is risen, and is now the "great" Shepherd of the sheep; so that, in view of this, may we not say, not only, "The Lord is my Shepherd," but the Lord Jesus being our "great" and "chief " Shepherd, He must have preeminence and priority over all others, and our earnest prayer should be one with the Spirit's in this passage, that He lead us to do His blessed will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in God's sight-the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Truly we may say it is great! Everything is " great." May the greatness of what Christ is, and has done, eclipse everything here, and command our hearts!

2-ETERNAL.

Everything also in Hebrews is "eternal." The throne is eternal, in chapter 1:The salvation is eternal, in chapter 5. The judgment of Christ's rejecters is eternal, in chapter 6. This last is plain. For if the salvation is eternal, the judgment of the despisers, neglecters and refusers-the three classes of unsaved in Hebrews-is and must be eternal. Satan, through his ministers-think of it, Satan's ministers changed as professed ministers of righteousness!-are deceiving souls with the wicked idea of a cessation of judgment, and a hope beyond the grave. Doctrines of demons they are, but the word here is plain-" Eternal judgment."

At the close of this chapter, by way of strong consolation to those who have fled for refuge to Christ, the counsel of God in regard to them in Christ is eternal, immutable.

Then Christ's priesthood, in chapter 7, is said to be " for ever"-eternal; " unchangeable "-intransmissible.

In chapter 9 the redemption is "eternal," and likewise the inheritance; and, in chapter 10, by one
offering He hath perfected '' for ever (eternally) them that are sanctified."

Lastly, in chapter 13 the covenant ratified by His blood is an " eternal " covenant. Yea, all we have in Him, blessed be God, is eternal.

3-living.
Now we have everything as pertaining to life in resurrection, beyond the power of death. God is the "living" God in chapter 3. Then His word is a "living" word (see J. N. D.'s translation), and so the hour has come when the dead hear the voice of the Son of the living God, and they live.

In Luke, chapter 7, the procession of life meets the procession of death at the gates of the city of Nain (pleasant). This pleasant world is now the scene of death and desolation. The Son of God, who has life in Himself, says, "Young man, arise." The word was "living" and operative. It is so now when it reaches the conscience.

In chapter 7 our Priest "ever liveth " to make intercession for us. His intercession for us is unfailing, and will continue as long as His people need it; and while His cross saves us as sinners, His intercession insures the salvation of a saint through all the exigencies of the way. In chapter 10 the way into God's presence is a "living" way. In Psalm 16 it is said of Christ, "Thou wilt show me the path of life," etc. That path is beyond death, and through death He opens to us in resurrection the living way into God's presence even now.

The city is said to be the city of the "living God " in chapter 12; and in chapter 13 Jesus Christ, the author and completer of our faith, is the same "yesterday, and to-day, and forever."How these glorious things should fix our gaze and occupy us!

"I have heard the voice of Jesus,
Tell me not of aught beside;
I have seen the face of Jesus,
All my soul is satisfied."

4-BETTER.

All that we have in Him is said to be "better." As compared with the old covenant, everything in Christ is "better." Our hope of glory is called a "better hope" (7:19). The covenant is a "better covenant" (7:22), and the promises are "better promises" (8 :6). The precious sacrifice of our Lord Jesus is a "better sacrifice" (9:23). And in view of a "better" substance in heaven, the believing Hebrews could surrender things here. Our future home is called a "better country" (11:16); and in contrast to an earthly deliverance from suffering, for the truth's sake, the saints looked forward to a "better resurrection" (11:35). With such joys before us in Christ, can we not sing-

" O worldly pomp and glory,
Your charms are spread in vain !
I've heard a truer story,
I've found a truer gain.
Where Christ a place prepareth,
There is my blest abode;
There shall I gaze on Jesus,
There shall I dwell with God."

5-PERFECT.

Here we find perfection. All that flows from Him, the fruit of His death, of the corn of wheat going into the ground, is perfect. What a relief to turn from everything connected with self-perfection in the flesh in its many subtle forms-to everything connected with Christ!

First, we are called to "go on unto perfection" in chapter 6. In chapter 7 Christ is said to be a Priest "perfected" (margin) for evermore. Then if the Old Covenant, which was connected with an imperfect priest, Aaron, were faulty,-"for the law made nothing perfect,"-it is plainly seen that the New Covenant is faultless, and therefore perfect. All that we have in Christ is by virtue of His atoning death, without fault-perfect; and this line of truth is unfolded in chapter 10. If the law did not make the comers perfect, the offering of the body of Christ once for all to God for us does make us "perfect"; it gives us a purged conscience before God. " For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."

Lastly, in chapter 13 the God of peace will "perfect " us in every good work.

Thus we can plainly see that everything in Christ for us is perfection. Let us know of no other perfection, that we may be able to help those deluded ones who are floundering about in the quagmire of perfection in the flesh.

6-new.

All things in Christ too are "new," in contrast to the old, or what went before. A "new covenant," a new "sanctuary," and a "new way"-chapters 8, 9, and 10.

These then are some of the characteristics of the truth presented to us in Hebrews. It is the truth of Christianity opened to believing Jews, and therefore belonging to us who are Christ's-truth connected with our Apostle and High Priest-things called by the Holy Spirit "good things to come," but already brought to light for our joy and delight, and of which Christ is now the minister (chapter 8).

May He Himself and these things be the constant occupation of our hearts! Oh, what things for saints to talk about when meeting together! They allow no waste of time in quibbling over trivialities which help none, stumble the weak, and produce but starvation and poverty. But these precious things nourish the sheep and the lambs by sound teaching and godly example. " My meditation of Him shall be sweet:I will be glad in the Lord" (Ps. 104:34).

D. C. T.