The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-28

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powers fail. Yes, It's powers fail, but the
field has not failed; onward it stretches
ilhmitably, and over it the redeemed
shall range in ever new delight, to all
eternity. Gods mercy is from everlast-
ing, and so the treasures of memory will
be ever increasing; it is to everlasting,
and so the anticipations of hope can never
be diminished.
But more particularly the crowning
obligation of the redeemed of the Lord to
serve and love him springs from the fact
that they are his redeemed people, and
so made the special objects of that mer
cy. Redemption is Gods greatest, best,
and most blessed work. Redemption
gives occasion for gratitude on the part
of those who are the subjects of it, such
as nothing else can awaken.
The method by which it was accom-
plished was the most wonderful. The
miseries from which it delivers are the
most unutterable-the glory to which it
exalts is the most unspeakable. Hear
how the apostle condenses these great
truths into one sentence of two lines
showing at Il glance the author of our
redemption, the pangsA it cost him to
achieve it, the Justice of our condemna-
ton, the complete satisfaction which was
made to Justice for our sins, and the firm
foundation on which We may now build
our immortal hopes; 9 Christ hath re
deemed as from the curse of the laa0, be-
ing made curse for as. =
Then how fearful was the condition in
which Christ found us-under the
curse" What is a curse ? What was
this curse? A withering blight from the
anger of God, cOnsigning soul and body
to everlasting destruction. Not only so,
it was ''the curse of the Law, and
therefore it was just-legal-a Judicial
sentence from heavenly tribunal--and
our deliyerer from this inexorable doom
was Christ. 1t was HIS work, accom-
plished by power and by purchase too
His love cost Him unknown agony. He
was made IA curse for us that is, all the
pains and penalties due to our sins fell
on Him; that is, He took our place, not
6guratively, but literally, when He put
on our flesh and blood, and made Himself
for our guilt, and came under
the power of the law We had broken, and
entered our prison, and was bound with
our chain, and then suffered in our
stead, offering iue-Jusrice -fuff
and real satisfaction for all the demands
of the violated law on us-and thus it
was that Christ redeemed US" in the
full, glorious, inexhaustible sense of that
precious word. All this we owe to Him.
Then ''let the redeemed of the Lord sag
so. Let them proclaim the name of
their deliverer. Let them show forth His
praise not only by thanks giving, but by
thanks living, and honor Him by an en-
tire conservation of soul and body to His
service.
Brethren, "foraSmuch as ye know that
We were not redeemed with corruptible
things as silver and gold, but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of lamb
without blemish and without spot: be-
seech you therefore by the mercies of
God that ye present your bodies living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service, and
on the appointed day at the table of Him
who bought you with His own blOOd-may
you have hearts to say,
Long as we live, and when We die
And while in heaven with him We reign,
MS song. our sung vi SOusS HHdli bCN
Worthy the Lamb for he was slain.
And you too dear friends who have
never made any profession of your faith,
and vet whose hearts have been made
solemn and tender by the Spirit of Cod
is it not your duty too, and your privi-
lege as well, to obey the last, reasonable,
loving command of Christ-''Do this in
remembrance of me-" VIII you not ac-
eept His inviation? Will you not, trust
inc in the grace which alone makes any
worthy to partake of the privilege OF
church membership, come toward and
openly acknowledge Christ who ''re-
deemed you from the curse of the Law,
as yO'w Saviour-your Prophet, Priest,
and King?
Since the last communion, although |
have not had the privilege of preaching
to you, or of eOnversing with you, | can
not refrain from expressing the hope that
the preaching of those who have so faith
fully supplied my place, has been blessed
to some who Will very soon gather before
the pulpit to take on themselves the vows
of God, and at the table of their Lord
obey His command and remember His
love.
Let all true penitents, relying on the
great atonement, who indulge the trem-
bling hope that they are " the redeemed
of the Lord do so.
But the Psalmist presents another rea-
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