Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-10-09

WOrQ OF HIS pow
err" as man he wore the clothing Of
poor artisan.
Do we know the grace Of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor,
that We through his poverty might be
rich?"
1t was customary for the Roman
soldiers, who offlciated at IN execu-
ton, to take the garments of their
victim as a fee. But, though Ro-
man custom, unknown In David's
time, it was written by him in the
XXI Psalm, They part my garments
among them, and cast lots upon my
vesture," and in the words following
the text 1t is explained that what the
soldiers did was that this scripture
might be fulfilled"
So the spirit of God writes 1t down
as a part of Holy Scripture, that
whenever the story of the cross Is
told, the story of Jesus vesture must
be told also, for that seamless robe
that must not be rent Is the figure of
another robe, who can doubt? The
full heart Of the prophet sings of 1t.
in Isaiah 61:10, II will greatly rejoice
in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in
my God; for he hath clothed me with
the garments of salvation, he hath
covered me with the robe Of righteous
ness" This Is that best robe" which
the father puts upon the prodigal to
displace the rags of the far country
and to make him fit for the fathers
house.
For Whom Provided.
And for whom Is this robe provid
ed? For his enemies. The soldiers
whose hands are stained with his
blood, who with wicked insults have
nailed him to the awful cross-to
them his "vesture" falls. when we
were enemies we we're reconciled to
God by the death Of his son" (Rom
$40.
AS
The sandal tree perfumes when rtvaR
The ak that laid 1t low
So
The very spear that pierced His side,
Drew forth the blood to save.
How Provided.
The means by which 'the robe OF
Righteousness" Is provided are pic
tured In Eden. Adam and Eve have
"sewed fig leaves together, and made
themselves aprons" Awakened to
the shame which sin has wrought
they would by their own efforts patch
up the ruin. With their. own sinful
hands they would cover the naked
ness which sin has made manifest,
and so make themselves fit for the
presence Of God. But not by that mis-.
cradle invention can they stand be.
fore him. And in grace he comes to
provide garments for them. Unto
Adam also and to his wife did the
Lord God make coats of skins. and
clothed them" (Gen. 3:2D.
Here Is the first emergence of the
truth Of vicarious atonement: those
animals must needs die, their blood
must be shed, in order to provide a
covering in which the man and the
woman could be accepted Of God. And
It is God who did it! With his own
hands he made those coats Of skins"
Who Receives 1t.
In Proverbs 1888 1t Is written:
The lot is cast into the lap, but the
whole disposing thereof is of the
Lord" That is, the casting Of the
lot meant that the choice was in
Gods hands. What, then, Is his dis
posing" as to this robe Of righteous
ness? Let the apostle answer: But
now the righteousness OF God without
the law is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets; even the
righteousness of God which Is by the
faith Of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe" (Rom. 3:21-22).
The righteousness of God is offered
to all, 1t is put upon the believer; held
out to every man, given to whoever
will receive 1t. I, who have no right
eousness of my own, do but look upon
that blessed one hanging on the cross
and say, ut was for me-'The son of
God loved me and gave himself for
me-" and thus receiving him by faith
am made the righteousness Of God
In him"
No angel can say Christ Is my
righteousness" but the poorest, fee
blest believer In him can say it!
!: n aorl hast thdu this robe?