of God's countenance seem changed into frownsSatan accuses, and conscience knows not how to answer. Unbelief very often starts in the mind of the believer, and he distrusts the Lord that bought him; but, however, the blood of Christ shall never lose its cleansing virtue-it shall be perfect in its effects-it has rent the vail between God and usand it will rend that vail that is between us and conscience. The soul of a christian shall be, ere long, presented before the throne of God, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.

Nor does the blood of Jesus entirely remove the risings of sin. The mind of a good man continues to be vexed, not only with abominations without, but corruptions within. We are not freed from the remains of sin, whatever some men may talk about perfection. Paul knew nothing of it, when he said, "Oh! wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" We may see an end of all perfection, if we are led into the wickedness of our own hearts, and the spirituality of the divine law: nevertheless, the blood of Christ will, in some future period, remove every stain, and make us holy as God is holy. It shall perfect what it has begun. The soul of a child of

God shall be made pure as snow, and white as wool. Although the blood of Christ does not yet cleanse from the sense, nor the risings of sin, yet, adored be the name of Jesus, it removes the condemnation of sin-it frees us from its punishment. Although the nature of sin does not cease to be

sinful, yet the power of it ceases to be condemning. Sin is not imputed to them that believe; and where the crime is not imputed, the punishment cannot be inflicted. Jesus having suffered, justice is satisfied, and God can demand no more. The cause and effect of Almighty vengeance are removed (as it respects those that believe) by the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ cleanseth them from sin. The pardon of sin properly consists in a remission of its punishment. It would be contrary both to the mercy and justice of God to punish a man who had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Contrary to his justice for he has accepted the sacrifice made by Christ, who paid the debt and acquitted the criminal, when he bare our sins in his own body on the tree. Contrary to his mercy -because it would be cruelty to adjudge a person to punishment who had been legally acquitted, and made innocent by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. The believer then, being freed from the charge of the law, is no longer obnoxious to its curse, for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. An accusing conscience, a violated law, a hostile world, and the enemy Satan, may bring their sentences of condemnation on others, but they cannot condemn believers; for there is nothing left that shall condemn them for sin, because Christ by his own sacrifice has condemned sin in the flesh. The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth us from all sin. The cleansing efficacy of this blood shall be made mani

fest before an assembled world. Believers shall then be collected out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, to have their purification made known to all the world. That will be a time of refreshing indeed-sin shall no longer distressconscience no more reproach—and God no more correct. In the present life there is a secret grant of pardon to the believer, but then there shall be a solemn publication of it before men and angels. Christ will pronounce all his children righteous, and present them unblameable, and without spot, to God his Father.

When the apostle says, "The blood of Christ cleanseth," it evidently implies that that blood is the only means of obtaining pardon. He joins nothing with it. It possessing the sole, the sovereign virtue of cleansing from iniquity, in vain do men expect pardon from mere mercy-from the intercession of saints-or from any righteousness of their own. None of these things can cleanse from sin. The types and ceremonies of the mosaic dispensation could never make the comers thereunto perfect, holy, or clean. They only prefigured the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the only way of pardon. Salvation is of grace from first to last, and you may depend upon it there is no fountain that can cleanse from sin but the blood of Christ; for it is that which cleanseth from all sin: and this blood cleanseth perfectly-removes every stain. The blood of the Redeemer being shed for

his people, God looks on his church, and says, "Thou art all fair, there is no spot in thee."

Thus does this text declare the efficacy of Jesus' blood.

Let us consider that this efficacy is perpetual, is continual. For it is said, "it cleanseth;" not, it hath cleansed, or shall cleanse at some future period, but it now cleanseth. And this may always be said of this precious blood, for it shall never lose its power, till every elect vessel is gathered in, and saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation. There is a continued cleansing act; Jesus perpetually pleads it for us, and it constantly flows unto us. There is a stream of corruption always in our nature, so there is a constant flow of cleansing blood. It is a fountain now standing open for sin and for uncleanness. It was shed but once. It is often applied; and its virtue will be felt to all eternity. The blood of Jesus is never lost or congealed, like the blood of the legal sacrifices. It is, as a good writer observes, "as new and fresh for the work it was appointed to, as when it was shed upon the cross; as full of vigour, as if it had been shed but this moment." The justification of a believer before God, stands upon as certain ground as the justification of Christ himself before God. He was accepted, because he shed his blood; and we are accepted, because we are cleansed by it. And the meritorious plea of this blood continuing for ever, is not without the per

petual act of the righteous Judge, justifying them for whom it pleads.

Hence will follow our security at the last judgment. As his blood now cleanseth from sin, so his voice shall then absolve, completely absolve us from sin. Those poor sinners who are alarmed, as it respects their state, need not fear that the blood of Christ has lost its efficacy; for it continues to cleanse, and so it shall continue, whilst one elect character remains on the earth to be directed by the Divine Spirit unto it for salvation. And after that, when all good men shall be safe in glory, every tongue shall be employed in adoring that sovereign grace, which directed them to this all-cleansing fountain. Since we contract guilt every day, this medicine can daily be applied. The pleas of this blood are renewed according to the necessity of our persons. Every time an Israelite was bitten by a fiery serpent, he must look up to the brazen serpent for cure; so we, upon every sting of conscience, must look up to Him who was raised on the cross, as for a remedy. Since the fountain is open every day, and we contract guilt every day, let not a day pass without fresh applications of this blood upon any defects in our walking with him, since the blood of Jesus Christ continues to cleanse us from all sin. But not only does our text denote the continual efficacy of the blood of Christ, but we would contemplate it,

III. As asserting its universal influence.