just, as well as because he is merciful and loving. And the believer is sanctified, and made righteous by the Holy Spirit working in him through the word; according to the prayer of Christ, "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth" (John 17: 17) Paul, speaking of the sacrifices in the Old Testament, says, "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Heb. 9: 13).

The union of believers with the Lord Jesus Christ in His sufferings, Ilis crucifixion, His death, His burial, His resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and with Him seated on His throne, and as partakers of His glory, is expressly stated in the Scriptures. It is realized in their Christian experience: and it is the great motive for holy living and good works. We are told, "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ. were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His

resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him" (Rom. 6: 2−8). Paul says, "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Gal. 2: 19). "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Col. 2: 20). "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Col. 3:1). "But God, who is rich in mercy; for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2: 4). "Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together

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and edify one another, even as also ye do Thess. 5: 10). "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Rev. 1. 5).

CHRIST, OUR ANOINTED KING.

ANOINTING was a common practice among the Jews. It was specially used on things and persons consecrated to the service of God. Kings, High Priests, and sometimes prophets, were anointed. The Lord Jesus Christ, who was filled with the Holy Ghost, was thereby consecrated as the Messiah; as prophet, priest, and king. "For He whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him" (John 3: 34).

From the beginning of the world a great Deliverer was expected. In the garden of Eden, after the Fall of Eve and Adam, Jehovah God, in putting a curse on the serpent, added, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen. 3: 15).

From that time there were two distinct races on the earth; the children of God and the children of the Devil. Jesus told the Jews who did not believe in Him, "Ye do the deeds of your father, * * * ye are of your father, the devil ” (John 8: 41, 44). In the parable of the sower, Jesus says, " He that soweth the good seed is the son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the

tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil" (Matt. 13: 37; Acts 13: 10; 1 John 3: 8, 10, 12).

When Jehovah called Abram to leave his country and kindred, He said unto him, "I will make of thee a great nation * * * and thou shalt be a blessing * * * and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12: 1, 3). Again and again was this promise repeated. "All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him" (Gen. 18: 18). "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22: 18; 21: 4; 28: 14). This promise, the Scriptures say, refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. "Ye are the children of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3: 25).

"Now, to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Gal. 3: 16). Nathan was sent to David with the message, "Thus saith Jehovah, *** I will set up thy seed after thee, *** and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom. for ever, ***" (2 Sam. 7: 13). The Scripture shows that this promise referred to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was so understood by David, and he wrote accordingly, in a number of the