Morning   “Without the shedding of blood is no remission.” / Hebrews 9:22

This is the voice of unalterable truth. In none of the Jewish ceremonies were  sins, even typically, removed without blood-shedding. In no case, by no means  can sin be pardoned without atonement. It is clear, then, that there is no  hope for me out of Christ; for there is no other blood-shedding which is worth  a thought as an atonement for sin. Am I, then, believing in him? Is the blood  of his atonement truly applied to my soul? All men are on a level as to their  need of him. If we be never so moral, generous, amiable, or patriotic, the  rule will not be altered to make an exception for us. Sin will yield to  nothing less potent than the blood of him whom God hath set forth as a  propitiation. What a blessing that there is the one way of pardon! Why should  we seek another?

Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice that  all our sins are forgiven us for Christ’s sake. Their works, and prayers, and  ceremonies, give them very poor comfort; and well may they be uneasy, for they  are neglecting the one great salvation, and endeavouring to get remission  without blood. My soul, sit down, and behold the justice of God as bound to  punish sin; see that punishment all executed upon thy Lord Jesus, and fall  down in humble joy, and kiss the dear feet of him whose blood has made  atonement for thee. It is in vain when conscience is aroused to fly to  feelings and evidences for comfort: this is a habit which we learned in the  Egypt of our legal bondage. The only restorative for a guilty conscience is a  sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. “The blood is the life thereof,” says  the Levitical law, and let us rest assured that it is the life of faith and  joy and every other holy grace.

“Oh! how sweet to view the flowing

Of my Saviour’s precious blood;

With divine assurance knowing

He has made my peace with God.”

Evening   “And these are ancient things.” / 1 Chronicles 4:22

Yet not so ancient as those precious things which are the delight of our  souls. Let us for a moment recount them, telling them over as misers count  their gold. The sovereign choice of the Father, by which he elected us unto  eternal life, or ever the earth was, is a matter of vast antiquity, since no  date can be conceived for it by the mind of man. We were chosen from before  the foundations of the world. Everlasting love went with the choice, for it  was not a bare act of divine will by which we were set apart, but the divine  affections were concerned. The Father loved us in and from the beginning. Here  is a theme for daily contemplation. The eternal purpose to redeem us from our  foreseen ruin, to cleanse and sanctify us, and at last to glorify us, was of  infinite antiquity, and runs side by side with immutable love and absolute  sovereignty. The covenant is always described as being everlasting, and Jesus,  the second party in it, had his goings forth of old; he struck hands in sacred  suretyship long ere the first of the stars began to shine, and it was in him  that the elect were ordained unto eternal life. Thus in the divine purpose a  most blessed covenant union was established between the Son of God and his  elect people, which will remain as the foundation of their safety when time  shall be no more. Is it not well to be conversant with these ancient things?  Is it not shameful that they should be so much neglected and even rejected by  the bulk of professors? If they knew more of their own sin, would they not be  more ready to adore distinguishing grace? Let us both admire and adore  tonight, as we sing —

“A monument of grace,    A sinner saved by blood;

The streams of love I trace    Up to the Fountain, God;

And in his sacred bosom see    Eternal thoughts of Love to me.”