t sinners Christ died for us." We could not have the Son for our
Saviour, unless God gave Him. We could not understand the gift of
God, unless the Holy Ghost had come to quicken us and teach us; and
this He does through the Word.

Mr. M.--How much is there in Christ for us who believe?

Mr. R.--In Him dwelt "all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily"--fullness of life, of righteousness, of sanctification, of
redemption, title to heaven, and meetness for it; all that God wants
from us, and all that we want from God, He gave in the person of
Christ.

Mr. M.--How long does it take God to justify a sinner?

Mr. R.--How long? The moment we receive Him we receive authority to
enroll ourselves among the children of God, and are then and there
justified from all things. The sentence of complete justification
does not take long to pronounce. Some persons profess to see a
difficulty in the variety of ways in which a sinner is said to be
justified before God: (1) Justified by God; (2) Justified by Christ;
(3) Justified by His Blood; (4) Justified by grace; (5) Justified by
faith; (6) Justified by works.

Justification has reference to a court of justice. Suppose a sinner
standing at the bar of God, the bar of conscience, and the bar of
his fellow-men, charged with a thousand crimes.

(1) There is the Judge: that is God, who alone can condemn or
justify: "It is God that justifieth." That is justification by God.

(2) There is the Advocate, who appears at court for the sinner; the
counselor, the intercessor: that is Christ. "Justified by Christ."

(3) There is next to be considered the ground and reason on account
of which the Advocate pleads before the Judge. That is the merit of
His own precious Blood. That is justification by His Blood.

(4) Next we must remember the law which the Judge is dispensing. The
law of works? Nay, but the law of grace and faith. That is
justification by His grace.

(5) And now the judge himself pronounces the result. "Be it known
unto you that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness
of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things."
Now, for the first time, the sinner at the bar knows the fact. This
is justification by faith.

(6) But now the justified man leaves the criminal's dock. He does
not return to his prison, or to his chains. He walks forth from the
court-house a justified man; and all men, friends or foes, are made
aware that he is free. That is "just