as true.

After this we find him passing thru Jerusalem, stopping a few weeks
with Peter and the other Apostles to learn from them all he could; and
then going on to his native city, Tarsus, where we lose sight of him
for several years before we find him starting on his first great
missionary journey from Antioch, in which we begin to get our first
glimpses of the doctrine of vicarious atonement made for the sins of
the world by the death of Jesus of Nazareth.

During these years of Paul's obscurity, both in Arabia and at Tarsus,
what was he probably doing? We do not know. But is it unreasonable to
conjecture that he must have spent at least a good portion of his time
in profound study, to try to reconcile these new views with the past
history, traditions and beliefs of his own people? If this new
teaching meant only a new ethical standard of life; that men are saved
by what they _are_ and _do_, without any reference to _belief_, then
the whole Jewish system of sacrifices had no meaning at all, and never
did have. We can hardly conceive of Paul, educated as he was in all
the lore and traditions of his people, accepting such a view as this.
To him all the traditions and practices of his people were at least of
divine origin; and hence must have a meaning of eternal significance.
Yet, it must have been plain to him that in the natural course of
events, as they were then clearly tending, it could not be long until
the elaborate temple ritual, with _all_ its sacrifices, oblation,
burning bullocks and incense, must soon cease forever!

And now for the interpretation. All the ceremonial of Israel had a
meaning; but it was symbolic, typical of some reality to come. The
blood of bulls and lambs and goats could not in themselves atone for
sin; but they could _point_ to the "Lamb of Calvary," slain for the
sins of the world. He that was without sin,--"the lamb without spot or
blemish,"--was offered as a sacrifice for the sins of others. The law
had its purpose, but it was now fulfilled, all its symbolic meaning was
consummated in the death of Jesus, and now it must go. It was only a
school master, to keep us in the way until the Christ should come.
When this "lamb" was slain, God saw his shed blood, and was satisfied.
His anger relented, his wrath cooled and the hand of mercy was
extended, on the simple condition,--_of faith_. What was the meaning,
intent and purpose of this vicarious atonement? According to the
bel