as our substitute and advocate, we confidently anticipate acquittal in
our salvation shall not be less complete, or less eternal: for "he is able to save them to the UTTERMOST (not merely to the uttermost of extremity, but of time—for such is the meaning of the original word) that come unto God by him, seeing he EVER LIVETH to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). And it is written in the prophets, "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation; ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world without end" (Is. 45:17). To be thus "chosen to salvation" (2 Thess. 2:13)—to be saved eternally, without the very possibility of failure or of end—what joy is there in the thought! How it cheers and comforts! It takes off the edge of trial; it lifts off time's sorest pressures.—"What! shall I who am partaker of an everlasting salvation sink down under any burden, however heavy, or give way to sick-heartedness in the day of evil?"
7. It thinks of the ETERNAL purpose (Eph. 3:11).—That purpose of the God only wise is the sure chain which binds us inseparably to him. His purpose! his purpose from eternity!—what a resting-place for us in our tossings and changes! Of that purpose we are the objects; and that purpose is from eternity to eternity! Jehovah thought upon us personally in the immeasurable ages past, and he will continue to think upon us in the unending ages to come! To be connected with such a purpose is no common security and gladness. Having "chosen us in him before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4), he will not let go his hold of us in the ages to come. "His good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself" spreads over us eternally like a curtain of heavenly light—like a rainbow of beauty and of joy.
8. It thinks of the ETERNAL judgment (Heb. 6:2).—In taking Christ as our substitute and advocate, we confidently anticipate acquittal in the day when we shall all stand at the judgment-seat of Christ. Faith, being "the substance of things hoped for," teaches us to fore-date the judgment, and to count upon a sentence in our favour. Strictly speaking, the sentence of justification is not given until that day; and hence our being justified by faith may be said to be our counting upon being justified by the righteous Judge, in the day of his