The Twenty Eighth of March.FOR HE IS A BABE --- Hebrews 5:13."For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe." --- Hebrews 5:13. The apostle, with some severity of expression, tells the Hebrews, or converted Jews, to whom he wrote, that instead of being capable of strong meat, or attaining to the pefection of Christian doctrine and being skilful in the way of righteousness, they chose to continue babes in knowledge; and, like children, had all their work to begin again. It is, therefore, a matter of great importance to know what that word of righeousness is in which they were unskillful, not having their senses exercised to discern between good and evil, truth and error. Let it only be observed, that they were looking back to the law, and consequently in danger of returning to it for justification, and thus falling from the doctrine of grace. The design of the epistle was to keep them stedfast in the faith; and it will appear, at once, that the righteousness which they were ignorant of, or ready to reject, is that of Christ, "who, by one offering," the finishing act of his obedience, hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified," Hebrews 10:14. How many at all times, who have the name and appearance of well grown Christians are just such babes as the Hebrews were, and have the same need to be told that tehy are unskilful in the word, reason, or ground, of a justifying righteousness, and exhorted to go to perfection in Christian doctrine, as well as to further degrees of Christian holiness. Unskilful though I am, O Lord, |