The Twenty Second of April.

RICH IN MERCY --- Ephesians 2:4-6.

"God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he hath loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." --- Ephesians 2:4-6.

Christ being the head of the body, his church, all who are real members are, together with him, dead, buried, raised up, and seated in heavenly places; for he is the new Adam, and has done all things as our representative in our stead, and for our good.

Therefore, a true believer may rejoice and say, "I have suffered in thee, O my glorious Head, for all my sins already; I am discharged; I have no punishment to fear any more respecting the guilt and curse of sin.

Thou hast fully answered the charge against me, satisfied the infinite justice of God for me, and it is impossible, with his equity and love, to require a double payment of my debts; consequently, I die no more, since thou canst die no more; nay, I live already, and have my place with thee eternally in heaven, since the Head cannot, nor will ever, part even with the weakest of his members, but influence and draw them after him wherever he goes."

O Lord, we praise thee for thy Son,
Who join'd our nature to his own;
The second Adam from the dust
Raises the ruins of the first.

By rebellion of one man,
Through all the seed the miscief ran;
And by one man's obedience now
Are all his seed made righteous too.

Where sin did reign, and death abound,
There have the sons of Adam found
Abounding life; there glorious grace
Reigns through the Lord our Righteousness.