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about the state of his soul。 The more boldly he shows his colours； and
the more unpromising and firm he is； the lighter will he find his
heart； and the more sensibly will he feel the sun shining on his face。
None are so happy in God's service as decided Christians。 When John
Rogers； the first martyr in Queen Mary's time； was being led to
Smithfield to be burned； the French Ambassador reported that he looked
as bright and cheerful as if he were going to his wedding。
Does any Christian reader of these pages desire much usefulness to
others in his religion？ Let me assure him that none do so much good in
the long run of life； and leave such a mark on their generation； as
those who 〃hold fast their profession〃 most tightly； and are most
decided servants of Christ。 Few men； perhaps； did more for the cause of
the Protestant Reformation； and shook the power of Rome more pletely
in this country； than the two noble bishops who were burned back to
back at one stake in Oxford； and would not let go their faith to save
their lives。 I need not say that I refer to Ridley and Latimer。 The
careless； thoughtless； irreligious world takes notice of such men； and
is obliged to allow that there is something real and solid in their
religion。 The more light shines in our lives； the more good shall we do
in the world。 It is not for nothing that our Lord says； in the Sermon
on the Mount； 〃Let your light so shine before men； that they may see
your good works； and glorify your Father which is in heaven〃 （Matt。
5：16）。
Let us gather up all these things in our memories； and never forget
them。 Let it be a settled principle in our minds； that it is of
immeasurable importance to our happiness and usefulness to 〃hold fast
our profession；〃 and to be always on our guard。 Let us dismiss from our
minds the crude modern idea that a believer has only got to sit still；
and 〃yield himself〃 to God。 Let us rather maintain the language of
Scripture； and strive to 〃mortify the deeds of our body；〃 to 〃crucify
our flesh；〃 to 〃cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and
spirit；〃 to wrestle； to fight； and live the soldier's life （Rom。 8：13；
Gal。 5：24； 2 Cor。 7：1； Eph。 6：12； 1 Tim。 6：12； 2 Tim。 2：3）。 One might
think that the account of the armour of God in the Epistle to the
Ephesians ought to settle the question of our duty。 But the plain truth
is； men will persist in confounding two things that differ； that is
justification and sanctification。 In justification； the word to be
addressed to man is； Believe； only believe。 In sanctification； the word
must be； Watch； pray； and fight。 What God has divided； let us not
mingle and confuse。 I can find no words to express my own deep sense of
the immense importance of 〃holding fast our profession。〃
III。 In the last place； let us consider what encouragement there is to
Christians to hold fast their profession。
The Apostle St。 Paul was singularly fitted； both by grace and nature；
to handle this subject。 Of all the inspired writers in the New
Testament； none seems to have been so thoroughly taught of God to deal
with the conflicts of the human heart as St。 Paul。 None was better
acquainted with the dangers； diseases； and remedies of the soul。 The
proof of this is to be seen in the seventh chapter of his Epistle to
the Romans； and the fifth chapter of his Second Epistle to the
Corinthians。 Those two chapters ought to be frequently studied by every
Christian who wishes to understand his own heart。
Now what is the ground of encouragement which St。 Paul proposes？ He
tells us to 〃hold fast our profession；〃 and not let it go； because 〃we
have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens； Jesus the Son
of God。〃
That word 〃High Priest〃 would ring with power in the ears of a Jewish
reader far more than it would in the ears of Gentile Christians。 It
would stir up in his mind the remembrance of many typical things in the
service of the tabernacle and temple。 It would make him recollect that
the Jewish high priest was a kind of mediator between God and the
people；that he alone went once every year into the Holy of Holies on
the day of atonement； and had access through the veil to the
mercy…seat；that he was a kind of daysman between the twelve tribes
and God； to lay his hand on both （Job。 9：33）；that he was the chief
minister over the house of God； who was intended 〃to have passion on
the ignorant and them that were out of the way〃 （Heb。 5：2）。 All these
things would give the Jews some idea of what St。 Paul meant when he
said； 〃Let us hold fast；〃 because we have got a great High Priest in
heaven。 The plain truth is； that the Christian is meant to understand
that we have a mighty； living Friend in heaven； who not only died for
us； but rose again； and after rising again took His seat at the right
hand of God； to be our Advocate and Intercessor with the Father until
He es again。 We are meant to understand that Christ not only died
for us； but is alive for us； and actively working on our behalf at this
very day。 In short； the encouragement that St。 Paul holds out to
believers is； the living priesthood of Jesus Christ。
Is not this exactly what he meant when he told the Hebrews that Christ
is 〃able to save them to the uttermost who e unto God by Him；
because He ever liveth to make intercession for them〃 （Heb。 7：25）？ Is
not this what he meant when he told the Romans； 〃If； when we were
enemies； we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son； much more；
being reconciled； we shall be saved by His life〃 （Rom。 5：10）？Is not
this what he meant when he wrote that glorious challenge； 〃Who is he
that condemneth？ It is Christ that died； yea； rather； that is risen
again； who is even at the right hand of God； who also maketh
intercession for us〃 （Rom。 8：34）？ Here； in one word； is the believer's
fountain of consolation。 He is not only to look to a Saviour who died
as his Substitute； and shed His blood for him； but to a Saviour who
also after His resurrection took His seat at God's right hand； and
lives there as his constant Intercessor and Priest。
Let us think for a moment what a wonderful and suitable High Priest is
the High Priest of our profession； a million times superior to any high
priest of the family of Aaron。
Jesus is a High Priest of almighty power； for He is very God of very
God； never slumbering； never sleeping； never dying； and eternal。 The
Jewish high priests were 〃not suffered to continue by reason of death〃
（Heb。 7：23）； but Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more。 Our
great High Priest never grows old； and never dies （Rom。 6：9）。
Jesus is a High Priest who is perfect Man as well as perfect God。 He
knows what our bodies are； for He had a body Himself； and is acquainted
with all its sinless weakness and pains。 He knows what hunger； and
thirst； and suffering are； for He lived for thirty…three years upon
earth； and knows the physical nature of an infant； a child； a boy； a
young man； and a man of full age。 〃He hath suffered Himself； being
tempted〃 （Heb。 2：18）。
Jesus is a High Priest of matchless sympathy。 He can be 〃touched with
the feeling of our infirmities〃 （Heb。 4：15）。 His heart was always
overflowing with love； pity； and passion while He was on earth。 He
wept at the grave of Lazarus。 He wept over unbelieving Jerusalem。 He
had an ear ready to hear every cry for help； and was ever going about
doing good to the sick and the afflicted。 One of His last thoughts on
the cross was one of care for His mother； and one of His first messages
after His resurrection was one of 〃peace〃 to His poor fallen Apostles。
And He is not changed。 He has carried that wonderful heart up to
heaven； and is ever watching the weakest lamb in His flock with
merciful tenderness。
Jesus is a High Priest of perfect wisdom。 He knows exactly what each of
us is； and what each of us requires。 〃He will not suffer us to be
tempted above that which we are able to bear〃 （1 Cor。 10：13）； nor allow
us to remain in the furnace of suffering one moment beyond the time
that is required for our refining。 He will give us strength according
to our day； and grace according to our need。 He knows the most secret
feelings of our hearts； and understands the meaning of our feeblest
prayers。 He is not like Aaron； and Eli； and Abiathar； and Annas； and
Caiaphas； an erring and imperfect high priest in dealing with those who
e to Him； and spread out their petitions before Him。 He never makes
any mistakes。
I challenge every reader of this paper to tell me； if he can； what
greater consolation and encouragement the soul of man can have than the
possession of such a High Priest as this？ We do not think enough of Him
in these days。 We talk of His death； and His sacrifice； and His blood；
and His atonement； and His finished work on the cross； and no doubt we
can never m