us in the Beloved: in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.' And again: 'God, being ¹ rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, quickened us together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus . . . for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory . . . . Now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ . . . . So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone.' And again it is written of Christian converts: 'Ye ² are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.'

It is on this account that in the holy Scriptures believers in Christ are styled God's saints and his beloved, as, for example, in the following passage: 'Put ³ on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved,

a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering.'

Just as the tree of life is cut away from man's heart by the deadly teeth of the gnawing saw of sin, and the light of God is extinguished by the blast of wickedness, and thus man becomes plunged into the darkness of evil and is overcome by sin and Satan, in a precisely similar way, through belief in Christ, God's light is once more kindled in a man's breast, and the man awakens from the sleep of carelessness and recovers from the intoxication of evil. Thus, too, he is given God's love and inward, spiritual strength, the result of which is conduct in accordance with God's holy commandments.

So it is written in the New Testament: ' If ¹ any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.' And again: 'The ² grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.' And, since the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ changes man's inward