"I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service." In this chapter the Apostle presents the great duties of Christianity in the idea of sacrifice, which involves (1.) a Priest, and (2.) an offering. Priests only have authority to present to God a sacrificial offering. Hence if there are now no priests, there is no one authorized to offer sacrifice to God. But Christians are required to offer sacrifice, and hence they must be a class of priests. This idea is fully carried out by the following scriptures: "Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation." 1 Pet. ii, 5, 9. This is sufficient to prove that all Christians are priests; that they are a holy nation, a royal priesthood. Hence it is the duty of every Christian to present his own offering to God. We next proceed to notice the character of a priest. During Moses' dispensation, all who ministered in the priest's office were required to have perfect holiness. Lev. xvi. God himself is holy, and will not receive into his presence the unholy. No. Without holiness no man shall see him. Heb. xii, 14. But holiness of character can be attained, only by conformity to a holy law. God required holiness of his people during the former dispensation. And that they might be holy he gave them a law containing the principles of holiness, and required obedience to it. This is proved by Ex. xix, 5, 6: "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation." Query 1. Why did God promise to bless Israel above all other people? Ans. On condition that they obey his covenant. 2. Why were they to be a holy nation? Ans. By keeping his covenant. 3. What is his covenant? Ans. Deut. iv, 13: "And he gave unto you his covenant which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments." Therefore God's law of ten commandments was then the standard of holiness. It was obeyed in order to holiness of character, and this was not obtained outside of obedience to its precepts. But is this law holy? Paul says, "The law is holy." Rom. vii. Hence, if God yet requires holiness of his people he yet extends to them his holy law for their obedience to its precepts. Every requirement for holiness must be made on the present existence of a standard of holiness to which all may conform, of whom such requirement is made. Hence the existence of such a requirement is conclusive proof of the existence of such standard of holiness. Holiness is as much required of the people of God in this as in any other age of the world. "But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written be ye holy for I am holy." 1 Pet. i, 15, 16. Here God requires holiness of his people, for a reason which is and always has been true, that he himself is holy. Hence the condition and principles of holiness are the same that they have ever been. They are unchangeable as God himself. They never were abolished. For this reason, and this only the Apostle makes this requirement on the authority of what is written. But where is it written? In the New Testament? No. But in the Old. "For I am the Lord your God; ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves and ye shall be holy, for I am holy." Lev. xi, 44. This is proof therefore of the perpetuity of every law and principle of holiness of all past ages. It therefore follows that now no one can be holy without obedience to God's law, which is the law of ten commandments. We will next notice the offering which the Christian priest is required to present to God. This is 1. Our bodies or selves. All who would have the favor of God must sacrifice themselves to God; give themselves wholly without reserve unto him. They must act out the spirit of the poet:
> Here Lord I give myself away,
> 'Tis all that I can do. God will then receive and bless them. Henceforth they are God's; must live in him, think in him, speak in him, and walk in him. They are not their own, but are bought with a price. 1 Cor. vi, 19, 20. How great that price: the blood most precious of God's dear Son!! 1 Pet. i, 19. Therefore they never should use themselves as their own but live in obedience to the will of their kind Father and Master in heaven. 2. We are required to offer up spiritual sacrifices. This is done by prayer, thanksgiving, and blessing. Our hearts must be filled with the blessed spirit of Christ, without which we are none of his. Rom. viii, 9. And if this spirit dwell in us there will be no room for the spirit of the wicked one. Neither shall we bear the evil fruits of sin, as envy, jealousy, back-biting, or any such. But we shall bear the heavenly fruits of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, meekness, gentleness, kindness, patience. Against these there is no law. O that there may be found such a celestial and beautiful cluster of fruit as this growing in the heart of every one of the remnant, of every believer and lover of present truth. "Then shall their peace be as a river, and their righteousness as the waves of the sea." Amen.