"How we are capable of drawing near to God.
"By nature we stand in opposition to God, (Col. 1:21). We are alien-
ated, and enemies. How then can we approach near to God? Answer: It is through a Mediator. Jesus Christ is the screen between us and divine justice. Christ as our High Priest assumes our flesh. Christ's flesh is called a 'veil,' (Heb. 10:20). As Moses when his face shone so exceedingly bright put a veil upon it, and then Israel might approach near to him and look upon him: so Christ having veiled Himself with our human nature, we may now draw near to God and behold Him.
"And as Christ makes way for us into the Holy of Holies by His incar-
nation, so also by His crucifixion. He died to make God and us friends. The divine law being infringed, God's justice was provoked, and satis-
faction demanded, before we could approach to God in an amicable way. Now here Christ as our Priest shed His blood for our sins, and so made the atonement--Col. 1:20: 'Having made peace through the blood of His cross.' As Joseph being so great at court, made way for all his brothers to draw near into the king's presence, (Gen. 47:2), so Jesus Christ is our Joseph, that makes the way for us by His blood, that we may now come near into God's presence. Through Christ, God is pleased with us; He holds forth the golden scepter, that we may draw near, and touch the top of the scepter."
