Since God is perfect, all who shall be saved in heaven must have perfect righteousness.

In God's holy word we read, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. lxiv. 6. Then, dear reader, do you desire to appear before God clothed with your own works of filthy rags? Adam's efforts could not hide his sin: so our fig-leaf righteousness cannot cleanse or cover our sins. But the righteousness of God wrought out by our Lord Jesus on the cross is the PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS NEEDED by justly condemned sinner. And this perfect righteousness of Christ is "Unto all and upon all them that be­lieve." Rom. iii. 22.

"Jesus, thy blood and righteousness

 My beauty or my glorious dress;

 Midst flaming words in these arrayed

 With joy shall I lift my head,"

Loving believers turn from sin and do right, and yet depend entirely on this perfect right­eousness of Christ to save them. This, my friends, is the only righteousness that will save us in glory.

So all the elect or "they which receive abundance of grace and of this gift of righteousness, are thereby made righteous and shall reign by Jesus Christ." Rom. v. 17. Poor guilty, mourning soul, be comforted. "For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." II Cor. v. 21. By man's disobedience we are made sinners; but by Christ's obedience we shall be made righteous. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous." Rom. v. 19.

Ah, poor wretched, weeping sinner, our sins killed our only Saviour; yet His death brings us life. Thus, my friends, Jesus and His righteous­ness is my only hope of heaven. Then let us sing:

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

In a believer's ear.

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds

And drives away his fear."

Now though none are saved in heaven with, out good fruit, or obedience here: yet none are saved by their works, but by the renewing work of the Holy Ghost. Tit. iii. 5.

Praise the Lord! Heaven is freely given to us because Jesus died for us, and by His obe­dience satisfied the law's demands. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. v. 6.

Oh, my friends, as we love our Lord Jesus who died for us, let us turn from every evil way, and "be careful to maintain good works." Tit. iii. 8. Thus our right doing is proof that we have the perfect saving righteousness of Christ placed to our account. Jesus says: "If a man love me he will keep my words." Let us turn from evil, be more obedient to our Lord, and be blessed in the deed.

Yours in love and hope of eternal life,

Hamilton, Tex.       M.D. DENMAN.