“A. C.,” Keady, Co. Armagh. The subject of your note has been fully gone into in the pages of Things New and Old. See, particularly, an article entitled “Atonement and pardon, as taught by the Word.” Also, “Confession of Sin.” It is of the utmost importance to distinguish between the position of the believer, and his moral condition therein, between his standing and his state. The former is perfect, the latter is not. His standing is entirely of God, and in Christ, enjoyed by faith in the testimony of the Holy Spirit, as given in Scripture. But his state—his own real, practical, moral condition, is another thing altogether. The former is the standard by which the latter must be judged. We all have a host of things in us demanding constant self-judgment and confession. If this be lost sight of, we shall soon break down, and bring sad dishonor on the cause of Christ, and give occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully. The Christian is called to be a polished reflector of Christ. Marvelous position! You may say, “Where shall we find this realized and practically exhibited?” Alas! where? Still, this is what we are called to be. If then we indulge in lust and bad temper—if we harbor covetousness and pride—anger and malice, we, most assuredly, are not polished reflectors of Christ, but exhibitors of self. In the case of a reflector, all that is needed is, to keep the surface polished, and place it opposite to the light. So in the case of the Christian, if, with open face and single eye, he gazes upon the person of Christ, His glorious image will be formed in the soul, and reflected back in daily practical life. The Lord grant us to know far more of this than we do!