But, as one advances in the divine life, he becomes conscious that those _sins_ which he has committed are but branches from a root, streams from a fountain; and, moreover, that _sin_ in his nature is that fountain--that root. This leads to far deeper exercise, which can only be met by a deeper insight into the work of the cross. In a word, the cross will need to be apprehended as that in which God Himself has "condemned _sin in the flesh_." (Rom. viii. 3.) My reader will observe, it does not say, "_sins_ in the _life_," but the root from whence these have sprung, namely, "_sin_ in the _flesh_." This is a truth of immense importance. Christ not merely "died for our _sins_, according to the Scriptures," but He was "made _sin_ for us." (2 Cor. v. 21.) This is the doctrine of the sin-offering. Now, it is when the heart and conscience are set at rest, through the knowledge of Christ's work, that we can feed upon Himself as the ground of our peace and joy in the presence of God. The trespass-offering and the sin-offering must be known ere the peace-offering, joy-offering, or thanksgiving-offering can be appreciated. Hence, therefore, the order in which the peace-offering stands corresponds with the order of our spiritual apprehension of Christ. The same perfect order is observable in reference to the meat-offering. When the soul is led to taste the sweetness of spiritual communion with Christ--to feed upon Him, in peace and thankfulness, in the divine presence, it is drawn out in earnest desire to know more of the wondrous mysteries of His Person; and this desire is most blessedly met in the meat-offering, which is the type of Christ's perfect manhood.