The second point above referred to is clearly stated in verse 11.--"For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls, for IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL." The connection between the two points is deeply interesting. When man duly takes his place as one possessing no title whatsoever to life--when he fully recognizes God's claims upon him, then the divine record is, "I have given you the life to make an atonement for your soul." Yes; atonement is God's gift to man; and be it carefully noted that this atonement is in the blood, and _only_ in the blood. "It is _the blood_ that maketh an atonement for the soul." It is not the blood _and_ something else. The word is most explicit. It attributes atonement exclusively to _the blood_. "Without shedding of _blood_ is no remission." (Heb. ix. 22.) It was the _death_ of Christ that rent the vail. It is "by _the blood_ of Jesus" we have "boldness to enter into the holiest." "We have redemption through His _blood_, the forgiveness of sins." (Eph. i. 7; Col. i. 14.) "Having made peace by _the blood_ of His cross." "Ye who were afar off are made nigh by _the blood_ of His cross." "_The blood_ of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John i. 7.) "They washed their robes and made them white in _the blood_ of the Lamb." (Rev. vii.) "They overcame him by _the blood_ of the Lamb." (Rev. xii.) I would desire to call my reader's earnest attention to the precious and vital doctrine of the blood. I am anxious that he should see its true place. The blood of Christ is the foundation of every thing. It is the ground of God's righteousness in justifying an ungodly sinner that believes on the name of the Son of God; and it is the ground of the sinner's confidence in drawing nigh to a holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold evil. God would be just in the condemnation of the sinner; but through the death of Christ, He can be just and the justifier of him that believeth--a just God and a Saviour. The righteousness of God is His consistency with Himself--His acting in harmony with His revealed character. Hence, were it not for the cross, His consistency with Himself would, of necessity, demand the death and judgment of the sinner; but in the cross, that death and judgment were borne by the sinner's Surety, so that the same divine consistency is perfectly maintained, while a holy God justifies an ungodly sinner through faith. _It is all through the blood of Jesus_--nothing less, nothing more, nothing different. "It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." This is conclusive. This is God's simple plan of justification. Man's plan is much more cumbrous, much more roundabout. And not only is it cumbrous and roundabout, but it attributes righteousness to something quite different from what I find in the Word. If I look from the third chapter of Genesis down to the