the penalty of the law can only be inflicted on the transgressor. The history of mankind supplies many practical refutations of this bold assertion. How often have men been tried, convicted, condemned, and executed for crimes which they had not committed? A thousand times have penalties of human laws been inflicted on innocent individuals. To assert then that only the guilty can be punished, is to contradict undeniable facts. That punishment inflicted on the innocent is unjust, is certainly true; but the injustice of it cannot be pleaded against the fact, that innocent persons have often been punished, not only through mistake, but wilfully by unjust judges. Inspired writers, we have seen, do, in very plain and strong language, characterize the sufferings of our blessed Lord as partaking strictly of the nature of punishment. Not only were they laid upon him by a righteous judge, and inflicted on account of imputed sin; but they are, in Scripture, denominated a curse, a chastisement, a punishment. 3. It is urged that the views of Atonement advocated in this tract, are incompatible with free and sovereign grace in man's salvation. This objection is based on the supposition, that grace and purchase cannot coalesce in saving sinners. Now, if fallen man had furnished the price, this would be true: for Paul testifies, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." But it is utterly groundless and false, when applied to the Redeemer's purchase. Redemption was not purchased by man. Man was infinitely too poor to furnish the price of redemption. The inexhaustible treasures of heaven alone could pay the ransom. In the infinite riches of his mercy, God provided the price; he sent his own Son into the world to pay it, by laying down his precious life. Now, when we consider all this; that the plan of our redemption was laid by divine wisdom; that it was executed by the Son of God; that the price of our salvation was furnished by his boundless love; and that the application of the Atonement is the effect of divine grace; are not the infinite riches of God's grace magnified beyond all conception? How surprising that any Christian should found an objection against the freeness of grace, on the very fact, which inspired writers exhibit as the highest demonstration of divine love, and which draws from them the loftiest strains of praise ! "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that 66 whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." 4. The last objection to be noticed, is, that in preaching the Gospel, our doctrine does not harmonize with a full and free offer of salvation to every sinner. It involves, it is said, a degree of insincerity, to tender salvation to those for whom Christ has not made satisfaction. As those from whom this objection comes, believe the doctrine of personal election to everlasting life, it is fair to ask them, whether there is any insincerity in the proffers of salvation to individuals not elected to eternal life. Now, if the doctrine of particular election harmonizes with a full and free offer of saving blessings, why should the doctrine we maintain be supposed at all inconsistent with the same gracious arrangement of divine mercy? Believing, as we do, that the atonement of Christ, in itself considered, is of infinite value; that God has established an infallible connexion between faith and salvation; and that he requires all who hear the Gospel to believe its precious truths, and embrace its proffered grace; we feel no difficulty in delivering our message to all our fellow sinners. We feel authorized to tell every human being to whom we have access, of the Saviour's love in dying for a fallen race; to assure him of his ability and willingness to save every sinner who will apply to him in the appointed way; to tender to him individually every blessing of salvation; to declare the solemn truth, that, if he perish, it will be owing, not to any deficiency in the value of Christ's Atonement, but to his own wilful unbelief; in a word, persuaded that the application of salvation in each case is made by the Spirit of God, we feel free in fulfilling the high commission "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." All this is true; and if any complain, and venture to impute to such a message of grace the want of sincerity, they will find the Lord, the God of truth, can vindicate his own ways, and confound all who shall dare to dispute with him. "He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed that record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." REFLECTIONS. The review of this subject is calculated to awaken deep emotions of gratitude to God, for the all-sufficient Atonement of Jesus Christ Had not this wonderful provision of mercy been devised and prepared, what would have been our condition? Divine justice must have exacted the dreadful forfeiture of life on account of sin; and a holy God would have glorified himself in the eternal miseries of a fallen world. On earth not a note of praise would have been heard; and from every dwelling of man, the blasphemies of hell would have resounded. But how different the scene! Through the blood of Atonement, strangers are brought nigh to God; peace is established between rebels and their offended sovereign; the light of life gladdens every believing heart; praise ascends from earth to heaven; salvation and glory to God resound throughout the church. Heaven is receiving to its mansions millions of fallen men, washed in atoning blood, and sanctified by renewing grace. On earth a temple is building for God; in which, when finished and removed to a better world, his glory will shine forever with unutterable majesty and grandeur. Let our hearts overflow with emotions of gratitude and joy. Let us celebrate forever redeeming grace. 2. The Atonement of Christ claims an exalted place in the system of evangelical truth. To speak of it as only opening a door of hope for sinners; to deny its securing salvation to any; to affirm that notwithstanding the sacrifice of Christ, all might have perished; is not uttering language in accordance with that of inspired men. It is undervaluing the Saviour's blood; it is degrading his propitiatory sacrifice. The Atonement holds in the system of revealed truth the highest place. In fact, it is the centre. Like the sun, it imparts light and heat to the whole system. It is the basis of all God's transactions with our fallen world. By inspired men it has always been exhibited as the grand object of faith. It was the substance of the types; the all-absorbing theme of prophecy; and the burden of apostolical preaching. The church before our Saviour's advent looked forward to his cross, with holy anticipation; the church since his coming looks back to his cross, with confidence and joy; and the whole church in heaven will forever contemplate the cross, and there see the price of their redemption, and the brightest exhibition of divine glory. The Atonement secures the salvation of no one! Yet inspired writers speak of it as the fountain of every saving blessing; and Paul, who well knew its inestimable value, gave to it his whole heart, and selected it as the sum and substance of his preaching; "God forbid, that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world." "For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified." (Gal. vi. 14. 1 Cor. ii. 2.) Reader, dost thou confide in the great Atonement? Thy faith may be orthodox, and thy heart wrong. In speculation thou mayest honour, but in practice dishonour, the sacrifice of Christ. Of what avail to thee will be the knowledge of an unfailing remedy, if it be not applied? The cross is lifted up to the view of all; look to it, and live. THE END. AMEN AND AMEN. |