Some are expecting salvation by a course of education, or morals, or by making a public profession, but at the same time destitute of all living principles. I hold these things are all good in themselves, good for society, but as the ground of salvation they are mere sand. I believe the Bible to be the word of God, the evidence of its divinity is seen in its utterances, and in the plan of salvation it makes known. But our great theme this morning is the death of Jesus-a death so full of love, fraught with divine compassion, full of worth which rendered satisfaction to the divine rectitude, and which opened the gates of salvation, through which the saints shall enter and enjoy for ever and ever immortal bliss and pure delight.

1st. We notice the cause of the death of Christ. 2nd. The nature of the death. 3rd. The design of the death of Christ.

1st. The cause of the death of Christ. Some will say the cause is sin; but we must look higher and deeper, infi. nitely so, for the cause of the death of Christ; sin was the occasion, but the cause was only in God, in the solemn transactions of the covenant. Love was he impulsive cause, the legal cause were the covenant stipulations the Saviour had entered into, by which he bound himself as the sacrifice to the horns of the altar. The impulsive cause was the love of God; Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us.' Again, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,' and 'he that spared not his own Son but freely delivered him up for us all.' Jesus is the greatest gift of the love of God, the richest pearl brought out of the deeps of eternal love. A richer boon than this God could not have bestowed upon his people, that they might be blessed and saved in Jesus Christ. If you are anxious to read the love of God -if anxious to study this great gift, to see this pearl of great price-I must refer you to the doings of Christ in Gethsemane. How wonderful that God should have thought of sinners at all; how wonderful that in his thoughts he should have given his only begotten Son, that he should have given him to be the ransom for guilty man; that God should look into himself, into his own

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resources, to find the Lamb to take away the sins of his people. When Abraham took his son Isaac to the mountain, as God had commanded, Isaac inquired of his father, Where is the sacrifice?' He saw the knife, and the mountain as the altar, but where is the lamb for the burnt-offering? God himself provided the lamb; the innocent must suffer for the guilty, prefiguring the death of Jesus Christ: Jesus the Lamb of God bound himself as the sacrifice for the guilty, that unnumbered myriads may go free. He is the perfect sacrifice, and all that are in him are perfect for ever and ever.

The legal cause of the death of Christ were his covenant engagements he had entered into; the legal cause of the sufferings of a surety is taking the place of the debtor; the surety enters into a covenant engagement by signing the deed according to law, and as such, is bound to stand in the debtor's place, whatever privations or sufferings he may have to undergo. So it is with the Saviour; he came under the curse of the sinners' guilt; he bound himself to be the sinners' surety on the ground of his suretyship engagement; he came to suffer and to die on these grounds; hence, we have that beautiful passage, namely, 'Ought not Christ to have suffered?' The Surety gave his word— ought he not to be as good as his word? Christ entered into covenant responsibility; is it not right with love, with justice, and with law, that he should be the end of the law, the perfection of all types and shadows, and enter into his glory? Oh! look unto this great Person, this gift from heaven seen on earth. Behold, you see in this person a spotless character, whom no man can charge with folly; on his lips guile was never found. Jesus comes as the surety of his people. Ought not Christ to suffer.' Rest not, dear friends, on his personal character only, but on official character also. It is right for a man that comes freely to suffer for another, though his liabilities may be great, to be as good as his word. Jesus bound himself to the horns of the altar, and so to remove sin for ever and ever.

2nd. A word or two upon the nature of the death of Christ.

1. The death of Christ was vicarious.

He died not for his own sins, for he had none; nor for the sins of fallen angels. Had man continued in purity he would not have needed divine mercy; but man had lost his pristine glory. Man beggared himself, robbed God, and brought himself under the curse of a violated law. Man exposed himself to the thunders of Jehovah's wrath, and must suffer, or one must take man's place to vindicate God's rights, to satisfy God's claims, and raise man from his ruined position to enjoy heaven's dignity, and live in heaven's glory. The doctrine of divine substitution is one taking the place of another, the innocent taking the place of the guilty. Abel understood, if he was saved, it would be by the substitution of sacrifice; he offered up sacrifice, it was to preach to Abel a more noble sacrifice, even Christ Jesus. He in that doctrine saw the atonement; it is true, not as clearly as we see it, but sufficient to see there was no entering heaven but by mediation, the innocent taking the place of the guilty. Noah also preached this

doctrine. Come to the time of Abraham;

travel with him to the mountain, to that sacred place; see the preparation he is making; he goes to the mountain with the full intention, and for the very purpose, of offering up his son; there was the wood, the mountain became the altar, the father is in the act of stretching forth his hand, and the knife is about to be besmeared in the blood of his son. Abraham bears a voice-Do thy son no harm.' Isaac was set free. So if we pass on and come to the prophets, this doctrine is more fully set forth. Isaiah says, 'He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.' The Shepherd has been smitten, and the sheep go free; the sword of divine justice is sheathed in the Son of God. This doctrine is taught us by the apostles. Peter says the just suffered for the unjust. Paul says 'he bore our sins in his own body.' Again: 'But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. If the Bible is true, and true it is, the doctrine of divine substitution is also true. Who can carefully read this book, as a dying man; who can read it with a mind unprejudiced, with

out seeing the divinity of its originwithout seeing this doctrine is from heaven, that it bears the seal of the innite Mind?

2. The death of Christ is mysterious. Of all mysteries, this is the most abstruse, the most profound. Who was Jesus? God manifest in the flesh. Can God die? We sing our dear Redeemer, dying Lamb. What would be the utility of man, mere man, dying? he could never atone for guilt; however great or spot less his character, he could never put away sin. Was it not a mystery that Jesus should come in the likeness of sinful flesh to put away sin? Yes; and every deed and word he uttered, and every step he took upon this sinblighted earth, among men, was stamped with mystery. Was not the Saviour's cry in the garden of Gethsemane a mystery? Not my will but thine be done.' Remember who was the speaker. Remember under what circumstance this language was employed. Remember the dark deeps of the Saviour's sufferings when he said, 'Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me.' Listen to the cry of the Saviour on the cross, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Canst thou form any consistent idea of the majesty of that Being, and not wonder at such utterances as these? Can we search the Scripture and not feel the death-cry of Jesus to be a great mystery? Is there not something far surpassing our knowledge when we consider this mighty event, fraught with such mighty results? Are not his cries mysteries? How wonderful the incarnate God crying, My God, my my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' The death of Jesus was to secure glory for his people, that the devil might be vanquished, the church ransomed, offended justice satisfied, and eternal glory secured to all, the election of grace. To me the death of Jesus is wonderful. It is there we see the terrible consequences of sin. Oh! dispute not the death of Jesus; it is at thy peril for if so, the curse of God resteth on you.

3. The death of Jesus is efficacious. The efficacy of his death rose out of his divinity-out of the matchless worth of Him that suffered, out of the majesty of Him that died upon the cross. Methinks I hear some tried child of God

saying, I dare not dispute the efficacy of the death of Christ; I believe in the full atonement made for sin, for the vindication of the divine honor, and full satisfaction of the divine law, but I want to know, is the death of Jesus efficacious for me, for my eternal salvation? I dispute not the solemn truth, not the efficacy of the power of Jesus to save, but I want to know if my soul is saved, if my guilt is washed away, on the ground of the solemn atonement made by Jesus Christ, for by the deeds of the law can no man living be justified. Yes; through the death of Jesus life is secured, and salvation for ever and ever, for all those that believe and trust in him. 3rd. A word or two upon the design of the death of Christ, that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him. There are three points on which we may speak of the design of the death of Christ.

1. That God should be just, and yet the justifier of the ungodly.

2. That the righteousness of God might be maintained and the mercy of God flow to guilty man. Mercy can only flow in one channel-only on the ground of divine satisfaction, the law must not give up its claims, nor God lose his honor as the Legislator of the world. Through the death of Christ we see how God can be the justifier of the ungodly who believe in Jesus, and have the claims of the divine law satisfied, at the same time mercy can distribute with a lavish hand her richest treasures and priceless blessings. We see how God can be satisfied with the death of Jesus, and mercy's hand come down to wipe away the tears from all faces, by the voice of eternal redemption through the death of Jesus. We see how man's punishment due to his transgressions is met, and yet be in perfect harmony with God's righteous law, and God's character as the legislator maintained. The mercy of God is more precious and more glorious as we see it in perfect harmony with the righteousness of God's character, for if God could forget his character, he could forget us; if God could cease to regard the value of his character as the divine legislator, he could cease to regard you and me, sinner.

Another part of the design of the death of Christ was

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3. To suffer, the just for the unjust, that he might bring them to God. To bring us into the knowledge and enjoyment of the favor of God, to be led by the Spirit of God, to bear his image, to see his glory, and to sing in heaven, that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him. The apostle is here referring to the second coming of Christ. Some will be dead, some will be alive at the second coming of Jesus-whether we are awake or asleep, whatever may be the circumstances in which his people are placed, whether we wake or sleep, we shall live together with him, with our enthroned Prince, to enjoy his triumphs and behold his glory. Listen to the words of our enthroned Redeemer, 'Because I live, ye shall live also.'

My dear hearers, who among us will live together with him-who among us will live in his presence-who will behold his glory? If thou delightest not to hear of Jesus here, thou wilt never sing of his glory beyond the skies; if thou art here ashamed of Jesus, he will never own thee before his holy angels ; if thou art saying in the pride of thy heart, 'We will not have this man to reign over us,' remember, Jesus will say to all those that love not God and obey not his gospel, 'Depart, for I never knew you. Oh, may we be led to trust in Jesus, to follow him, and place our eternal dependance for salvation upon his mediatorial triumphs, that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him, live with Jesus Christ in heaven. Heaven would not be much without Christ, though it would be far superior to this state; but the great glory of heaven will be to live with Jesus, to behold his glory, and to sing amid the hallelujahs above.

Paul said he was in a strait betwixt two; he felt there was no work like preaching the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, as much as to say he did not know whether to wish to live here to preach such glorious things to poor perishing sinners, or to depart to be with Christ which is far better, to be eternally happy, to live in happy society and perfect harmony. May the Lord impress upon our minds the value and importance of this subject for his name's sake. Amen.

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To the Editor of the Gospel Herald. MY DEAR BROTHER-The following solemn and deeply affecting circumstance, which occurred in Ipswich, Suffolk, in November, 1801, appears to me to deserve reprinting; I therefore send it to you for that purpose, now that all the parties it then immediately concerned are removed by death.

We shall quote it verbatim, from the account sent by the late Rev. George Hall, of Ipswich, to the Editor of the Baptist Register, under date of December 14th, 1801.

Praying for all needful grace to rest upon Yours affectionately,

you,

PHILIP DICKERSON.

24, Gloucester Terrace, New Road,

Mile End Road.

Mr. Hall's communication is as follows:'On the fifth of April last, Miss Elizabeth Harrison, of this town, and her elder sister Mary, were baptised and added to the church here, of which I am pastor. Their other worthy sister (Mrs. Cowell) has joined us since. On the 26th of last month this valuable young person was married at Ipswich to a Mr. Cooper, farmer, at Drinkstone, in this county, a serious man. Her elder sister was also married on the same day to a Mr. Pollard, a merchant in Ipswich, and a member of our church.

'After dinner, on the day of their marriage, at Mr. Cowell's, where the parties and several friends met, Mrs. Cooper went upstairs with one of my daughters, and whilst conversing freely and cheerfully with her, in perfect health, was suddenly taken ill, complained of a violent pain in her head, and very soon became nearly, if not altogether, insensible. Medical assistance was called in; but, alas all in vain; she was struck with death. The blooming bride was soon changed into a breathless corpse, for at midnight she died, to the great grief of all that had the pleasure of knowing her.

What a stroke! how sudden and solemn the change! What a lesson is here! How precarious are all outward possessions and enjoyments. Who could have suspected, as Mr. Harvey expresses it, that so bright a sun would go down at noon? or that the bridal feast would have been turned into a

This was Mr. John Cooper, the father of our beloved brother Cooper of Wattisham, and our brother W. Cooper of Drinkstone. Mr. Cooper had arranged to marry previous to this, but the object of his choice died just at the time they intended to marry.

Peace, all our angry passions, then,
Let each rebellious sigh
Be silent at his sovereigu will,

And every murmur die."

Our dear departed friend was an honor to her profession, a serious and diligent attendant on the house and worship of God, both before and after she was a member with us; and I doubt not but our loss is her unspeak able gain. How she was in her mind (if capable of reflection) during her short illness cannot be ascertained, for she could speak but a few sentences from the time of her being taken till her decease. Oh! what a mercy to be ready for death whenever the messenger comes. May the Lord help us all to improve this providence, to his glory and our good.

'How necessary to watch, since we know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh. How important to improve our precious time, to sit loose to this world, and examine if we are partakers of grace, and prepared to die. What a source of consolation and support must it be for the Christian to reflect, that it is his privilege to be interested in Jesus, and through him possessed of durable enjoyments and perma nent possessions. Let saints live to his glory.

'On the Lord's day after our deceased sister's interment, I preached a funeral sermon to a very numerous congregation, from Prov. xxvii, 1: "Boast not thyself of to

REDEMPTION is the mighty theme
On which the Scriptures dwell;
The everlasting, glorious scheme,
That saves from death and hell.
Redemption from Jehovah's mind
First took its sacred rise;
And he alone the way could find
To raise us to the skies.
Redemption does the Father own-
A work he much approves;
With which he will for ever crown
Those whom he ever loves.
Redemption was by Christ obtained,
In toil, and pain, and blood:
He fought the battle-victory gained,
And cleared the way to God.

Redemption by the Spirit's might
Is to the soul revealed;

He life imparts, and he gives sight,
And shows how sin is healed.
Redemption, O then let us sing,
While in this world we stay,
Till God shall the redeemed bring
To realms of endless day.

I. LINGLEY.

No man is in a sad condition but he that hath a hard heart and cannot pray.-DOD.

So much sin, so much sorrow; so much holiness, so much happiness.-IBID.

A man that hath a spirit of prayer hath more than if he had all the world.-IBID.

Letters by the Eminently Godly and Learned Rev. Samuel Rutherford, Professor of Divinity St. Andrews. London: W. H. Collingridge. THIS is a new and excellent edition of an old and valuable work. It is scarcely necessary to say that these extraordinary compositions are distinguished by great piety and spirituality, point and earnestness, wisdom and ability, heart and originality. The truly thirsty soul may here drink and be greatly refreshed. edition is distinguished by a labored introduction, giving a general outline of the author's history and character, and also by an unusually copious index, setting forth the main points in every one of the 282 letters. Every Christian,

This

young or old, should, if possible, read through these soul-animating epistles.

Confirmation, according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England, tested by the Word of God. A Sermon, by Mr. GEORGE WRIGHT, Beccles, preached July 5th, 1857. Beccles Crisp, Market Place. 3d.

A VERY seasonable and very excellent sermon, just suited to expose the wide-spreading delusion respecting this rite, which is prevalent in so many districts, not only in the county, but throughout the kingdom. It would be well for all anxious to disseminate truth, to distribute this tract as widely as possible,