man afraid of God: how shall the cause of fear be removed? Depravity makes him averse to intercourse with God: how shall his sentiments and disposition be changed?

An extraordinary interposition of the Supreme Being appears necessary, and also a Revelation of His Will to give us information on the subject. Though it would be presumption in us to name everything that a Revelation will contain, we may say with confidence it will be full and explicit as to the pardon of sin and the method of a sinner's reconciliation with God. These are indispensably requisite. The New Testament does not disappoint our wishes or our hopes: it enters fully into all these difficulties, and proposes a remedy for every evil which we feel. The doctrine of a Mediator, and of Redemption through Him, presents itself to our eyes in every page, and forms the very core of the Christian religion. The reality and extent of the atonement, or satisfaction made to Divine justice by Christ Jesus, are set forth in the strongest and most explicit language than can be conceived. Thus he is said to have died FOR us, to BEAR our sins, to TAKE AWAY our sins, to be a PROPITIATION for our sins, and to PURCHASE, REDEEM, and RANSOM US with the price of His blood.

Christ died For us, He laid down His life for

us. 1 John iii. 16. He died FOR our sins. 1 Cor. xv. 3. He was delivered FOR our offences. Romans iv. 25.

He tasted death FOR every man. Heb. ii. 9. Agreeably to the prophecy concerning Him, He was wounded FOR our transgressions, and bruised FOR our iniquities. Isaiah liii. 5. Christ has BORNE our sins. He was once offered to bear the sins of many. Heb. ix. 28. He BARE our sins in His own body on the tree. 1 Peter i. 24. He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorows: the Lord HATH LAID UPON HIM the

iniquity of us all. Isaiah liii. 4, 6. Christ has TAKEN AWAY our sins. He was manifested to take away our sins. 1 John iii. 5. He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Heb. ix. 26. He hath washed us from our sins in His own blood. Rev. i. 5. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. Christ is a propitiation for

our sins.

God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John iv. 10. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John ii. 2. Christ purchased, redeemed, or ransomed us with the price of His blood. He purchased the Church of God with His own blood. Acts xx. 28. He came to give His life a ransom for many.

He gave himself a ransom for all.

Matt. xx. 28.

1 Tim. ii. 6.

We are bought with a price. 1 Cor. vi. 20. In Him we have redemption through His blood. Eph. i. 7. He hath redeemed us to God by His blood. Rev. v. 9. We are redeemed with the

precious blood of Christ. 1 Peter i. 19. Christ hath suffered. Christ also hath once suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. 1 Peter iii. 18. The reason assigned by St. Paul that God "might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus." Romans iii. 26. "Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh." 1 Peter iv. 1. St. Peter states, the Prophets testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ. 1 Peter i. 11. "Christ also suffered for us." 1 Peter ii. 21.

To these passages we might add many more of similar import, and might refer to the many types which clearly prefigured our Redemption by Christ, and which are expressly referred to in the New Testament; and, likewise, we might deduce a rich fund of information from the Prophecies; for not only is the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy, but the sufferings of Jesus, the work of Redemption, and the glory that should follow, were the great themes on which the Prophets dwelt, and to which they continually direct us. This is expressly declared by St. Paul and St. hath shewed by the mouth of all His Prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath now fulfilled." Acts iii. 18. "To Him give all the Prophets witness, that through faith in His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts x. 43. "Of which salvation the Prophets

Peter:

"God before

have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the spirit which was in them did signify, which testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." 1 Peter i. 10, 11.

We have probably adduced proofs sufficient to shew that the redemption of our race by Christ is a most prominent and distinguishing feature of Revelation. The prominent position which the doctrine of Redemption occupies in the Scriptures, as well as the rich fund of information they supply upon it, will be much more clearly seen by adverting to those doctrines which are inseparably connected with it, and entirely depend upon it. Indeed it is very important that we should observe the connection of these doctrines, and likewise mark their distinction. This would help to correct those fundamental errors into which so many fall, and likewise point out the harmony of Scripture, and exhibit it in the beauty of its proportions. The first subject to which we would advert, as connected with, though distinct from, Redemption, is that of Salvation.

CHAPTER IV.

SALVATION.

Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Jesus Christ whereby men must be saved."-Article xviii.

BOTH Scripture and our Church clearly affirm redemption to be universal,—that Christ died for the sins of the whole world,-that He tasted death for every man the atonement is unlimited and infinite. But Salvation is clearly stated to be particular, and limited to those who believe; for every impenitent and unbelieving sinner shall be excluded from the kingdom of God.

Redemption affects the character of God as the moral governor of the universe. It removes the obstacles that barred our access to God; it opens a channel through which mercy may freely flow, and grace descend, upon our guilty and depraved race; but it does not necessarily secure the salvation of any. Salvation is the personal appropriation of redemption, and this our unbelief prevents; for unless we believe we shall perish; but our unbelief cannot