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CHAPTER II.

Respecting the Principle of Reconciliation avowedly set forth in the Religion, which God has actually communicated to Man, under the Aspect of a Religion suitable to a fallen Creature.

Ir will probably not be controverted, that the doctrine of a possible reconciliation with God is so essentially necessary to a religion SUITABLE to the condition of a fallen creature, that, in the very nature of things, no such religion can exist without it.

I. But the possibility of a reconciliation with God is one thing: and the principle, on which that reconciliation is to be effected, is quite another thing.

In regard to matter of fact, we know on abundantly sufficient evidence, that God has been pleased, through the joint medium of three successive Dispensations, to communicate a religion to man, professedly under the aspect of a religion SUITABLE to the condition of a fallen creature.

Hence, as might be anticipated from the very nature of things, this divinely-communicated

religion, however, during the lapse of various periods, it might be variously modified, never fails to hold forth the possibility of a reconciliation with God.

But, in holding forth the possibility of a reconciliation with God, the question arises, whether it also distinctly propounds the principle on which that reconciliation is to be effected.

II. For the purpose of answering this question, we must obviously advert to the declarations and statements of the divinely-communicated religion itself.

1. If, then, we first direct our attention to that consummating Dispensation which bears the name of Christian or Evangelical, we shall find, that not only is the principle of reconciliation fully developed, but also that the reduction of the principle to effectual practice is openly and unreservedly exhibited.

The principle of reconciliation is developed in THE DOCTRINE OF AN ATONEMENT: the reduction of the principle to effectual practice is exhibited in THE DEAth of christ upon the CROSS IN OUR STEAD AND ON OUR BEHALF AND FOR OUR BENEFIT.

Now, between these two matters, there is an obvious and important difference.

The latter could only be fully understood,

when it had actually occurred: the former, if revealed, might, as a consolatory article of faith, be sufficiently understood, long before the actual occurrence of the latter.

2. Such is the information, as to the reconciliatory principle, which we derive from the latest and most perfect modification of the religion communicated by God to sinful man.

If we next direct our inquiries retrogressively to that earlier form of it which we commonly style the Levitical Dispensation, we shall again find, that not only is the principle of reconciliation developed, but also that the reduction of the principle to practice is distinctly exhibited.

Under the Law, as under the Gospel, the principle of reconciliation is developed in THE DOCTRINE OF AN ATONEMENT: and, under the Law, in close correspondence with the Gospel, the reduction of the principle to practice is exhibited in THE VIOLENT DEATH OF VARIOUS APPOINTED ANIMAL VICTIMS.

After what precise manner, indeed, that principle was ultimately to be carried into really beneficial effect, could have been known to the Israelites under the Law, only with a great degree of indefiniteness. By the successive declarations of the prophets, an increasing light, no doubt,

was gradually thrown upon the subject: but, after all, the knowledge even of the most acute and the most inquisitive must largely have partaken of the indistinctness which ever characterizes unaccomplished predictions. Still, however, the ancient people of God had the principle. They had learned, not only the possibility of a reconciliation, but likewise the principle on which that reconciliation was to be effected. THEY WERE ACQUAINTED WITH THE DOCTRINE OF AN

ATONEMENT.

III. Such being the case, so far as our inquiries have hitherto been carried, both the possibility and the principle of a reconciliation with God have been set forth in two successive forms of a religion, divinely-communicated and professedly adapted to the condition of a sinful

creature.

CHAPTER III.

Respecting the Connection of the revealed Principle of Reconciliation with the outward Rite of piacular Sacrifice.

BUT neither the Christian Dispensation nor the Levitical Dispensation commenced with the fall

of man. That event occurred many ages before the promulgation even of the earliest of these two Dispensations. Man, therefore, yet anterior to the delivery of the law by Moses, required a religion suitable to the condition of a sinful creature and this religion, if under the wellascertained character of a divine revelation it any where exist, we shall find in the Dispensation usually denominated Patriarchal.

That the doctrine of AN ATONEMENT, as developing the only true principle of man's reconciliation with God, was known to those who lived under the Patriarchal Dispensation, I stop not at present to show by any arguments either direct or inductive. I shall rather prepare the way for future discussion, by making some remarks on the connection of the revealed principle of reconciliation with the outward act of piacular sacrifice.

The communication of God's will and purposes to fallen man distributes itself into three successive Dispensations: the Patriarchal, the Levitical, and the Christian.

That a close connection subsists between the three; so that they jointly constitute one and the same divine system of theology, exhibited indeed under three progressive forms or modifications, but holding forth uniformly to our

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