of horror through all their ranks!-it would silence for ever their songs of victory!-it would throw darkness impenetrable over all that Eternity, which is before them! it would eclipse all the splendors of the Sun of Righteousness! But fear not, ye redeemed. There is no such possibility. The promise and oath of Jehovah are pledged for your security. The Covenant of redemption, by which ye were given to Christ, before the foundation of the world, as well as the Cove nant of Grace, by the acceptance of which ye have bound yourselves to His throne, is an "Everlasting Covenant."

And now, brethren, let it be remembered, that this everlasting elevation of human character-this eternal confirmation of believers in glory and happiness, is all in consequence of the shedding of bloodin consequence of the sufferings of Christ. Ought not Christ then to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? But the benefits of Christ's death are not confined to men. Which leads me to observe,

III. IN THE PROPITIATORY SACRIFICE OF CHRIST, the Divine Character, IN ITS VARIOUS ATTRIBUTES, IS GLORIOUSLY DISPLAYED.

The wisdom of God is particularly manifested in this transaction. When the immutable Law of God was broken, and countless millions were involved in its curse, no mind of man-no mind of angel-could have contrived, how any of the transgressors might escape punishment, and yet the justice and truth of God be maintained. The declaration had gone forth, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." But Infinite Wisdom saw that it was in the power of the Son of God, in a short pe riod of humiliation and suffering, to make such an atonement, as would, in the view of an intelligent Universe, be considered a sufficient substitute for the eternal punishment of the transgressors. Infinite Wisdom adopted this substitute. The Sacrifice has voluntarily been made. And the everlasting benefits of it are now freely enjoyed by all who are pleased to accept of it in faith; by all who will now look unto Him and be saved.

In making this atonement, inconceivably great as Christ's sufferings were, He did not, however, endure those remorseful pangs-those eternal agonies of despair, which He foresaw must come upon the rebellious, if left without redemption to increase for ever in guilt. No one would venture to say this; for in such a substitution there would have been no gain,-consequently no wisdom. Indeed it would be awfully

derogating from His infinite wisdom and merit, to suppose that He could in no way make atonement for the sins of mortals without such endurance. It was infinite dignity, united with human nature suffering on the cross, which gave such inconceivable value to His sacrifice, and which, with His obedience, "magnified the Law and made it honorable." It was thus, that "by one offering, He finished" that stupendous plan, through which "God can now be just, and yet justify the ungodly," who repent and believe in Jesus. Here is a work of divine wisdom, which angels have desired to look into; but which saints and angels will contemplate with increasing wonder and joy for ever.

The benevolence of God is likewise conspicuously manifested in the sufferings of Christ. It is true, that in the other works of God there are striking indications of divine benevolence. In the glorious canopy of the heavens-in the splendid and orderly arrangement of the sun, moon, and unnumbered stars-and in the rich and varied garniture, spread over the face of the earth- —we see every where evidences of good design-evidences that God delights in the happiness of His creatures. But still, it is to be considered, that all this beautiful and glorious structure of the heavens and earth was fitted up without any expense on the part of Deity—without any sacrifice on the part of God. God was infinitely rich and powerful. He had only to speak, and it was done. He had only to command, and the pillars of heaven, as well as the foundations of earth, "stood fast." He had only to put forth an effort of His will, and earth and skies were clothed in grandeur and beauty. So that in doing all this there was no expense, or sacrifice, on the part of God, to demonstrate His benevolence.

But O, when we come to the stupendous work of man's redemption— when we come to behold the Son of God expiring in agony on the cross, here we find a perfect demonstration of Divine benevolence. Here we find the Great God our Creator actually making a sacrifice of what was most dear to Him, for the benefit of His creatures. Here we find the Great Father of mercies, "that He might show the exceeding riches of His Grace, in His kindness toward us," actually surrendering His own Son to death, that we might live! God " SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL!" Here is benevolence indeed! And what renders the benevolence of this unspeakable gift still more conspicuous is, that it was a voluntary sacrifice of God's own Son for the benefit of His enemies!-for the benefit of those who were impious rebels against His holy Government, and deserving nothing better than "banishment from His presence." Here is a ma

nifestation of Divine benevolence infinitely above all human experience or conception. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends; but God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet enemies, Christ died for us."

The justice of God is likewise conspicuously manifested in the suf ferings of Christ. Had there been no Mediator between God and rebel man-had the punishment of sin fallen directly upon the head of the transgressors-it would have been only an act of common justiceonly what might have been expected, as a matter of course, from the character of God's Law. It could not have been considered by superior beings as any very extraordinary exhibition of divine justice, had this little world with all its guilty inhabitants been consigned to perdition. Among the multitude of other worlds, that still maintained their allegiance to the Most High, this lost province might, in the course of ages, have been forgotten. In the revolution of eternal ages, even angels might have forgotten, that their God was "a God of perfect justice;" and thus other angels might have been lifted up with pride; and the inhabitants of other worlds might have been tempted to rebel against their rightful Sovereign. And thus, in the course of ages, one spirit of disaffection and revolt might have spread through all the kingdoms and provinces of Jehovah's empire.

But when, (as the case now stands)—when, instead of the punishment's falling directly upon the transgressors, its equivalent, in significancy and importance, is sustained by One who is known in all worlds-when, after our dreadful revolt, the Angel of the Covenant is seen bending from His throne, and hastening His downward way, and interposing His own person between the avenging stroke of Divine Law and crimes of our revolted world;-and when there is no holding back of that stroke-but all its weight-all its vengeance comes upon Him, as our Substitute-when "the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all"-Oh! here is an exhibition of Divine justice, which can never be forgotten! Here is an exhibition, which must strike a solemn awe of God's justice throughout all worlds, and be remembered for ever!

Thus in the sufferings of Christ the character of God is gloriously displayed. His wisdom, His benevolence, His justice, are all conspicuously, and at the same time harmoniously manifested. Here "mercy and truth have met together,-righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Ought not Christ, then, to have suffered these things? Yes, verily "it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." This leads me to observe,

IV. IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE, THAT ALL HOLY BEINGS, IN OTHER WORLDS, ARE INSPIRED WITH ENTIRE CONFIDENCE IN THE STABILITY AND

EXCELLENCY OF GOD'S GOVERNMENT; AND WILL THUS BE KEPT IN THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO HIS THRONE.

Previous to the sufferings of Christ, there was no such experimental proof, as we now have, but that God might change his purpose, and relax the severity of His judgments, should increasing multitudes rebel against Him. It is true that rebel angels had been thrown from heaven "into chains of darkness." But this was no demonstration, that other, and mightier, and more beloved angels, should they rebel, would be punished with like severity. But when He, who is higher and mightier than all angels, and infinitely more beloved than all created intelligences-when He experienced the wrath of the Almighty Father, on placing himself in the room of sinners-then a demonstration was given, that the demands of Eternal Justice would never be relaxed on account of the might, or the multitude, or the endeared relation of any who might be found in rebellion. When even HE, standing in the room of sinners, must of necessity suffer-when His earnest and repeated prayer, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me"-could avail nought to mitigate "the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" against sin—when that dreadful prophecy," MESSIAH shall be cut off, but not for himself," is literally executed-here is demonstration, surely, that even Gabriel, or all the glorious company of angels, should they rebel, would incur the unmitigated severities of Jehovah's vengeance. So that the mightiest created beings will henceforth stand in holy awe of the Divine Majesty, and thus be held in their allegiance to His throne.

But it is not merely by a reverential view of God's justice, that holy beings are now bound to His throne. For, as has been seen, in the sufferings of Christ they have a demonstration, too, of the benevolence of God, such as was never before given. They perceive that "God is Love"-Infinite Love-that He delights in the happiness of His creatures-is ready to make a stupendous sacrifice to promote their happiness. They are thus convinced, that His government is infinitely good, holy, and wise;—that therefore it is for their own interest and glory,— as well as for the glory of God,-to remain obedient and faithful subjects. Thus it is, that angels and all holy beings are inspired with full confidence in the Divine government, and are bound to the eternal throne by cords of love, as well as of fear. And this train of thought No. 3

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is in perfect accordance with the Scriptures of God, "Who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent, that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church," (that is, by means of the redeemed Church,) "the manifold wisdom of God." And now, in review, if a multitude which no man can number, are thus redeemed from sin and misery, and raised to heaven, and con firmed for ever in glory and blessedness; if the character of God is thus illustriously displayed in view of the Universe; and if Jehovah's empire is thus established for ever, in the love, fear, and confidence of all holy intelligences;-Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? If all this is gained by His short period of humiliation and suffering, was there not infinite wisdom and propriety in the great Sacrifice?

Estimate the value of one soul rescued from eternal guilt and agony, and destined to grow for ever in the knowledge and likeness of God; estimate the value of unnumbered millions of such souls; estimate the amount of joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth; estimate the bliss of all angelic minds, when they see all the ransomed of the Lord return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; estimate the amount of their eternal joy and the stability of their confidence, when they behold the glory of God, as it shines from the Cross of Christ; estimate the amount of bliss for ever springing in the Eternal Mind, from the reflection, that His throne is thus established, unchangeably, in the love, and fear, and firm confidence of all holy intelligences; and tell me, poor sinner, would you rather that this great sacrifice had not taken place?—would you rather that the Son of God had sat for ever on His throne, than thus descend, to rise with this infinitely greater manifestation of Glory ?-this immeasurably wider diffusion of blessedness? Estimate, at one view, the full amount of what we already know has been gained by the sufferings of Christ, and tell me, can you help receiving, with liveliest faith, the Divine testimony, "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory ?"

Other objects, without doubt, have been gained by the sufferings of Christ, of which God hath not yet told us. "We here see but in part, and we know but in part." But we see enough to make us exclaim, "Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." And if we have one sentiment worthy of our relation to God, we see enough to make us ardent in our

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