REDEMPTION. THE salvation of sinners by the mediation of the incarnate Son of God, is the only solace of an awakened mind; it is the grand peculiarity in the history of this globe, and the wonder of the whole universe of intelligent beings. It affords more magnificent displays of the divine character than all the other works of God, and places him before us under representations more engaging, more encouraging, and more comprehensible. However charmed we may have been while contemplating the material and immaterial creation, and in exploring the principles of the universal government of God, the branch of our subject on which we are now entering, by exceeding them in glory and in importance, ought more entirely to absorb our minds, and to concentrate our energies. It is a theme which angels investigate with all their vast powers: let us not, therefore, for one moment, imagine that our best exertions are misapplied when directed to it. While this subject deserves our investigation, it promises ample remuneration to those who devote their minds to it with ardour. REDEMPTION THE GRANDEST OF ALL SUBJECTS. And if a lively consciousness of our spiritual and moral state be present, and if we be deeply impressed with the conviction of our high destiny, and our future responsibility, we shall feel the greatest anxiety to obtain an accurate knowledge of the will of God as unfolded in redemption, and a personal interest in all its benefits.-The oracles of God are our only guide; and we must implicitly confide in their decisions. The greater the obstacles are which oppose the accomplishment of a given design, the more wisdom and contrivance are necessary in order to effect it. Never did God conceive in his infinite mind a greater object than that of saving apostate sinners; never were greater and more numerous difficulties to be surmounted; never was a more astonishing economy of means originated, and made so perfectly to apply to the subject; and never was a plan so triumphantly successful as this. The grandeur and magnificence of the idea of creating a universe without any pre-existing materials on which to operate, is rendered apparent to our senses whenever we contemplate the starry heavens, which, probably, display but a very small proportion of the whole. The difficulties which opposed were such as an Omnipotent Being alone could overcome; but these difficulties were rather negative than positive; while there was nothing to aid, there was nothing to resist his will. There were no jarring interests to reconcile; no opposing claims, made by the infinite perfections MAN ORIGINATED THE DIFFICULTIES OF HIS OWN SALVATION. of his holy nature, to adjust. The Almighty fiat had but to present an adequate quantity of materials to infinite wisdom, and the universe instantly beamed in all the majesty of immensity and perfection. Far greater was the idea of saving sinners; and greater still were the difficulties which he had to conquer. In proceeding with our subject, we must first consider these difficulties. It has been already shown that man possesses all the capacities of a moral agent, and an accountable being; and that when he was placed in Paradise, he was put under the moral government of God, and in a state of probation. The Supreme Authority gave him a law for the government of his conduct, and he was created with physical and moral ability which qualified him to obey it in perfection; he was also furnished with motives sufficient to ensure obedience :-these motives were comprehended in a promise of perpetuated life, in connexion with all the bliss of Paradise; and a threatening of death in union with all that is tremendous both in time and in eternity. Notwithstanding this, he abused his free agency, and voluntarily plunged himself into all the miseries of transgression, and all the dangers of a traitor and a rebel against God. All the difficulties of human salvation were created by man's apostasy; there are none besides: hence, man has only himself to criminate for his own danger and infelicity, for the miseries of his present condition, and the agonies of future forebodings. To recom |