MEANS OF RECOVERY.

gloomy despondency and painful forebodings, were it not that a method of salvation is clearly revealed in the Bible. In this volume we see that what is infinitely beyond the reach of human capability, is undertaken by the God of all grace, and accomplished with facility and certainty. But all these interposing obstacles to man's salvation must be removed; Divine Wisdom had to devise a plan by which it could be done, and at the same time display the great Supreme, as "just and holy." An investigation of this plan, as revealed in the oracles of God, will unfold the wisdom of its structure. The following Sections are intended to explain and to justify various propositions which are calculated to illustrate the im portant subject under consideration.

SECTION FIRST.

THE PERSON AND SATISFACTION OF CHRIST.

Man has broken the law of God, and exposed himself to the stroke of Divine Justice :-the wisdom of God appears in the appointment of a Mediator who was able to satisfy the demands of justice, and willing to undertake the cause of sinners.

The fact that all mankind have transgressed the laws of God, needs no further proof; the malignant

THE IDEA OF MEDIATION ORIGINATED WITH GOD.

nature of sin has been illustrated; we have also noticed the consequent danger of the sinner as being liable to all the punishment which the broken law of God denounces. Let us now contemplate the method of his recovery. "Oh! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God: how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways are past finding out."-" Manifold wisdom" shines here in its brightest beams. It is seen in THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF MEDIATION; in THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PERSON OF THE MEDIATOR; and in THE

MODE ADOPTED OF SATISFYING THE CLAIMS OF BOTH THE BROKEN LAW AND OFFENDED JUSTICE;

and by this means, making "mercy and truth to meet together, righteousness and peace to embrace each other."

The general principles of MEDIATION are so vast and sublime, that they could have been conceived by Infinite Wisdom only. The difference of natures is so great, and the moral distance between the Infinite Spirit and the sinful creature man, so awful, that mere created intelligence could never have originated the idea of the possibility of reconciliation by the interposition of a third party, or a mediator. Left to himself, man would have wandered for ever in the dreadful moral darkness which he had brought around himself by his own disobedience; he never would have imagined it possible that reconciliation could be accomplished by the interposition of another; or, if the thought had been ever elicited, where would he

THE MEDIATION OF CHRIST ORIGINATED WITH GOD.

have looked for a being who could undertake the task? Would he have been so vain as to suppose that one of his own rebellious race could interpose an influence equal to the desired end? or, could he have looked elsewhere with any hope of success? Angels themselves, however extensive their knowledge, and however great their commiseration for guilty man, were in the same dilemma. Man had fallen so far from his pristine dignity and glory; so far from the favour and love of his Creator, and his righteous Governor, that angels would no more have thought of man's restoration, than of the recovery of the multitudes of their own companions who kept not their first estate, by means of a mediator.; The idea was beyond the range of created intellect; it originated alone with God; and it is worthy of him.

In saving guilty man, it was necessary that God should maintain ail his dignity; no perfection was to be degraded; and man must be restored to his favour by means which would glorify, and not dishonour, every attribute of his nature. The plan of appointing a mediator, who could stand between the offended and the guilty, and plead the cause of both, proposed to meet this difficulty in its full force, and to remove it. This was a wise expedient. It allowed infinite dignity to condescend without degradation, and the sinner to hope without being guilty of presumption. By this means God can sit upon his throne and treat with man; and man can plead for restoration to favour without being chargeable with

F F

THE SALVATION OF CHRIST DISPLAYS DIVINE PERFECTIONS.

unwarrantable intrusion into his presence.

The

salvation of sinners, as unfolded in the volume of divine inspiration, rests upon this basis. The work of Christ, to which it is solely attributed, is MEDIATORIAL. This was the object of his mission; this was his official condition while in the world; and his intercession with God now is of the same nature. An inspired apostle, when giving a summary view of the work of Christ, describes him as "the mediator between God and man." This was no new idea; it was included in the first promise which was given to an apostate world; it was intimated by Moses when he stood before God to plead the cause of " a stiffnecked people;" it was typically represented by Aaron when "he stood between the dead and the living, and stayed the plague;" it was predicted by Isaiah when he described the Messiah as "bearing our iniquities," and "making intercession for the transgressors." Hence we contemplate the mediatorial office of Jesus Christ as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies and prefigurations, and the development of a scheme of divine mercy, as wise as it is sovereign.

As this economy originated in the bosom of deity, in anticipation of man's apostasy before this melancholy catastrophe occurred, it affords to all intelligent beings the most sublime display of the character of God that is conceivable. It reveals a prescience the most accurate and extensive; a love the most intense and bountiful; a condescension the most astonishing

THE PERSON OF THE MEDIATOR.

and unparalleled; a justice the most dignified and immaculate; and a wisdom, in meeting its claims, the most fertile in its resources, and efficient in its plans. "O Lord, who is a God like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders!"

This adorable perfection is still further illustrated by a consideration of the PERSON of the mediator. This is "the great mystery of godliness," and the noblest display of "the manifold wisdom of God."

-"O the depths!" who can fathom them? "The riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God" are past finding out." The person of the mediator is amply described in the Sacred Volume. As the whole success of the plan depended on the suitableness of his person, we may rest assured that God would appoint one who was equal to the undertaking; and as the confidence which mankind place in him depends on their convictions of his ability to save, we may justly expect to find the most ample descriptions of his person in the sacred oracles. A candid appeal to their assertions will lead to the most perfect satisfaction. "The great mystery of godliness is, GoD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH;" and the wisdom of God is recognised in this mystery.

The constitution of the mediator's person was prospective; it had a reference to the great design of fulfilling the law which man had broken, and of satisfying divine justice whose displeasure he had incurred. The law could not be honoured but by perfect obedience, nor could justice be appeased with