This theory has, upon the whole, many practical advantages over the Socinian view. (a.) Because it includes and exhibits, with far more practical effect, all the elements of truth which the Socinian view embraces. (b.) Because, in addition to those elements, the positive principles signalized in the Governmental Theory, with respect to the bearing of the Atonement upon the adminis- trative righteousness of God and the general interests of his moral government, are unquestionably truths of the very highest importance. (c.) Because this theory, although, when viewed in reference to a better standard, it is itself deplorably defective in these respects, yet
_ much excels the Moral view in taking high ground with
Objec- tions to the Go- vern- mental view :—
regard to the ill-desert of sin, the punitive justice of God, and the necessity of the Atonement a parte Dei in order to the remission of sin. (d.) Because it yields a far more natural interpretation of Scripture upon this subject ; recognizing the objective bearing of the Atone- ment as the one to which its subjective bearing is neces- sarily subordinate and incidental.
On the other hand, the objections to this theory are very many and very conclusive.
* Second Sermon on the Atonement, in the volume of Discourses and Treatises on the Atonement edited by Dr. Park, pp, 127-186.
GOVERNMENTAL THEORY OF THE ATONEMENT. 307
1. All the positive truth which this theory signalizes cuarres is far more profoundly taught and effectively presented — in the general doctrine of the Church. According to the its posi- Governmental Theory, penalty is merely a sanction of jo" the law, designed to act as a violent motive upon the jus! by minds of the subjects of the divine government, inclining thodox them to obey the law. According to this theory, the eo Atonement is a substitute for the penalty, designed to take the place of the penalty, and to produce the very same effect as the penalty would do if executed in the case of those whose sins are forgiven, and whose punish- ment is remitted. Now, it is self-evident that nothing can possibly so exactly take the place of the penalty and effect the precise end for which the penalty was designed as the penalty itself. Nothing in the universe can so express God’s hatred of sin as the veritable visible exercise of his just wrath upon the sinner’s Substitute. Nothing else possible can so effectively demonstrate the inflexibility of the law as its literal fulfilment in precept and penalty. Nothing can so act as a sin-deterring mo- tive as the demonstration that sin shall be punished in every case without exception. And nothing can so thoroughly demonstrate that sin shall be punished with- out exception as its actual and vicarious punishment in the person of the eternal Son. As we showed that the orthodox doctrine far excelled the Moral Influence view in producing the very moral influence sought, so now we show that the orthodox doctrine just as far surpasses the Governmental Atonement view in effecting, as a governmental expedient, the law-vindicating and sin- [Sows deterring impression sought to be effected. Py te:
2. It is utterly impossible for the advocates of this the death theory to show the connection between the sufferings of (yin "
Christ and the effects which, they say, flow from it. eee
They insist that it is’ of the essence of penalty that it be effects.
CHAPTER XXII.
308 THE NATURE OF THE ATONEMENT.