3, All the advocates of general redemption believe that Christ, moved by an impersonal and indiscriminate philanthropy, or love of men as such, died in order to make the salvation of all men possible to them on the condition of faith. But the facts of the case are—(a.) That Christ died after generations of men had been going to perdition during four thousand years. With regard to that half of the race who perished before his advent it is hard to see the bearings of a general redemption. And if it had no bearing upon their case, it is hard to see in what sense the redemption is general. (b.) That the condition upon which it is said Christ died to save them he has, for two thousand years since his work of atonement was finished, withheld from the knowledge of three-fourths of the race. It is hard to see in what sense the death of Christ made the salvation of the heathen possible, or how he died on purpose to save them on the condition of faith, when he has never revealed to them his purpose of salvation, nor the condition upon which it is suspended. And if the Atonement has no reference to the salvation of the untaught heathen, it is very hard indeed to see in what sense it 1s general.
4, Christ died in execution of the terms of an eternal Covenant of Redemption formed between the Father and the Son. The conditions assumed by Christ on his part were, that he should, in living and dying, by action and suffering, fulfil all the legal obligations of his people. The conditions promised by the Father were, that Christ should ‘see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied.”
That there was such a covenant formed in eternity is plain. (1.) God always acts on a plan, and there. must therefore have been a mutual counsel and design on the part of the several persons of the Godhead distributing their several functions in the economy of redemption. (2.) The Scriptures explicitly state all the elements of a
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true covenant in this relation, giving the mutual pro- mises and conditions of the two parties: “I the Lorp have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes,” &c. (Isa. xlii. 6, 7). ‘‘I have made a cove- nant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my ser- vant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations” (Ps. lxxxix. 3, 4). ‘When his soul shall make an offermg for sin, he shall see his seed,.... and the pleasure of the Lorp shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. THERE- FORE will I divide him a portion with the great,’ We. (Isa, lili, 10-12). (3.) Christ, while accomplishing his work on earth, makes constant reference to a previous commission he had received of the Father whose will he has come to execute: “I came to do the will of him that sent me” (John vi. 38). ‘This commandment have I received of my Father” (John x. 18). “As my Father hath appointed unto me” (Luke xxii, 29), (4.) Christ claims the reward which had been conditioned upon the fulfilment of that commission: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee be- fore the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world...... I _ pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me” (John xvii. 4-9). (5.) Christ constantly speaks of those that believe as having been previously given him by the Father. His Father had given them—‘“ He laid down his life for the sheep” (John x. 15). They were given him by the Father. He
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VIL
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Christ’s motive
was the highest’ personal love for his own people,
376 THE DESIGN OF THE ATONEMENT.
knows them. They hear his voice. They shall never perish. The reason that the reprobate do not believe is because they are not his sheep (John x. 26). He prays not for the world; he prays only for those the Father had given him out of the world.
If he died in pursuance of a mutual understanding between himself and the Father; if he shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; and if every one that the Father gave him in that covenant shall be saved,— then surely those who are not saved are not those for whom he died.