person all that is required of his creatures, is such an exalted honour to the law, that it may well be regarded as a sufficient substitute for the obedience of man, and as an adequate ground for the justification of all who shall trust in itd.]
Thus a way is opened for man's salvation, in per- fect consistency with every perfection of the Deity —
[" Truth and righteousness" are now completely satisfied. They demanded a perfect fulfilment of the law ; and the law has been perfectly fulfilled : they demanded the penalty of death to be inflicted on account of sin ; and it has been inflicted on the sinner's substitute. Now as a debt, discharged by a surety, can no longer be demanded of the principal, so can our debt no longer be demanded of us, if we plead what Christ has done and suffered for us. And, as a thing purchased for any person, belongs to him for whom it was purchased, so we, who have all the glory of heaven purchased for us by our adorable Emmanuel, have a right to it, if we plead the purchase he has made. Hence it appears that truth and righteousness are no longer against us, but are rather on our side ; and, instead of demanding, as before, the destruction of our souls, are become advocates for our free and full salvation. Justice now says, Pay them, O God, what their Redeemer has purchased for them : and Truth says, Fulfil to them, O Lord, all that thou hast promised to those who believe in Jesus.]
But let us more particularly consider,
III. The blessed consequences of the removal of them —
[Salvation is now accessible to all : it is come both to Jews and Gentiles : " It is near unto us." To those especially " who fear the Lord," it is near, even " in their mouth and in their heart e." No longer does the fiery sword prohibit our access to the tree of life. " Mercy" has now full scope for the freest exercise. God can now be " a just God, and yet a Saviour*." He " declares his righteousness," no less than his mercy, " in the forgiveness of sins; and is just, and yet the justifier of all who believe in Christ8." Hence he proclaims "peace" to all that are afar offh. He establishes his tabernacle in the midst of us : and invites all to come unto him, even to his mercy-seat, in full assurance of faith. " In every corner of the land his glory dwells1:" and all who truly fear him may have daily " fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." The manner in which this assertion is made, deserves particular atention : " Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him." This blessed truth admits net of the smallest doubt : it may be
d Isai. xlii. 21. * Rom. x. 8, 0. f Isai. xlv. 21.
8 Rom. iii. 25, 26. h Eph. ii. 17. ' Isai. iv. 5.
643.] god's PERFECTIONS RECONCILED IN CHRIST. S7
fully and firmly depended upon. A spring of great elastic force does not more certainly rise up when the superincumbent pressure is withdrawn from it, than mercy issues from the bosom of our God now that the obstacles to its exercise are removed.]
Behold then how replete this passage is with,
1. Instruction to the ignorant —
[Men differ much about the way of salvation : but this passage clearly determines who is right. That plan of salva- tion, and that alone, is right, which is carried into effect in perfect consistency with all the attributes of God. But there is no way that provides for the honour of God's truth and righteousness, but that which is revealed in the Gospel, the way of salvation by faith in Christ. Nothing but Christ's obedience unto death ever did, or ever could, answer the de- mands of law and justice : nothing but Chi'ist's completion of that work in the quality of our Surety could enable the sinner to say to the supreme Governor of the universe, " Avert thy wrath from me ; for I have already endured it in my Surety ; and give me everlasting glory, for I, in the person of my Surety, have fulfilled all righteousness, and perfectly obeyed thy law." But the Believer may adopt this language ; since God himself has said, that " Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we, who had no righteousness, might be made the righteousness of God in him." Let the uninstructed bear this in mind, and " determine to know nothing" as a ground of hope towards God, " but Jesus Christ, and him crucified."