come a period when that curse shall end, and the cup which the sinner is doomed to drink of shall be ex- hausted. So also, if a creature, even the highest archangel, were to subject himself to the controul of the law, he could obey only for himself. As a crea- ture, he would be bound to fulfil all that the law has enjoined : he could do nothing beyond what was ab- solutely required ; and therefore, after all, he would be only an unprofitable servant. He could not obey for others : he could not exceed what was due from himself. The only thing that could give the slightest hope to man, so far at least as has ever been re- vealed, would be, for God himself to put himself in the place of sinners, and in their nature to suffer and obey for them. But how could this be hoped ? How could such a thought as this be entertained, for a moment, in the bosom of God, or in the mind of any of his creatures ? Were this possible, there might indeed be a hope ; because the dignity of the sufferer would put a value on his sufferings, sufficient to over- balance the eternal sufferings of the whole world ; and the obedience paid by the Lawgiver himself, who could be under no obligation to obey it, till he had assumed our nature for that very end, would be suffi- cient to form a justifying righteousness for all the sinners of mankind. But how can such a thing be contemplated for a moment ? How can it come within the verge of probability — I might almost say, of possibility? But, whatever be thought of this matter, the law says, * I can consent to no lower terms than these. Suppose such a plan sanctioned, approved, and executed by the Almighty himself, then I can consent to the salvation of sinners ; yea, I can not only consent to it, but highly approve of it ; because, by having Jehovah himself enduring my penalties, and executing my commands, I shall be infinitely more glorified than I ever could have been either by the obedience or condemnation of the whole human race. Let but such a covenant as this be made and executed on God's part, and I consent that you shall be saved by it ; yea, and that you shall
120 GALATIANS, III. 19. j 206(3.
receive a weight of glory far beyond what you ever could have received, if you had never fallen.'
Such hints we may suppose to be given by the law. And now we look into the Gospel, to find whether such an idea ever was, or could be, realized. And behold, with what amazement must we see that such a plan has actually been devised and executed by Almighty God ! Can it be indeed, that God has assumed our nature, and obeyed and suffered in our stead, and wrought out a righteousness for us, that, being clothed in it, we may stand without spot or blemish before him ? Yes ; it is true : " God has been manifest in the flesh," and " made in all things like unto us, sin only excepted :" he has also fulfilled the law in its utmost possible extent : he has, more- over, " borne our sins in his own body on the tree," and for our sakes " become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." " To redeem us from the curse of the law, he has actually become a curse for us :" yes, " He, who knew no sin, has become sin for us ; that we, who had, and could have, no righteous- ness, might be made the righteousness of God in him." This point, then, being clearly ascertained, let us hear our divine instructor, and sit at the feet of this hea- venly " schoolmaster" Methinks I hear the law saying to me, ' You have heard the strictness of my demands, and the awfulness of my denunciations : now hear the end for which I have so proclaimed both the one and the other : it has been to shew you your need of a Saviour ; it has been to make you welcome this Saviour, and embrace him with your whole hearts. Had I been less strict in my demands, or less awful in my denunciations, you would still have adhered to me, and founded your hopes on me. But I have thundered thus, in order to drive you to despair of ever finding acceptance through me ; and to urge you, with all possible speed and earnestness, to lay hold on the hope set before you in the Gospel.'