and open a way for the exercise of mercy, in perfect con- sistency with every other perfection of the Deity. A surety shall be found ; a substitute for sinful man ; one, by whose obedience the law should be honoured ; by whose sufferings, also, justice shall have its claims fully satisfied; by executing the penalty of transgression upon whom, as the representative of our fallen race, shall truth be kept inviolate ; and the holi- ness of the Deity shall not be tarnished, even though the sinner be re-admitted to the bosom of his God. This one point of substitution clears the whole. But how can this be? To stand in man's place, he must be a man ; and, to render his substitution available for the whole race of mankind, he must be possessed of infinite dignity and worth. Both these things combined in the substitute that Divine wisdom pro- vided. God's co-equal, co-eternal Son was sent to take our nature upon him ; and, in that nature, to obey the law which we had broken, and to endure the penalty which we had incurred. Thus was salvation brought within the reach of fallen man.]
2. In devising a salvation suitable to man —
[Desperate, beyond measure, was the state of man. Not the fallen angels themselves were more incapable of restoring themselves to the favour of their God, than he. But in the provision which Divine wisdom made for him was every want supplied. Was he laden with guilt ? it shall be removed by a sacrifice. Was he lying under a curse ? he shall be deli- vered from the curse, by one " becoming a curse for him." Did he need a righteousness wherein to stand before God? a righteousness shall be wrought out for him, and imputed to him. Is he, by reason of his natural depravity, incapable of enjoying God's presence, or of doing his will ? A new nature shall be given him, and, " through the strength of Christ, he shall be enabled to do all things'5." Is he unable to do any thing whereby he shall merit any of these things ? they shall all be given to him freely, " without money and without price"." Is he, even when restored, unable to keep himself? the Lord Jesus Christ shall " carry on and perfect in him the work he has begun d." May that enemy, who assaulted and ruined him in Paradise, yet prevail over him again ? " his life shall be hid with Christ in God," beyond the reach of harm ; so that when Christ, who is his life, shall appear, he " shall be secured to appear with him in glory e." Nor is this salvation suited to man's necessities in its provisions only, or in the free- ness with which it is bestowed : the means by which it shall
b Phil. iv. 13. c isai. iv. i.
d Phil. i. 6. e Col. iii. 3, 4.