is, in some way incomprehensible by us, a distinc- tion of persons in the Godhead. This is fmther con- firmed by the manner in which the inspired writers set forth the work of redemption : they frequently speak of it as effected by three distinct Persons, whom they represent as bearing three distinct offices, and as acting together for one end : thus St. Peter says, " We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ :" thus also St. Paul, in the passage before us, having represented all men. Apostles as well as others, in a most wretched state both by nature and practice, proceeds, in the words of my text, to set forth the work of redemption. He begins with tracing it up to the Father, as the source from whence it springs : he then mentions the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, the one as the Author who jjrociires it, the other as the Agent who applies it ; and then he concludes with declaring that the glorijicat'ion of sin- ful man is the grand end, for the accomplishing of which the Sacred Three co-operate and concur : "After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of rege- neration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs, according to the hope of eternal life."
From these words we will take occasion to unfold the glorious work of redemption, from its first rise to its final consummation ; and herein to set before you its original — procuring — efficient — and final cause.
I. Its original cause —
The original cause of our redemption is represented in my text to be '' the kindness and love of God the Father." God is love in his own nature ; and every part of the creation bears the stamp of this perfec-