Page images
PDF
EPUB

JOHN TREADWELL,

Chairman.

Passed by the Board of Trustees
January 9th, 1806.

Attest,

ABEL FLINT, Secretary.

to interest themselves in the [ to forgive and save the sinner cause of missions,-which is the that believeth in Jesus. And how cause of truth,-the cause of it answers this end, has been God. And with their pecuniary | shown. But its being rendered contributions, and other exer- consistent with justice, for God tions in this cause, let them be to forgive the sinner upon his importunate at the throne of repentance, is a different thing grace for a divine blessing to from his actual forgiveness: nor crown their labors with success; doth this of itself bring God that from the rising of the sun under any obligation, in point even unto the going down of the of doing justice to the sinner, same, the name of God may be to forgive him. If the obstacles, great among the Gentiles; and which lay in the way of sinners that in every place incense may be being forgiven by God consistoffered unto him and a pure ently with justice, are removed, offering. Amen. God may forgive him if he sees fit. Nevertheless, as the sinner is still as much to blame as ever, and, personally considered, as deserving of the wrath of God, God would still be just-he would do the sinner no wrong, if he should punish him. The sinner's desert of punishment is founded in his criminality. It consists in or arises from a crime. In this respect it widely [Concluded from page 258.] differs from an obligation for UERY III. Does the a- the payment of a sum of money. tonement made by Christ The obligation to punishment, destroy or lessen the criminality being founded in criminality, of the sins of those, for whom | can never become void, any it was made; or their desert otherwise than by pardon or forof punishment? giveness. But the atonement The answer to this query is in is a different thing from the forthe negative. The atonement giveness or pardon of sin. It has not altered the nature of sin renders it possible for pardon to at all. Sin is, in itself, and in | be granted consistently with justhe sight of God, the same infi- | tice ; but actual pardon is a renitely hateful and criminal thing, lease from the obligation to punthat it was before. By the ishment, graciously granted by atonement the great evil of sin, God through the atonement. and God's infinite displeasure against it, are clearly manifested and fully proved. But the | remarks.

A Dissertation on the Atonement.

This dissertation will now be closed with some inferences and

nanifestation or proof of these, 1. From what has been illus. doth not of itself acquit the sin- | trated, it may be seen, in what ner from guilt, or lessen his de- sense Christ hath made satisfacsert of punishment. The atone- | tion to divine justice for sin. ment was designed to render it It has often been said, that consistent with justice, for God/ Christ once offered up himself

a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice. This, it will be readily seen, is a mode of expression somewhat different from those found in the scriptures; and if not properly explained, it may possibly excite an idea not altogether agreeable to the truth.

There is indeed an important sense, in which it may be said, that Christ hath satisfied divine justice for our sins, but not altogether the same with that in which the word satisfied is often used. When a man has, either by himself, or by another person, paid to his creditor the full amount of an obligation for a sum of money, the obligation is satisfied or fulfilled, and the debt cancelled, and justice will not allow the creditor to exact Or suppose the only penalty annexed to the transgression of a particular law of the state, is a certain pecuniary fine, or imprisonment for a definite term of time; when the transgressor of that law, has paid the fine, or suffered the imprisonment, the law is satisfied, and has no further claim upon him by way of punishment.But it doth not appear, that Christ hath so satisfied divine justice for the sins of men, as

any more.

events, cost what it will, the infinite evil of sin, and God's infinite hatred of it and full purpose never to countenance it in the least, but for ever to condemn it and bear the highest testimony against it, and the sinner's real desert of the penalty of the law, are all so cearly manifested and so fully established, that God, on the account of Christ's obedience unto death, can save the sinner who believeth in Jesus, without injury to his own character or to the best good of his creatures--without impairing the authority of his law in their view, and greatly to the glory of his grace. He can now be just to himself and to the system, and justify believers in Christ. In this respect, his justice is satisfied by the atonement-so satisfied, as no longer to stand in the way, but to admit of, to be consistent with, the salvation of believers in Christ. And in this sense God is fully satisfied and perfectly well-pleased with the atonement, as removing the obstacles which stood in the way of his displaying his grace, consistently with his justice, in the recovery and salvation of whom he pleases of the sinful race of

man.

to cancel their liableness to suf- 2. Pardon of sin is as really fer the penalty of the divine law. an act of divine grace, as it The atonement made by Christ would be if granted without any has not destroyed or diminished atonement; and much more evtheir criminality or desert of idently so. Since the atonement punishment; nor of itself ren-only renders it consistent with dered it inconsistent with distri- divine justice, for God to forbutive or remunerating justice, give sin, but does not oblige him for God to execute the penalty in point of justice to sinners of his law upon them. But by to forgive them; since even the the atonement the righteousness believing sinner, personally conof God, the justice and perfec- sidered, is as deserving of the tion of his law, the necessity of curse as if no atonement had supporting it, and his unaltera- been made; it is plainly as reble purpose to support it at all ally an act of divine grace to

forgive him, as if there was no atonement. And since the atonement displays, in a most clear and striking manner, the righteousness of the divine law, the infinite evil of sin, the necessity of God's infinite displeasure against it, and the sinner's real desert of the threatened curse; it much more evidently appears, than it would otherwise have appeared, that his forgiveness is the effect and fruit of mere grace. If the believer hath any claim to pardon, it is not upon the footing of divine justice, but of gracious, divine promise.

3. It may hence appear, that the atonement made by Christ is as sufficient for the salvation of innumerable multitudes, as of ever so small a number.

death, is but small, will it prove to each of them a clear and convincing manifestation of the perfect righteousness of God's character, law and government, of the infinite evil of sin and God's infinite hatred of it, and the sinner's real desert of the curse, and establish them in the belief and feeling acknowledgment of these truths, and of God's unalterable purpose for ever to maintain and support the honor and authority of his law, and to bear the highest testimony against sin? And will it not prove the same to, and have the same effect upon the minds of each and every one of all those, who so understand and believe the character of Christ and the design and import of his death, though they amount to If the number to be saved ever so many myriads, and mywas ever so small, it would still riads of myriads? It evidently be necessary, that God's true will.-The atonement, then, is character should be clearly man- just as sufficient for the greatest ifested that his righteousness, number, as for the least-for the justice of his law, the infi- the whole, as for only a part of nite evil of sin, the perfect op- mankind. Of consequence, its position of God's heart to it, not issuing in the salvation of all and the sinner's real desert of men is not owing to any defithe curse should be clearly and ciency in the atonement, but to incontestably declared and prov-its not being understood and ed, and the honor and author- cordially believed and embraced ity of the divine law and gov-by all. Why God does not ernment fully supported, as they are by the atonement which Christ hath made. And Christ's obedience unto death, in our stead and for our redemption, will have the same effect on all who know and understand and cordially believe its import, tho' they be ever so many myriads, as if they were but few in number. If the number of those, who understand and believe and cordially approve the character of Christ, and the design and import of his obedience unto

cause all so to understand and believe, is an enquiry, to which the limits of this dissertation will not permit me to attempt an answer. And the too great length, to which the dissertation has already been carried, induces me but barely to mention the remaining inferences and remarks, without subjoining the further illustrations, which had been contemplated.

4. The atonement made by Christ manifests and displays, in a striking light, not only the jus

tice and wrath of God, but likewise his unsearchable wisdom, his amazing goodness, his boundless love and infinite grace.

5. It holds forth motives infinitely weighty to a cordial reconciliation to God.

nation, because few ever enjoyed so many outward advantages, and so many influences of the Spirit."

"Thursday evening, May 3. I have been at prayer, and blessed be God, I cannot but hope I 6. They who continue in have been heard. I hope I had heart unreconciled to God, are some imperfect view of God's far more criminal, and deserve excellency, and some sincere a far more intolerable punish-desire to be devoted to his serment, than if no atonement had vice, and conformed to his imbeen made or revealed. age. I think I could heartily 7. The scriptures, by reveal-condemn myself, and fly to Jeing the atonement, exhibit a far sus for salvation. My vileness, more grand and glorious idea of pride, and insufficiency for the God, than ever entered, or can least good, never appeared so enter, the mind of man, from great. I hope I was, in some any other conceivable source. measure, humbled, and taught my dependence. I think I had a disposition to pray that the divine glory might be advanced, that the kingdom of God might come and his will be done, and that I might be used as an instrument for that end, though at the expense of every temporal enjoyment. I think I took a pleasure in praying for my friends, and for all mankind.

8. The doctrine of the atonement made by Christ, as exhibited in the sacred books of the Old and New Testament, carries upon its face the stamp of divinity, and furnishes a strong proof of the divine inspiration and truth of the scriptures.

PAREPIDEMOS.

Memoir of the Rev. Lynde Huntington.

(Concluded from p. 268.)

*L

This cannot but afford me some present consolation; but I am too suspicious of my treacherous heart, to place very great dependence upon it. I think, however, I can safely say, that it gives me some courage and strength to run the ways of God's commands. I beg that God would assist me in performing a resolution of rising seasonably. Loss of time, especially in sleep, has been one of my greatest sins, and one which most easily besets me. I feel, more than

ORD's day, Jan. 1, 1792. My years are rapidly filling up, and my measure of iniquity as fast! I have just risen from the table of the Lord, know not that I have any reason to think better of myself, than that I have eaten and drunken judgment to myself. If God do not deliver me from my pre-ever, the need of divine assistsent course, the day of accounts will be inconceivably awful to me! I seriously believe, that very few among the human race will meet a more aggravated condem-sed him to fear that he had no

ance; and divine assistance never appeared more all-sufficient."

After this he again becomes involved in darkness, which cau

portion in God. He then had light again.

"Tuesday morning, June 12. The last account I wrote of myself was that I had no God to go to. I humbly hope, I can now say, though with a feeble, faultering voice, that God is my chosen portion. He offers himself, through Christ, to every one that will accept of him. And yet all reject the infinitely valuable gift, until he constrains | them, by his power, to choose it. I humbly hope his power has wrought so effectually in me, as at least, to enable me to say, Lord, I would believe, help thou mine unbelief. I hope God has taught me, that in myself is nei- | ther righteousness nor strength; but that in Christ Jesus there is both; and that the only way of becoming possessed of them is by faith.

[ocr errors]

songs of eternity, which never could have existed, but by the introduction of sin."

"Lord's day, P. M. August 5. This day I hope long to remember as a good day to my soul.— I have been at the table of the Lord, and I humbly hope he has given me to eat of the bread of life. I hope he has given me this day some degree of spiritual nourishment. I trust his banner over me has been love. I was enabled, in the morning, to enter into covenant with more freedom, and entire resignation than common, perhaps than ever before. I had clearer views of my own sinfulness, and greater willingness in confessing it. Its evil appeared greater, and the sufficiency and glory of the way of redemption from it more conspicuous than I remember to have experienced before. think I could heartily renounce

I

on any thing in myself to procure the divine favor, and look to Christ as an all-sufficient and willing Saviour, in whom the Father is well pleased, through whom he can consistently with, and greatly to the honor of all his perfections, forgive and bless with everlasting life, the guilty children of men. The way of salvation appeared to be the gos

"Lord's day evening, July 22. The week past I have been read-all pretence to, or dependence ing Dr. Bellamy's sermons on the Divinity of Christ, the Millennium, and the wisdom of God in the permission of sin. I trust it has, by God's blessing, been an instructive book to me. I think it has opened to my mind, and justified the ways of God towards his creatures. It has dispelled some of those clouds, which have often interrupted my sight of the divine amiablenesspel of grace-a great and gloriand glory. I have seen, more than ever, the sinfulness, the great evil of sin, and the justice of God in punishing it, his mercy in pardoning it, the glory which will redound to his name by its existence, and the increase of happiness it will produce in the moral system. Preserving love to angels, and redeeming love to men, will add sweetness to the delight, and life to the

ous gift to the undeserving. I hope I saw, in some degree, the love of God in it. I hope I felt, though infinitely less than I ought, grateful for God's unspeakable gift. And now what shall I render to God's for all his goodness and mercy towards me! I have been promis ing to live a life of new obedience! and oh, that I could perform? But alas! amidst my

« PreviousContinue »