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they would probably represent the subject very much according to the manner of the inspired writers, avoiding such metaphysical speculations, unauthorized assertions, and revolting hypotheses, as tend to shock the understanding, and to diminish the effect of the gospel representations. What, then, could be more adapted to awaken the attention, and melt the heart of barbarians, than the story of divine love, as told by Christ and his Apostles? I am unacquainted with any thing else, in human language, so well adapted to reconcile sinners unto God. But we are to account for the effects on this principle, that genuine expressions of love are of a reconciling tendency.

Not only is the story of God's love to his sinful children of a moving and conciliating character, but this circumstance is peculiarly striking, that the sacrifice was made not on the part of those who had offended, to reconcile their sovereign; but on the part of the sovereign, to reconcile his guilty subjects to himself. This circumstance, if properly represented, must be very affecting to a people who had been in the habit of offering sacrifices to appease their angry deities, and who, perhaps, had never heard of such a thing as a sovereign's making pacific overtures to revolted subjects, or of any one's acting on the principle of overcoming evil with good. This view of the subject exhibits the character of God in the most amiable light, and affords strong ground of assurance of his forgiving love. For if "he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things!"

Enough, perhaps, has been said, to show that the atoning sacrifice was adapted to produce the intended effect,reconciliation. Should it now be asked, in reference to

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the remark of Dr. Magee,-How or "in what manner is "the sacrifice of Christ connected with the forgiveness of sins?" I answer, by the link, reconciliation; and this connexion is established by the promise of God, and by the nature of divine love.

To be reconciled to God, is to be brought into a state of peace and friendship with him; and it implies repentance and love. That promises of pardon are made to the penitent, no one acquainted with the Bible will deny. Thus saith Isaiah,-" Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isa. lvi. 7. Such is the gracious language of the Old Testament. After his resurrection, Jesus said to his disciples,-" Thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke xxiv. 47, 48. So Peter, in one of his sermons, thus addressed the Jews,-"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance unto Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts v. 30, 31. John, in his First Epistle, says of God,-"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." From these passages, it is evident, that reconciliation or repentance is connected with the forgiveness of sins, by the promises of God, and the purposes of his grace.

It may also be said, that reconciliation is connected with forgiveness by the nature of divine love. So far as

we are acquainted with impartial love, or benevolence in men, it is of a reconciling and forgiving nature. It seeks to reconcile enemies; and this object being effected, forgiveness follows of course. God is love; and love in him is doubtless of the same reconciling and forgiving nature with that which he requires of men and approves in them. Our Savior repeatedly and forcibly enjoined forgiving love in men one towards another. They were required to forgive a brother "not only seven times, but seventy " and if occasion required, they were to forseven times in a day."

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The meaning can hardly ever of a forgiving mind,

be less, than that we should be and constantly ready to manifest it, as often as we may see evidence of a penitent temper. That God possesses forgiving love in perfection, is strikingly represented in the parable of the prodigal son. Though this son had wasted his substance in riotous living, had brought himself into a wretched condition, and done much to grieve his father; ; yet, as soon as the father perceived this prodigal on his return, and even while a great way off, his heart was all compassion; he ran to meet him with as much alacrity, as if the son had ever been obedient. The parables of the lost sheep and lost money, are explained by Christ himself, to represent the joy there is in heaven, when one sinner repents. True love, whether in heaven or on earth, will ever rejoice in the reformation of a sinner; and that love which rejoices in repentance, cannot fail to connect reconciliation with forgiveness. Hence, as the atonement was evidently intended to produce reconciliation, and was adapted to its purpose; and, as reconciliation is so clearly connected with forgiveness by the promises of God, and the nature of love; it is easy to see, how

"the sacrifice of Christ is connected with the forgiveness of sins," and that reconciliation is the connecting link in the divine chain. As the order of God to Noah to build an ark was connected with the saving of himself and his family by his obedience to the command of God, so the atoning sacrifice is connected with pardon, by the reconciliation which the sacrifice was intended to produce.

Another important purpose of the atoning sacrifice is yet to be mentioned, which will further show how it has. influence on human salvation :-"Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself unto him who judgeth righteously." "Forasmuch, then," says the Apostle," as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." If there are any Christians who believe that the only purpose of Christ's death was to exhibit a perfect example under sufferings, I am not of that number. Yet I believe this to have been one purpose of his sufferings, and a purpose, of far greater importance than has been generally supposed by Christians. That example has great influence in forming the human character, is as well known, as that food nourishes and sustains animal life; and I may add, we understand the how in the former case, as well as in the latter.

It appears to have been the purpose of God, by his Son, to introduce and establish a religion, distinguished from all other religions, by love to enemies, forbearance under injuries, and a disposition to overcome evil with good. To this end, it might have been important, that the Captain of our salvation should be made perfect through

suffering, and exhibit an example of the temper which was to distinguish his religion, and which all his disciples might safely imitate. Hence we are told, that he "suffered for us, leaving us an example that we might follow his steps." His circumstances were most trying, and his example and his conquest, perfect and complete. We are exhorted to arm ourselves with the same mind, that, under cruel insults and sufferings from our fellow men, we may forbear rendering evil for evil, and do all we can "to overcome evil with good."

In this view of the atoning sacrifice, it is a test of character, to which we should bring ourselves under the various trials of life, to ascertain whether indeed we have become reconciled unto God. We may also regard the example of Christ on that occasion, as a lamp to direct us how we should conduct under our trials, and to show us when, and how far, we deviate from the path of duty, and from what we ought to be. It is easy to see, that the sacrifice, in such views of it, may have, and must have an important influence on the salvation of sinners. That it had a salutary influence on the minds of the Apostles and early Christians, can hardly be doubted; for they daily bore “about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus.” His example must naturally have had, not only a sustaining influence under their " fiery trials," but a restraining influence, to preserve them from rendering evil for evil, and from having any concern in the works of violence, war, or persecution. How vastly important, then, would have been the influence of the atoning sacrifice on human salvation, had the example of Christ been duly regarded by all who, since that time, have borne the name of Christians! Hundreds of millions of them would have been

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