THE death of Christ is a historical fact universally admitted, but the doctrine of the CROSS OF CHRIST is purely a matter of revelation to be received with uncavilling humility, and rested in with peaceful assurance, because it is the Word of God. The Scriptures first introduce us into a world of beauty, where God pronounces every thing very good." Man, made in the image of God, was placed in a garden of delights, and invested with dominion as the representative of his Maker. All creatures paid him homage, and every thing ministered to his happiness. One single restriction was placed upon him, to test his loyalty, and to remind him that, though he was lord of all below, there was One above him, the Sovereign of all. Alas! man aspired to be as God, allowed his mind to be poisoned by the adversary, doubted, disobeyed, and fell. His relationship to God was severed on the instant, and his sin must be visited with God's. displeasure. The act of disobedience. may appear tri vial, but so much the more inexcusable was the distrust and disaffection of which it was the fruit. By man's rebellion, all was lost; but his ruin only brought to light the riches of God's mercy and the resources of His wisdom, which overruled it to the fuller display of the divine glory. The ruin had been anticipated in the counsels of eternity, and the plan of redemption had been preärranged, by which a far richer revenue of glory shall accrue to God, and a far more glorious destiny be secured for man than if he had never fallen. No sooner had sin entered, than a Redeemer was announced. There is a peculiar delight to the Christian in contemplating the divine perfections as they are unfolded in the accomplishment of this plan. The holiness, righteousness, truth, and love of God can suffer no eclipse to meet any emergency. God must be God, and consistent with Himself, whatever may befall His creatures. If, therefore, man is to be rescued from his ruin, it must be without the sacrifice of any of the perfections of God; and, in the plan of redemption, not only is the honor of God vindicated, but all His attributes are magnified, and displayed in brighter glory than ever. THE LOVE OF GOD is the universal source of blessing to His creatures. Redemption is the outflowing of that love to ruined man. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son." The Gospel is sometimes stated in a way that obscures this, as though Christ had died to regain for us the forfeited love of God. Oh! that men would learn that Christ is but the expression of the love of God, and that He died, not to render God favorable to us, but to make the expi |