inContri ing 'u à n'á l mentptíon. d& circumllances ofdifhonour andpain, is the only Expia- Chap. r 5, tonofSin and Satisfation to Juftice. He by offering his Blood appeas'd the wrathof God, quencht the flawingSword that made Paradife inacceflible to us ; he took away Sm, the true difhonour of our natures, and purchafed for us theGraces ofthe Spirit, the richeft or- naments ofthe reafonableCreature. The Do&rine of the Crofs is the only foundation ofthe Gofpel, that u- nites all its parts, and fupports the whole building. 'Tis the caufe ofour Righteoufnefsand Peace, of our Redemption and Reconciliation. How blefhed an ex- change have the Merits of his Sufferings made with thofe of our Sins ' Life inftead ofDeath, Glory for Shame, andHappinefs for Mifery. Forthisreafon the Apoftle with vehemence declares that to be the foie ground ofhis boafting and triumph,whichothers efteem- ed a caufe ofblufhing: God forbid that Ifbould Gloryfave Gal 6. 1.4. in the Croft ofChrift. ;}4e rejeí`ts with extreme detefta- Lion.the mentionofany other thing,as the caufe of his Happinefs, and matter of his Glory. The Crofs was a tree of Deathto Chrift, and ofLife to us. The fu- preme Wifdom is jultified- ofits Children. q.. The SatisfaétionofDivine Juftice by the Suffer- ings ofChrift, affords the ftrongeft aífuranee to Man, who is aguilty and fufpicious creature, that God is molt ready to pardon fin. There is in the natural Confci- ence whenopened by a piercing conviction offin, fuch a quick fenfeof Guilt and God's Juftice, that it canne- ver have an intire confidence in his Mercy till Juftice be atoned. From hence the convinced Sinner is reftlefly inquifitive, how to findout the way ofreconciliation with a Righteous God. Thus he is reprefented inqui- ringby the Prophet : Wherewithfhall I come before the Mic, 6.6, z Lord, and bowmy feybefore the modi High God? fhall I come beforehimwith Burnt-Offerings, with Calves of a O o year
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