£44 THE 3ríRST F#tÓITS UF T33a ffiFIRIT; OR rD19C.'Ii. bis obedience completely acceptable to God instead c' thousands of creatures, and fully satisfactory for tL' offence that «as given him by them; here is a sacrifie provided equal to tiie guilt of sin, and therefore sufficier to take it away. see here what a blessed harmony there is betwea thejustice of God doing honour to his own law, and hs compassion resolved to save a ruined creature : Here s no blemish cast upon the strict justice and righteousnes of God, when the offender is forgiven in such a methol as may do honour to justice and mercy at once; Ron. iii. 24, 25. We are justified freely by his grace througi the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; whomGod hata set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness," even his perfect governing justice, though he passes by and pardons the sins of a thousand criminal creatures; " to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might appear to be just to bis own authority and law, while he justifies the sinful . man who believeth or trusteth in Jesus the Mediator as becoming a proper sacrifice and propitiation for sin." 3. By the sanctification of our nature. `there is also another remarkable harmony between the holiness of God and his mercy in this workof the salvation of sinful man. The guilt of sin is not only to be forgiven and taken away by a complete atonement and sacrifice, but the sinful nature of this ruined creature is+to be changed into holiness, is to be renewed and sanctified by the blessed Spirit, and reformed into, the image of God his maker: He must not only be released from punishment by forgiveness, but he must be restored to the image of God by sanctifying grace ; so that'e may be fit company for the rest of the favourites of Godin the upper world; that he may be qualified to be admitted into this society, avhere perfect purity and holiness are necessary for all the inhabitants of this upper world, and for suchnear attend- ants on the blessed God :.I.n - that happy state " nothing shall enter there that defileth ;" Rev. xxi. 27. and thére- fore concerning the criminals among the Corinthians, as vile and as offensive to the pure and holy God as theyare represented ; '1 Cor. vi. g= 11. +viz. " Fornicators, ido- Jators, adulterers, drunkards," &c. but, it is said, they arewashed, but they,are sanctified, but they are justified
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