DISC. v.] THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST MANIFESTED. 191 inhabitants of this world in that time, and even some of the transactions of God in his own eternity, before the foundation of the world, are reasonably supposed, to be derived from this very idea, in the mind and appointment of the blessed God ; because hehad originally appointed, that Jesus Christ should in due time take flesh and blood,. and be offered as a, sacrifice for the sins of men Here we shall first enquire, what are those early transactions of the blessed God in eternity, or in time, which may be. supposed to have been any ways influ- enced by this view of our Lord Jesus Christ; and the answers are these 1, It was in this view that God at first decreed and designed, to save and recover any part of fallen man from their ruin, sin, and misery; and chose thousands of the race of sinful mankind to be restored to his favour and to bis image ; Eph. i; 4; 5, 7. Behold my servant, whom I uphold mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.;_ Is., xlü. 1. That so God might have a proper atonement made for all their sins, by our Lord Jesus Christ, in or- der to be reconciled to them, and to reconcile them to himself that they might be holy and without blame. It would be too long at present to enter into this en- quiry, why God required an-atonement for sin, or wh his justice and his grace would not unite in the salvation of fallen man without it : The great God thought it un- becoming his supreme majesty, and his character, to deal thus in a way of absolute mercy with men ; and as he has determined it so in his word, this is enough for us to acquiesce therein : As Heb. ii. 10. It became himfor whom are all things, and by whont are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvationperfect through sufferings. TsxE,wow, i. e. as critics in the Greek language expound it, to conse- crate, sanctify, or finish this Captain of salvation for this service, by -an atoning sacrifice. God_ was pleased to make: his beloved Son, 'Jesus Christ, his first elect; Is. xlü. 1. and he chose all ,the rest in him; .Bph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before thefoundation, ofthe world, that weshould beholy and without blame before him in love. He was resolved to set him up at the head of all the saved num- ber,, who was, his own Son, that he should be their fore- 5
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