34" OF THE MORAL LAW, AND THE EVIL OT SIN. [SEEM. Y. as of the just resentment of God his Father against every sin. The great and glorious Gód, the Governor of the world, thought it more necessary and becoming his ma- jesty that the Son of his love should be put to a painful and shameful death to make a propitiation for our sins against this law, than that any one transgression should be pardoned without an atonement. These awful sen- timents should be an everlasting caution to us against entertaining slight thoughts of the_ evil of sin. It is no trifling matter to indulge the lèast sin, when it awakens the resentment and wrath of the eternal God. Fools are they indeed that " make a mock of sin :" Prov. xiv. 9 when the Scn of God must die, before it could be par- doned. Reflection IV. " How glorious is the wisdom and the mercy of the gospel, which does honour to the law in every respect, which prepares an honourable atonement and pardon for guilty rebels who have broken this ever- lasting law, and provides grace and power to renew our nature according to the demands of it." It not only par- dons returning transgressors, but it promises to write this law in the hearts of men, that it may be better observed and obeyed. A double and complete salvation. Read the lari uage.of the gospel and rejoice in it; Heb. viii. 10. " This is the 'covenant, saith the Lord, that I will make with men I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." And it is re- peated Heb. x. 16, 17. The law of God requires uni- versal and everlasting obedience, and it is an unspeak- able blessing to have this obedience made natural and easy by sanctifying grace. Reflection V. Happy is the world above, where such natural and such easy obedience is for ever paid to this law of God without the least transgression." The moral law carries all its demands up to that blessed country, and whatsoever other laws are in force there, it is this eternal law that gives authority to them all, and every inhabitant answers all the demands of it by a free and ,chearful obedience. Happy world indeed, where so pure and so perfect a law of the Creator cannot charge one creature with transgression and guilt! A world with- out sorrow and without sin ! Astrange unknown blessed'
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