PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DOMESTIC **The LUTHERAN MAGAZINE is published monthly, at Schoharie (C. SCHOHARIE (C. H.) N. Y. PRINTED BY A. A. KEYSER, FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. TO OUR PATRONS. and liberally patronized. We were Agreeably to the notice contain-prepared for all this-and did not ed in our last number, we now pre-suffer ourselves to be in the least dissent our readers with the First Num-couraged by the difficulties and ember of the Fourth Volume of the Ma-barrassments which we have had to gazine. The Board of Directors of encounter in our past endeavors to the Domestic Missionary Society of promote the objects of this work. the Lutheran Church, New-York, having completed their arrangements for continuing this publication; we again solicit the patronage of the friends of our Church, and hope that they may favor us with a liberal support. When the Magazine was commenced by the Western Conference, we did not suppose that it would have a very extensive circulation beyond the sphere of its original publishers. Although it was the only religious periodical in this state, devoted to the interests of the Lutheran Church, it could not be expected, that it would be received with universal approbation by the members of our communion. We were aware of the difficulty of arranging and executing our work, so as to suit the views of some of our brethren, and anticipated the result in certain places, where we have been so severely censured for introducing it. We did not expect to receive any encouragement from those who deem the Magazine altogether unworthy of their notice because it is not as elegantly and tastefully executed as some other publications which are more extensively We indulge the hope, that the recent arrangements of the Board of Directors, by which the expenses of the publication are considerably increased, without extending the terms of subscription, may prove satisfactory to all who feel an interest in the successful prosecution of this enterprise. We are anxious to extend the circulation of this work, not merely to meet the expenses of publication, but to promote the interests of the cause to which it is devoted. Did we consider ourselves personally interested in this matter, we should not so often appeal to our brethren for their assistance, and beg for support: But, as we have stated on a former occasion, our humble labors are devoted to the cause of religion and the interests of our beloved Church. This encourages us not only to labor ourselves, but also to call upon others for assistance; and we sincerely hope, that many who have hitherto refused to listen to our calls for assistance, will now come forward and aid us in the prosecution of a work, which was begun in the name of God, and is still carried on by his blessing. Original. For the Lutheran Magazine. It is the design of the writer of this article, in the first place, to give to the reader a correct statement of the doctrine of Christ's atonement, as it is contained in the holy scriptures; and in the second place, to notice several of the most important objections which have been raised against it. " he was sent into the world that he might save us from our sins, and "that through him we might live." Now, if these expressions of the holy apostles are not to be construed in a manner totally different from their plain and literal significationif they were intended to convey any ideas to the minds of those to whom they were addressed-if they are not utterly devoid of all sense, and destitute of all meaning; it is as clear as language can make it appear, that Jesus Christ did render an expiatory sacrifice for sin; that he did suffer the punishment of human disobedi In entering upon the discussion of the first particular, it is asserted, that the doctrine of Christ's expiatory sacrifice for sin is plainly revealed in the word of God. To prove this as-ence; that he died on the cross, not sertion, the reader is referred to those merely to seal the truth and establish emphatic declarations of scripture, the authority of his gospel, but that which represent Christ's sufferings by his innocent sufferings and death, and death as an offering for sin. The sinners might be released from the writings of St. Paul are filled with condemnation of the law-absolved such declarations. That distinguish- from the punishment of their sins, ed Apostle bears frequent testimony and restored to the divine favor: for to this fact. This is what he con- in the testimony which we have just stantly affirms in his Epistles. He quoted, Christ is not merely exhibitsays, that "Christ hath given him-ed unto us as a fit example for our "self for us as an offering and a sa- imitation under the influence of tem"crifice to God-that he died for all, poral sufferings and afflictions; he is "that they which live should hence- not merely represented as having sa"forth not live unto themselves, but crificed his life to display the firm"to him, which died for them-that ness of his character and establish "Christ, our Passover, is sanctified the authority of his religious doc"for us that, by his own precious trines; but it is positively asserted, "blood, he entered into the holy "for us he gave himself as an offer"place, having obtained eternal re-" ing and sacrifice to God: he is the "demption for us-that through the" propitiation for our sins, and by the "eternal spirit he offered himself," sacrifice of himself he put away "and by the sacrifice of himself, put" sin." away sin." These declarations of This will appear still more evident St. Paul are supported by the direct from an examination of those scriptutestimony of St. John, who asserts, ral passages which assert, that Christ that "Jesus Christ, the righteous, was substituted by infinite wisdom, “ our advocate with the Father, is to suffer the penalty, which we, by "the propitiation for our sins-that our offences, had merited. The pro |