which Jesus underwent. Contemplate, on the other, millions of wretched spirits plunged into that lake of torment, where the worm never dieth, and the fire is never quenched. Which sight affects you most? In which is the holy character of God most clearly seen? Does not the latter confessedly fill you with the greatest dread of sin, and with the most awful thoughts of the divine perfections? How then can God be glorified in the vicarious sufferings of Christ for sinners, when those sufferings display his glorious attributes less fully, than the sufferings of sinners in their own persons would display them? With what truth could Jesus represent his death as conducive to the divine glory?

To solve this difficulty, another consideration must be added. What was the person of this sufferer? Who was this Son of man, of whose sufferings we are speaking? In all our apprehensions of suffering, the station and dignity of the sufferer form a circumstance of no inconsiderable importance. The same degree of suffering when undergone by a person of rank and eminence, appears to us far greater, and excites our pity far more, than when undergone by a person of inferior condition. Suffering royalty is an object which calls forth our deepest commiseration. Again, the more exalted a person's rank may be, the more striking is any disgrace which may befall him; the more exemplary any punishment which may be inflicted on him. Should the son of a king be brought to expiate by his life the crimes which he had committed, far different would be the sensations occasioned by such a spectacle, than if it were a subject only, who was condemned to die. The station of the criminal would impress on all beholders the most awful conviction of the inflexible justice of his father, and of the honour which he put upon his law. Apply these remarks to the case before us. What was the dignity of Jesus? He was the Son of man; but he was also the Son of God: the only begotten Son of God by an eternal generation: equal to, and one with the Father: who himself made the worlds: King of kings, and Lord of lords: whom all the angels of God worship. Such was this sufferer; such was the excellency of his person, the dignity of his rank. Here then our difficulty ceases; here we discover how

God was glorified in the sufferings of his Son. That such a great and illustrious person should come into this world; should take upon him the likeness of sinful flesh; be treated with all possible indignity by his own rebellious creatures; endure the wrath of the Father; and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross! That he should experience all these sufferings, as the surety and substitute for sinners! What profound views does this representation afford of the exceeding sinfulness of sin! How tremendously does it declare the honour of the divine law, when nothing but the blood of the Son of God could atone for the violation of it! How loudly does it proclaim the awful justice of God, which required such a sacrifice! Not a thousand worlds, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire, could have exhibited in such striking colours the holiness of the divine character, as this stupendous spectacle of the Son of God hanging on the cross for sinners, and making his soul an offering for sin.

But farther, the cross of Jesus was not only the most signal exhibition of the justice and holiness of God; it was also the brightest and most glorious display of his love and mercy. Thus it is universally represented in Scripture-" God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."* How can we better judge of the strength of that love which a person feels for us, than by the sacrifices which he makes in our favour? The greater and more expensive his exertions on our account, the stronger and more ardent we deem his affection for us. What manner of love then must the Father have bestowed on us? How tenderly did his bowels yearn over our lost condition, seeing, that he hath not withheld from us his son, his only son; that when no easier way could be devised of reconciling sinners to himself, he freely gave up

John, iii. 16. 1 John, iv. 9, 10.

him for us all! Contemplate the transcendent excellence of the person of Christ; and then reflect, what must have been the depth and height of divine love, which could have planned and executed so vast a scheme for our redemption. Does not the cross of Christ set forth the tender mercies of God in the most brilliant light, and shew that the riches of his grace are beyond all conception great and wonderful ?

Again, the death of Jesus, "bearing our sins in his own body on the tree," not only exhibits in a glorious manner the divine perfections, when singly and separately examined, but displays them altogether in one grand comprehensive view; shews us the most opposite attributes of God, entirely glorious in themselves, yet acting and exercised together in perfect harmony and concert. Infinite justice, and infinite love thoroughly reconciled. "Mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissing each other." God glorious in holiness, yet no less glorious in mercy; " forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty.-A just God and yet a Saviour.-Just and yet the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

66

Here then we perceive how God is glorified in the sufferings of Christ. Here we discover the full meaning of our Lord's expression in the text, "Father, glorify thy name." For in no other point of view are the infinite perfections of God so illustriously displayed. In no other revelation of himself does his character appear so perfectly and completely glorious. Hence is the gospel called the "glorious gospel,-in which as in a glass we behold the glory of the Lord." Hence are we said to receive the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ."* Hence the astonished angels, when first they beheld this stupendous display of the Divine perfections in the person of Emanuel, sang, Glory to God in the highest.'

What are the practical reflections which result from the discussion of this interesting subject? Is God glorified in the sacrifice of Christ? My brethren, beware how you venture to build on any other foundation. Beware how you presume, by any attempted extenuation of * 2 Cor. iv. 6.

your guilt, by any imaginary exaltation of your own righteousness, to diminish the importance, or virtually to deny the necessity of that infinite sacrifice. Every scheme of religion, which tends to depreciate the value of Christ's sufferings, tends in exact proportion to dishonour God, and to sully the lustre of the Divine perfections. The only way of salvation, which is at once suited to the wants of man, and conducive to the glory of God, is a simple reliance on the merits and atonement of the Son of God. Examine every other ground of hope, and you will find that it is built on very defective and unworthy conceptions of the Divine character. Religious systems of human invention have invariably been founded on the supposition, that God is "such a one as ourselves." Every departure from the simplicity of christianity has originated from the same source.

Man

kind deriving their notions of perfection, not from the scriptures but from their own corrupt imaginations, create to themselves a being whom they dignify with the name of God, and place on Jehovah's throne. But how unlike to the glorious Being, whom they design to represent! Stripped of those essential attributes, his justice, his holiness, and his truth, he is too compassionate to punish sin, too much concerned for the happiness of his creatures to regard his own honour and to fulfill his word. His benevolence degenerates into weakness. His mercy tolerates and almost encourages iniquity. Such is the god of their idolatry. But is such, my brethren, the God whom the Bible reveals? Look at the sufferings of Christ, and learn the true character of God. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." If God be not the terrible avenger of sin, what brought the Son of God to hang upon the cross? If you flee not to that cross for refuge, how will you escape the vengeance, which_your sin has provoked? God will not lose his glory. Those infinite perfections, which you refuse to glorify by faith in Christ, will be glorified in your everlasting destruction. Lay hold then of the hope set before you. In an awful conviction of the glorious Majesty, in an humble submission to the will of God, resign yourselves, both body and soul, into the hands of Christ. Let the language of your hearts be, "Father, glorify thy name,'

Dis

To every sinner, who thus feels his need of the mercy of the gospel, the subject which we have been contemplating, speaks consolation and encouragement. You are sensible that you are an offender. You are filled with doubts and fears as to your acceptance with God. The divine perfections seem armed against you. The glory of God demands the punishment of so heinous a transgressor. Look at the cross of Christ. Behold God more glorified in the sufferings of Emanuel, than He can be glorified in your everlasting sufferings. See sin laid upon the surety; the wrath of God appeased; his justice satisfied; his law magnified; his holiness proclaimed; his mercy offered to the chief of sinners, in perfect unison with all his other glorious attributes. miss your unreasonable fears. Be not faithless but believing. Believe in Christ for salvation, and doubt not your pardon and acceptance. Your faith in Christ will reflect a greater glory on God than the most exemplary punishment, which you can undergo. The very perfections at which you tremble, will be engaged to ensure your pardon. God will not punish sin in you, and in your surety also. He will be just "to forgive you your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness."* Every penitent sinner, who puts his trust in Christ alone for peace and pardon, furnishes matter for renewed acclamations of praise and joy to the angels which surround the throne of God. He is another jewel added to the Redeemer's crown; another monument of the riches of his grace; another instrument to the glory of God's name throughout eternity. Let these reflections inspire you with confidence. Be your sins as scarlet, be they red like crimson, through the merits of Christ they shall become as white as snow. The blood of Jesus is an all sufficient atonement, for it is the blood of God himself. Wash then in this "fountain which he has opened for sin, and for uncleanness." And thus prepare yourself for joining that glorious multitude, which no man can number, who having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, stand before the Throne and before the Lamb, crying with a loud voice and saying, "Salvation unto our God which sitteth upon the