[December 9th, 1865.]
I. Its Nature.—Who was it who died? What is predicated of the body is predicated of the man. What is predicated of the humanity of Christ is predicated of his person. It was a divine person who died. It is right to speak of the death of God. As the death of a man is of more importance than the death of a brute, because he has a rational soul; so the death of Christ is as much more important than the death of a mere man, as his divine nature is higher than his human nature. It is therefore a stupendous event; the most important in the history of the universe, the central point of all history.
II. Its Design—was to save his people, and hence was
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The most wonderful exhibition of love.
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It was a full satisfaction of justice.
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It satisfied the covenant; or, was a federal sacrifice.
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It confirmed the truth.
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It was the greatest exhibition of humility and of patience.
III. Its Results.
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The actual salvation of the Church.
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The destruction of the kingdom of darkness.
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The development of angels.
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The highest display of the divine perfections.
Our Duties
- To embrace it as the foundation of our confidence towards God. There is no other. This is all-sufficient. It is freely offered to all, and therefore to us. The greatest guilt is contracted by our neglecting and despising it. The unpardonable sin is to trample under foot the blood of the Son of God. 2. To declare it. a. By the Lord’s Supper. b. By making known all that is revealed concerning it. 3. To bring others to appropriate to themselves its blessings. 4. To recognize the obligations which it imposes.