Jesus Christ: Whom God hath set forth a propitiation, through faith in his blood. Now to him that worketh, (that is, in order to offer his works as the price of God's favour,) is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, (that is, has nothing to recommend him, and acknowledges he has done nothing by which he deserves the divine favour, more than any other man,) but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.*" By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."+ The above particulars, put together, and taken into one view, serve to illustrate the observation, that the redemption of man is the highest instance of the exercise of the love of God, in which divine, infinite benevolence has an object equal to itself, and is acted out and displayed to the highest degree, and best advantage to be seen and celebrated by the redeemed and all holy creatures, with increasing views and happiness forever and ever. In the redemption of man, the infinitely benevolent Jehovah, "fulfils all the good pleasure of his goodness, and mercy is built up forever." In this work God shows his glory by causing all his goodness to be displayed before the redeemed; while his name is proclaimed and celebrated. "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." This goodness, this love of God, is in scripture celebrated as great love. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for the great love, wherewith he loved us, &c. Love which passeth knowledge." It is called the riches, the exceeding riches of his grace. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us through Jesus Christ."** The love of God is exercised in the redemption of man in its infinite strength, in overcoming difficulties and obstacles infinitely great, which were in the way of the exercise of it towards man, and opposed it; in delivering from infinite evil, and giving him infinite good. This benevolence is infinite mercy and compassion to the infinitely miserable. It is exceeding rich, free and sovereign grace, which gives such deliverance, such salvation, not only to the undeserving, but infinitely guilty, vile and ill deserving. IV. This design and work, the redemption of man, has been gradually introduced and opened from the first apostasy to the coming of Christ, and from that time down to this day; and will be carried on until it shall be completed, at the end of the world, and the day of judgment. Every thing, and all events which took place in the world, from the beginning of it, during four thousand years, were preparatory to the coming and incarnation of the Redeemer; while other ends, respecting redemption, were in view, and answered. And since that event, and the resurrection and exaltation of Christ to the throne of his kingdom, what has taken place is to be considered as the first fruits of redemption, and preparatory to much greater things, which are yet to take place in the accomplishment of this great work, which will not be completed till the day of judgment. This has been represented by our Saviour in a number of similitudes, such as the following. "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree: So that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. He spoke another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.'* "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself, • Matt, xiii. 31, 32, 33. first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear: But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."* V. The work of redemption is the greatest and most glorious work of God, and, indeed, the sum and end of all his works. This is abundantly evident from divine revelation ; which revelation itself originated from this design, and has been formed and given to man, in order to promote and accomplish it. It is of no importance or worth, any farther than it answers ends which respect the redemption of man. This asserts that the new creation, by which is meant the work of redemption, or the church of the redeemed, which is the New Jerusalem with the inhabitants, is so superior to the old creation, or the natural world, and so much the end of it, that the first creation shall be swallowed up and forgotten, in the existence and glory of the latter. "Behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth: And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoice forever, in that which I create: For behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."† This is most expressly asserted in the following words. "For by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers : All things were created by Him, AND FOR HIM.” All the created universe, containing every creature and thing, visible and invisible, greater and less, are here said to be created for Christ, considered as God, Man, and Mediator, the Redeemer of man; for in that character and capacity he is considered, described and spoken of in these words, and the context, as being "the head of the body, the church, who have redemption through his blood." For Him, as the Redeemer of the church, and for the sake of the work of redemption; for Christ, the Son of God, and his redeemed church, were all things made, and to this end they are all subordinated, in the works of creation and provi dence. He is therefore "appointed the heir of all • Mark iv. 26-29. † Isaiah lxv. 17, 18. things," and made head over all things to the church; all things being put under his feet.† It is hence most certain, that all the works of God have reference to the work of redemption, as their end, being all subordinated to this, in order to promote and perfect it, and really belong to it, as parts and appendages of it. All things are created for the sake of Christ and his church, and therefore they are all used and improved for this end in the course of divine providence ; which consists in ordering and disposing all events, and using all things so as completely to answer the end for which they were made. And that the work of Redemption is the greatest and most glorious of all the works of God, and the end of all, will be evident, if we consider what it is, and the things which it comprises. To this belong the character and works of the Mediator. There could have been no such character as this, and no such works as he has done, had there been no redemption of man. And his character, and his works, are infinitely greater and more glorious than any could have been, had not redemption taken place. There is an unspeakably greater and more illustrious display of the divine character and perfections in "God manifest in the flesh," than could have been in any other way. And to redeem the church by giving himself a ransom for it, even his life on the accursed cross; to recover man from the power of sin and Satan; to sanctify the church and make it a perfectly holy and most beautiful society, is, beyond all comparison, a greater work of power, wisdom and goodness, than creating and upholding all worlds, or the government of all possible moral worlds, exclusive of this. Therefore in this work is the proper and full display of the divine perfections, which is the highest end of all God's works. And by the redemption of the church and the eternal kingdom of Christ, the greatest possible happiness of the creation is effected, as an eternal monument of the infinite power, wisdom and goodness of God. All intelligent creatures who are friends to God, will be, beyond expression, more holy and happy, than they could have been, had there been no such person and character ⚫ Heb. i. 2. † Eph. i. 22. as that of the Redeemer, and no redemption. Though holy angels be not redeemed, yet they behold the works of redemption, and the Redeemer with holy love, admiration and joy; and see and enjoy unspeakably more of God, than otherwise they could have done, "Into and are happy in their activity to promote it. this the angels desire to look."* "To the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God."+ "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" By this they have a song to sing which otherwise they never could have known. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men." Thus we have abundant evidence from scripture, and from the reason and nature of it, that the work of redemption is not a secondary purpose, detached from the original plan of divine operations; but is itself the first and original design and end of all the works of God, to which all things in creation and providence, in the divine purpose, have respect, and are subordinated. "Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, was himself foreordained before the foundation of the world." And all the favour, good and happiness bestowed on the church, was, by the divine purpose and decree, "given to them, in Christ Jesus, before the world began ;" they being "chosen in him, before the foundation of the world, according to the eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."** IMPROVEMENT. I. WE learn, particularly from the third observation, what an ample foundation is laid in the work of redemption, for the highest and endless gratitude of the redeemed. As in the work of redemption is the highest exercise and most perfect and glorious display of divine, infinite benevolence, in delivering from infinite, deserved evil, and bestowing infinite, undeserved good and happiness; 1 Peter i 12. † Eph. iii. 10. + Heb i. 14. Luke ii. 14. ** Eph. i. 4.-iii. 11. |