through the redemption of his Son, a number of the sons of men, who are made accepted in Him, the beloved; for which purpose the adorable Surety, as the head of his body the Church, came into the world, assumed our nature, suffered and died; and after his resurrection, sent forth his ministers to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation to a perishing world. verse. The doctrine of election has been frequently calumniated as unmerciful and cruel, whereas the fact is directly the reWere there no election of men to everlasting life and blessedness, not a single individual would be saved. For, however extended and ample redemption may be supposed, it would avail nothing were men left to themselves. The human heart is too powerfully fascinated with the objects of sense-with gratifying the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, to think much either of God, or the salvation of the soul. These considerations seldom occupy the mind till age, or disease, render men incapable of gratifying the sensual appetite; and when the symptoms of approaching dissolution interrupt their quiet, the means adopted to secure their future happiness, are quite the reverse of those announced by the inspired writers. Christ crucified is still unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness: and on no occasion is the pride of the human heart so conspicuous, as in its utter aversion from the way of salvation revealed by the Gospel. To suppose that the soul possesses nothing that can in any way contribute to its safety, is a thought not to be endured. It is therefore plain that, if the scripture account of the corruption of human nature— of the enmity of the carnal mind against God-of the almighty power requisite to enlighten the understanding, and to quicken those who are dead in trespasses and sins, be true; and no plan had been settled in the everlasting covenant of grace to secure the application of Christ's redemption, no flesh living would be saved. This position is, I think, as susceptible of proof as any theological axiom hitherto embraced by the christian church. That the following letters have, among other things, a reference to the fundamental doctrines of election, of imputation and redemption, will be easily perceived; but whether they will contribute to the elucidation or establishment of these very interesting subjects, must be left to the determination of the intelligent and impartial reader. THOUGHTS ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. LETTER I. 'On Calvary's Hill my mourning eye discerns, There hangs the Love of God! There hangs of man I HAVE to apologize, my dear Sir, for not having long ere this answered your obliging favour. I flatter myself, however, that when you consider my numerous avocations, and the little leisure I have for epistolary communications, my remissness will readily meet with forgiveness. In answer to your request, suffer me to say, That the more I reflect on what passed at our last interview, the more I am convinced that the sufferings of Christ were in exact proportion to the guilt of the many sinners he had undertaken to redeem; and that, had the unworthy objects of his merciful regard been more numerous, these sufferings would have likewise been augmented. It should be observed concerning the sufferings of Christ, says Bishop Reynolds, 'That the economy or dispensation of his mediatorship is the measure of all that he suffered. So much as that required, he did suffer, and more he did not.' Το say, That had our blessed Lord redeemed every individual of the human race, he would not have suffered more than he actually did suffer; is, in effect, saying, That there is as much moral evil in a few transgressions as in many, and that it is deserving of as much punishment; or, in other words, That suffering for a part of our species is sufficient for the redemption of the whole; which is a sentiment, in my mind, repugnant to the moral government of God, and contrary to the ideas that ought ever to be retained both of virtue and of vice. |