But, to return to our subject-the Atonement-There is an incongruity in the popular view of it which I ought to have stated to you before. It is the following. Jesus Christ, designated in the Liturgy God the Son, made a full and perject sacrifice for the sins of the whole world to God, i. e. God the Father; yet it is to be borne in mind that there are two other persons in the Godhead equal in every respect with the Father-equal in all the divine attributes-equally Almighty-equally God: and, consequently, equally entitled to a full and perfect Sacrifice, &c. But, instead of receiving full Satisfaction, these two persons have received no Satisfaction whatever for sin. With regard to these two persons mankind are in the same hopeless state they were in before Christ's death; and his Atonement for sin partial and fallacious. It avails not them. Adml. Your remarks are quite consistent; but the popular doctrines o Christianity, being based upon a Trinity of co-equal Almighty persons, a thing in itself impossible, may be expected to partake of the errors, of the incongruities, of their original. What sound, or rational doctrine, can we expect to build on the foundation of the Athanasian Creed ? What Capt. True, Admiral; and what good thing can be expected to proceed from a Church which adopts this Creed as a symbol of its faith? good thing can be expected from the Ministers who read, and enforce, this Creed? Or from the laymen who patiently attend to hear it read? What good thing from Legislators who establish this Creed as part and parcel of the famed laws of Britain ? Answers to these soul-stirring questions may be read in the history of the times in which we live. For more than a thousand years the simple, the life-giving truths of Christianity have been choaked by the mysteries-the thorns of Athanasianism. These, by impairing the credibility of the Gospel, have impeded its progress in the world. Instead of producing "Peace on earth" it has, as predicted by our Lord, brought a sword. Instead of "Covering the earth as the waters cover the sea." A Falling-away, as foretold by St. Paul, (2. Thes. ii. 3) has taken place. "Darkness has covered the earth, and gross darkness the people." This darkness is dissipating, and light breaking-in upon the world; The Powers of this world are fast losing their sway over those whom they have so long kept in chains of Athanasian darkness. A change in all civil and religious institutions is in progress; and there seems nothing so likely to render this change useful and bloodless as renovated Christianity. The honour, however, of dispelling this darkness is, by the words of the prophet, destined for Jews, not for Christians. And I would here observe to you that they are the only nation who, for very many centuries, has worshipped the same God that Jesus Christ worshipped; and, therefore, may be considered as safe schoolmasters to bring us to Christ.—and, through him to bring us to God. (1. Pet, iii. 18.) Not by trusting in his Atonement, for, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE. Not by relying on the merits of Christ; but, as we are plainly told, by following the example he hath left us. humbly endeavour to do this, we shall have Joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the Atonement. Farewell. Printed by Thomas Thrush of Harrogate. If we |