Page:Harmony of the divine attributes displayed in the redemption and salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ.pdf/40

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( 40 ) soul from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. Now, he can justify the sinner, and be just in so doing, while he draws him into Christ by faith, Rom. iii. 25, 26.—'Thus you see the reasons of the meeting. In a word, they meet together upon a design to bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil, and the highest glory out of the deepest misery, to the praise of all God’s glorious perfections. The fifth thing proposed, was the application, in a few inferences. Is it so, that in salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ, the glorious Attributes and perfections of God do thus harmoniously conspire, and embrace each other? Then hence we may see, 1. What a dreadful evil sin is, which sets all the Attributes of God, as it were at odds, and puts all the world into confusion, and every thing out of order; it sets heaven and earth, and all things in them at variance, one against another. To think light of sin, is to think light of this glorious meeting of divine Attributes, that met together to break this rebellion, and take order with this horrid insurrection against heaven. O ! what a great matter is the salvation of a sinner! Ere that can take place, this grand meeting must be called ; all the injured Attributes of God must have an honourable reparation. Justice must be satisfied, Truth vindicated, Righteousness cleared; and in order to fill this, a surety must be provided, even a God in our nature; the guilt must be imputed to him, and the iniquity of us all must be laid upon him; and then a bloody tragedy must be acted upon his soul and body, till he sink to death under the weight of infinite wrath. But, 2. Hence, see what a wonderful person our Lord Jesus Christ is, in whom so many wonders meet together; It is in him, that Mercy and Truth, Righteousness and Peace, do meet together, and kiss each other; here all the bright perfections of the divine nature do gloriously conspire; here is the bright constellation of all the divide Attributes shinning forth in him, and every star performs its revolution in this orb. Behold in him the bright glory and excellency of God’s grace and love, a whole Trinity in concert, to perform each person, his own part, and