Page:A Defence of Revealed Religion.pdf/22

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THE FALL AND ATONEMENT.

would be found quite in harmony with the infinite and perfect love of the Lord.

Thus, in regard to the question of the Atonement, although we do not know what Mr. Voysey's views are affirmatively, we know that his rejection of the Divinity of Jesus Christ will prevent him accepting the one we regard as the grandest.

No view can give us a more favourable idea of the infinity of the Divine Love than the New Church doctrine concerning the Atonement. It teaches us that it was God Himself that came upon earth, clothed in the vestments of humanity, to save and redeem His children—that Jesus Christ was in very deed our "God manifest in the flesh," our "Emmanuel, God with us." Men having wandered far away from Him, in His love He followed them, He became as one of them. "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory;" and as it is elsewhere expressed,—Heb. ii. 9-18.

Human nature was fallen—He came to show that it might again be exalted. Men were the slaves of hell—He came to make captivity captive and give good gifts unto men. He came to bridge over the great gulf—to be the Mediator between God and man. None but our God could do this; and He did it because He pitied and loved us. This is a grander conception of Deity than even Mr. Voysey can present us with. It is a picture of marvellous, matchless love!