Page:God Manifest.djvu/219

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GOD APPEARING.
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passions, as if thence to "pluck up drowned" happiness "by the locks;"—but he only loses himself in the attempt. As well may enjoyment be expected with a diseased body, as happiness with a disordered and corrupt mind.

To open the way, then, for man's purification and regeneration, and thus to render salvation possible to all who are willing to be saved—in a word, to effect the great work of man's Redemption, was the purpose for which the Saviour came into the world. This great act of redeeming mankind, is, next to the work of creation itself, the highest proof of the Divine goodness. Redemption, indeed, may be termed a second creation, a re-creation, inasmuch as, without it, the purpose of creation, which is man's happiness, could not have been accomplished. Without the Redemption, the Creation would have been in vain. In the Lord the Redeemer, then, we behold the beauty and love of God the Creator, shining with redoubled splendor: the Father is beheld doubly glorified in the Son.

But, during the years He spent on earth, clothed with the flesh, engaged in accomplishing the great object of His coming,—the examples displayed in His life and conduct, in His words and deeds, are of a character to convey to our minds a more distinct as well as more exalted idea of the Divine Goodness, than can be attained in any other way: inasmuch as God Appearing must be a more distinct object before our view, either than God Speaking, or than God as manifested in His created works. If, as shown in the preceding Section, (on "God's Goodness seen in man's Goodness,) we were enabled, from the exam-

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