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CHAPTER V.

ON REDEMPTION BY CHRIST.

1. On the Nature of Redemption.-2. The Redeemer.-3. The Extent of Redemption.-4. The Rejection of Redemption.-5. The Reception of Redemption.-6. The Benefits of Redemption.-7. The Completion of Redemption.

1. ON THE NATURE OF REDEMPTION.

THE word Redemption means, to buy again with a price. It is applied in the scriptures to the recovery of man from that state of slavery under sin and death to which his fall had reduced him by our Lord Jesus Christ enduring the penalty of our sins, and shedding his blood as our ransom. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by traditions from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who by him do believe in God.

It includes the whole of man's recovery from his ruin the atonement made on the cross, when Christ

put away sins by the sacrifice of himself; the adoption of sons, (Gal. iii. 26.) Deliverance from the power of sin, (Matt. i. 21.) And, finally, a rescue from the grave, hell, and everlasting ruin, and bringing us in the way of holiness, to endless glory.

The divine justice requires the punishment of sin; the divine truth requires the fulfilment of God's threatenings; the wisdom of the divine government, the good of all creation, the glory of God in the establishment of his law-which is holy, just, and good-demand that transgressors should die. Το meet these, and innumerable other claims, and yet to save mankind with a holy salvation, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. His redemption far more illustriously displays the divine perfections than if all had perished. It fills all holy creatures with wonders of admiration at the beauties and glories of our God; rescue innumerable lost souls, and cause their admiring love of God, and delight in him through eternity. While they are completely renewed after the divine image, the most awfully righteous display of his everlasting wrath will visit those who neglect such a stupendous provision of grace and mercy.

The prime moving cause of this redemption is represented to be love. God is love. Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. In his love and in his pity he redeemed us. Boundless, unfathomable, inconceivable love-a love that passeth knowledgewas the cause of our redemption. We can trace it no higher, and in this is sweet rest and satisfaction to our souls.

Meditation on God's love in Redemption.

It was great love in God, my Father, to create me out of nothing, a rational immortal being, the head of his creatures on earth, and then to surround me with so many blessings as he daily does in his providence. But when I had by sin and rebellion forfeited all, and justly incurred his righteous wrath, O what tender compassion it was that led him in his pity and love to redeem me at such a price! O Lord, teach me to see, and know, to believe, and rejoice evermore in this love! Let me not any more wrong thy truth, and ruin my own soul by the fearful guilt of unbelief! Work in my heart true faith, the gift of thine own Spirit!

2. THE REDEEMER.

This is one of the precious titles of our divine Saviour, in which we shall through eternity rejoice. Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, is the song of the glorified host above; and the Lord grant, Christian reader, that we may be among the happy number who for ever join in it.

The name Redeemer has a reference to an appointment, under the law of Moses, of the nearest kinsman paying the price of the redemption of an inheritance (Lev. xxv.), and being the avenger of blood to pursue and kill the murderer. (Numb. xxxv.) Our Redeemer both paid the ransom price for the redemption of our souls and of our forfeited inheritance, and has with his Almighty arm conquered all our foes.

This glorious Redeemer is THe true God! (1 John v. 20.) Survey the supreme glory of our Redeemer. From the beginning he had glory with the Father before the world was. As for our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah xlvii. 17.) He can say, I am the Lord thy God! (Isa. xlviii. 17.) He is over all, God, blessed for ever: the only-begotten Son of the Father.

This glorious being, as the church of England states, "the Son, which is the word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed virgin, of her substance, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men."

O what a mystery is here! God was manifest in the flesh. Surely this ought to attract and fill every mind, and infinitely engage the affection and admiration of us sinners.

Consider next his HUMILIATION: He who was in the form of God, took upon him the form of a servant; he, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, made himself of no reputation, and being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. By hanging on that tree he was made a curse for us, and so he redeemed us from the curse. O what a heighth and depth, and length and breadth of love, untold and inconceivable

love, was there here! Though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich. Well may the scriptures say, God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Consider farther his EXALTATION: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father. Jesus now reigns over all things; everything is delivered into his hands. Our Redeemer is strong and mighty; omnipotent, the Almighty.

What then is his CHARACTER? Beautiful beyond all expression; unequalled in every perfection; chief among ten thousand; altogether lovely. Every grace, every excellence, all wisdom, holiness, truth, equity, purity, love, and compassion centre in him as its proper seat, and flow from him as its true fountain. No one can know our Redeemer without beholding a glory, as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

And he yet lives! I know, says Job, that my Redeemer liveth. He ever lives to bless his people and to carry forward the great work of their Redemption. He says, I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death. Never, never shall those who trust in him want a Redeemer: in affliction, in death, in the grave, in the day of judgment, and through eternity. He says: Because I live ye shall live also.

Will he receive those that go to him? Look at his history on earth. He is evermore the same; he re

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