to the greater miracle of moral government, an atonement for sin.

4. The atonement brings a greater revenue of glory to God than any other measure. This dispensation eclipses the renown of all the others. In other measures we see but portions of the ways of God. Here we behold all the perfections of God in transcendent lustre, and beautiful harmony. There is a greater display of public justice in the death of the cross, than in all judicial inflictions. There is more goodness in the salvation of one fallen sinner, than in the confirmation of thousands of holy angels. The equity of the divine government shines with brighter honors in the scheme of sovereign grace, than in the dispensations of Paradise. Besides, here, and here alone, is a standing for mercy; here alone she unfurls her ensigns of peace, and sways her sceptre at once to vindicate the throne, and save the sinner. The attributes, whose honor seemed to require the destruction of sinners are glorified in his salvation, yea, more glorified in his salvation than they would have been in his perdition.

5. The atonement brings an immense accession of good to the universe. What a universe of death would this have been, if all the evils due to sinners actually took place! But God has thoughts of peace, and not of evil towards us. "For if God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us ALL things." He gave his Son as the magazine and repository of all fulness of blessings. Here are all sorts of good that man is capable of, or can possibly need,-good to the highest degree, "far above all that we are able to ask or think,"-good distributed with the freest bounty and copiousness for wants in all conditions-good for eternity for an immortal spirit. All this good comes through the atonement of Jesus Christ. The cross received the thunder from the threatening cloud, and gave sunshine to the universe.

6. The atonement excites interest in the remotest parts of the universe. Angels desire to look into it.

Philosophers have studied and admired gravitation, and have almost adored the principle that keeps in harmony, innumerable myriads of worlds in the remotest regions of space, to which imagination can push. But what is this, compared with the principle and arrangement that makes known unto principalities and powers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God, and preserves the order and happiness of countless intelligences? This as infinitely transcends the other, as influence over MIND, surpasses in dignity and grandeur, influence over matter.

7. The atonement takes for the accomplishment of its designs a vast circuit of dispensation. Its goings forth have been from eternity. The world was created a theatre for its scenes. The machinery of providence was constructed to introduce its operations. The Mosaic law was the schoolmaster of its first principles, and the Jewish temple with all its furniture was but a scaffold for its building of mercy. Four thousand years were employed to summon attention to its designs. After time has perished, the results of the atonement, like the circle produced in a peaceful lake, will be widening, and perpetually widening, through the length and breadth of a shoreless eternity.

8. The atonement supplies a stupendous system of motives to bear on the interests of the universe. The epistles of the New Testament bring these motives to bear upon our duties towards God, towards Christ, towards the world, and towards each other in our relative capacities. There are no motives like these to tell on the heart, and to produce repentance towards God. The atonement "speaks better things" than any other measure for the interests of holiness and truth. A ministry without the motives of the atonement is a ministry in which the "blood of sprinkling" is hushed and mute. A world in which were hushed the music of the groves, the cadences of murmuring streams, and the dulcet sounds of love and friendship, were but a faint emblem of the sepulchral dulness of such a ministry. It is when

the atonement "speaketh better things," that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

9. The atonement is the medium of the most glorious change in the character and the prospects of sinners. "Behold what manner of love is this that we should be called the sons of God." In this medium the sinner can meet "the consuming fire" without being destroyed. It is a refuge accessible, designed, and sufficient for every sinner. To what honor will God exalt believers, when even this glorious Mediator will come to be GLORIFIED in his saints! Think what they were when he came to seek and to find them—and think what he has made of them by his blood and Spirit-and you will approve of their having no song in heaven but "WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN FOR US."

THE END.