Page:A Defence of Revealed Religion.pdf/12

12 anger and punishment are designed to work for our improvement. I have only denied that God is unjust or excessive in His anger, and that He is hostile to sinful men. I have understood that, according to the common idea, the 'curse of God' means a sentence passed upon Adam and all his race for inherited as well as actual guilt. I have denied this with all the energy that I could summon."

Mr. Voysey also admits having maintained "that the commonly received doctrines of intercession and mediation by Christ, and atonement or reconciliation to God by the death of Christ, are all opposed to the perfect harmony and simplicity of the love of God, and to the teaching of Jesus Christ."

Such in brief are the teachings of Mr. Voysey concerning "The Fall and Atonement." He asks to be judged not by old traditions and prejudices, but at the bar of reason by the evidence of truth. The demand is a just and fair one—let us, casting aside the lesser question of their legality, examine them in the light of the testimony of the Word of God. The first great theme is the perfect and unchanging love of God even to sinners. This is the basis upon which Mr. Voysey seeks to build up his system. Let us test its soundness. Upon this question we are thoroughly at one with him. "God is love" says the Apostle, thus expressing the fact that this is His essential nature. Love is not merely an attribute of God, it is the very foundation of His being. "God Is love."