Page:Harmony of the divine attributes displayed in the redemption and salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ.pdf/13

                                 (13) ' men.’ Thus the jarring Attributes of God are now reconciled, and behold, the members of the meeting that seemed to be at the greatest variance, are embracing one another in their arms, Mercy and truth are met together; &c. The second thing was, when and where did these blessed parties meet together ? when we speak of a remarkable meeting, it is usual to enquire into the time and place of the meeting ; Now the place where and the time when, as to this wonderful meeting, are two questions, which I put together, for they may be both answered at once, because of their near relation. 1. Then in general, the meeting place, or place of the meeting is Christ, and time of the meeting was when Chrift put himself in our room, or substitute himself in the place of the sinner, to answer the demand of all the members of the meeting that had any objection against our salvation, or any thing to lay to our charge; where then, and when did they meet together and kiss each other? Why, it was even in Christ, when he took our law-room to pay our debt, and purchase cur liberty in such a manner, as mercy and peace might have their interest advanced, without injury to truth and righteousness, that mercy might vent to the credit of truth, and peace might be proclaimed to the honour of righteousness, and the sinner saved to the satisfaction of justice. They meet together, and embrace each other in him, as the surety, ‘ The surety of the better Testament,’ Heb. vii. 22. We were debtors to the mandatory and minatory part of the law, arraigned at the instance of divine justice to pay the debt. Christ substitutes himself in our room, comes under the law to pay the whole debt: it is true, the debt was personal, and justice had a demand upon the person that sinned, by virtue of the covenant of works, but that covenant never excluded a surety, though it provided none. The law promised life upon our personal obedience, but in case we fail it revealed no surety to make out an obedience in our room : there behoved indeed to be a secret reserve in the covenant of works, whereby the perfect obedience of another was not excluded ; For if the co-