Page:The Doctrines of the New Church Briefly Explained.djvu/66

60 believers and advocates. And it will be found substantially the same as here stated, in the Catechisms, Creeds, Formularies and Confessions of Faith, of all the religious sects who believe in the tripersonality of God. Indeed, this doctrine, as I have already said, is a legitimate offspring of the tripersonal theory. And according to the language in which it is set forth by its advocates, it represents the Father or first person in the Trinity, as a stern, inflexible, vindictive God, who is angry with the human race on account of their transgressions, and will by no means forgive them their sins, without a full equivalent or satisfaction for his violated law. It represents the Son or second person in the Trinity, as a tender and compassionate God, who is moved with pity towards the human race; and in order to satisfy the Father's demands, and procure his favor, or purchase for man a release from his vengeance, He comes into the world of his own free will, and pays the penalty due to the sins of all mankind by suffering and dying upon the cross. The Father accepts the ransom, is reconciled towards the human race, and can then "honorably forgive his creature man;" or, as some understand it, He then imputes to mankind the merit of Christ's