but be it remembered, that Christ was our representative, with respect to temporal death, as well as any thing else. He stood in our place: he was a man of sorrows; for our sakes he became poor; for us he was subject to mortal infirmities; gave up his life; sunk into the arms of death, and, spoiling the same, he rose again a conqueror. But yet we are subject to sorrow, poverty, sickness, and death. How is it that we are subject to all these, seeing Christ hath suffered them for us? This, I think, is a problem which can be solved but one way, viz, that as it is a fact that men suffer and die notwithstanding the death of Christ, so it is also a fact that through his death, resurrection, and mediatorial reign, they shall be finally delivered from all the remains of death, although at present they are captives to it. Shall we say, because the full effects of the death and resurrection of Christ have not yet taken place, therefore they never will? Or, because the body must remain in a state of death for a time, it is unreasonable to suppose that Christ died to redeem from that enemy of the human race? I think it is more agreeable to reason and revelation to say, that Christ, having suffered and rose again," he became the first fruits of those who slept;" that his resurrection is an earnest of the resurrection of all the dead; which, though not instantly accomplished, yet shall surely take place in due time, It is also reasonable to affirm, that, although Christ hath died for all men, there are many who will be punished in a future state, especially when we consider, such punishment will be a necessary correction, calculated to forward the benevolent designs of his death. I am so far from thinking that future punishment will exceed the rules of strict justice, that I think the sinner will not be punished according to the demands thereof, Christ having answered its demands in his own person. There is, then, a great difference between the sufferings of Christ and the punishment of the wicked. Christ, by his death, was made an offering for sin, representing the sinner in his suffering; it was also a necessary qualification to fill the high office of mediator and restorer of all things; but the punishment of the sinner will be only such as will be necessary to reduce him to real obedience; which punishment will be inflicted by Christ in the capacity of mediator, and by none else; for the Father, being well pleased with what he has done, and having committed all things into his hands, hath given hin authority to execute judgment: and, according to that wisdom which he possesses, to correct in such a way as he sees proper to accomplish that great end of his office, the subduing and reconciling all things to himself, and, consequently, the happiness of the universe. A parent is the head and representative of his family: he is accountable for what his children do; if they break a window, he pays for it; if they tread down a corn-field, he stands forth to bear the damages; or if in tender years they defraud or steal, he willingly makes restoration. But are they to escape correction, because their parent is ready to meet every demand on their account? Surely not; on the contrary, a wise parent will give such correction as he thinks will properly impress their minds with the nature of what they have done, proportioned to their crimes, and such as may remove their propensity to transgress. So Christ, the head, the parent of the universe, having taken the whole load of sin upon his own back, having undergone the punishment which was its due, being exalted a prince and a saviour, will sway the sceptre in righteousness, and administer such corrective punishment as his wisdom dictates, and his parental goodness sees every way suitable to the nature of crimes, and the depravity of the heart, such as will humble and subdue the will, and finally reduce to obedience; and as a parent does not punish for his own advantage, but for the real advantage and happiness of his children-not from a principle of hatred, but from love-so the Lord Jesus will not punish the disobedient from any selfish disposition, but it will be the effect of that great love which he bears to sinners, and will be attended with the greatest advantage to the sufferer; severity being, perhaps, the only remaining means (consistent with the freedom of the will) that can accomplish te same. These, Sir, are my views on the above, subject; glad should I have been to have seen something on the same from some other person. I wonder that a subject of such importance should be passed over by your old correspondentss, and hope, as they desire the spread of truth, they will pay more attention in future to questions of this kind, as it might be of use to many who desire to form proper ideas of God and his government, To your correspondent who proposed the above question, I present my sincere regard; whether the above remarks will satisfy his enquiries or not, it remains for him to declare: if he thinks my views are wrong. or that I misunderstood him, let him freely declare the same; let him endeavour to convince me of my error, and he shall have my thanks, whether he succeed or not. If, Sir, you pay so much regard to a new correspondent as to admit my production, in your next number I may, perhaps, be encouraged to trouble you again with some other remarks. LIVERPOOL. Yours, &c. JOHN WRIGHT. QUESTION ON MATTHEW, XII. 31, 32. DEAR SIR,' THE reconciliation of the above passage of Scripture with the doctrine of the Universal Restoration will oblige, MERTON. Yours, &c. A. B And say, Who is the Lord on high? Consistent with thy will, oh send, J. H. AN HYMN. AWAKE, my muse, to contemplations high, Search whence thou art; thou'lt finda reason why Omnipotence in wisdom Infinite, Is thy great Origin: O creature mani, God is thy being! Life and innate Light A In such a mirror canst thou nothing scane Jesus, the great effulgercy of God! In threefold* light the grand instruction seals= He shews the path the lion's whelps ne'er trod, In which the heav'nly glory he reveals. O bright essential form! prior to days! All beings out of thee are void of light. Q Jesus! ev'ry creature's great archtype, Thou art the truth of great Jehovah's plans Thou art the first-the fairest, fullest ripe Fruit of the vine, that chears both God and man. Bright star of glory! (like a knot of beams O thou, superior light! I see thee mine, * Luke, ix. 26. VISIT OF HOPE TO SYDNEY COVE. WHERE Sydney Cove her lucid bosom swells, HOPE stood sublime, and wav'd her golden hair And with sweet accents charm'd the winds to sleep, Hear me," she cried, " ye rising realms record Time's op'ning scene, and Truth's unerring word. There shall broad streets their stately walls extend, The circus widen and the crescent bend; There ray'd from cities o'er the cultur'd land, END OF VOL. IV. PRINTED BY W. BURTON, NO, 82, FETTER LANE, FLEET STRELT, STRAND. |
