The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-12-13

the descendants of Adam stand on some
different footing from him. He thinks
that we have inherited sinful nature,
but copceives that we have some claim
to have Christ offered u.s. When one re-
jects the atonement, then our correspon-
dent thinks he is justly condemned, but
not before. He seems to view our pre-
sent sinful estate in the light rather of a
misfortune than of criminality on our
part. If we are merely unfortunate,
then, of course, it is hard case to pun
ish us as sinners But is this the fact ?
No: the fact is, according to the Bible,
that we are all guilty and under condene-
nation. The race is ruined race, and
ruined, because guilty race. We could
not be sinners, if we were not guilty.
We enter the world with the depraved
nature-the stream flowing steadily down
from its source.
Adam stood for the race; in him the
race fell not in figure, but as fact.
We are part and parcel of him just as
the branches are part of the oak. Our
degradation, our evil hearts, prove it. We
need not look to the Bible to learn
whether man is depraved; human his
tory, our own consciousness, attest it,
And if any man wants to quarrel about
it, let him quarrel with Nature, as well
as with Revelation.
Then we are guilty; if guilty, we de-
serve punishment; if we deserve punish
ment, then how is Justice invaded if we
are let alone and left to our punishment Z?
1t is true Christ came; but not, as our
correspondents argument would imply,
because we were entitled to another
chance; but as gracious act in the full
sense of the term, to offer pardon to those
who had no sort of claim to it. The
devils sinned, and are punished. Is any
wrong done them Is Justice abated
because the Cross was not offered to
them? No one suggests it. The very
meaning of law is, that it shall speak the
truth, and see that its penalties are en-
forced. The violator of the law incurs
the penalty-and has no claims of any
sort, Had Adam right to expect an
other probation? Had Abraham? They
stood on exactly the same footing. Abra-
ham was guilty just as Adam was.
Therefore, we had no right to expect a
priori that Saviour would be offered to
fallen humanity And those who are not
saved in this world by acc, pting the prof
fered mercy, have no right Gas some now
fondly imagine) to expect another ploba-
ton in the world to come-for as the
article of the Ne,O York Observer argued,
if they could do this, they could demand
third probation, and fourth, and so on
ad i,.fnitun,.
We have no right to demand mercy
at amy stage. The very nature of mercy
implies that it may with perfect pro-
priety be withheld; indeed must be with
held until Justice is appeased. If Christ
chooses to step forth and let the sword
fall on Him, then we may be grateful
but if He had not stepped forward, no
one could have complained Just as Satan
cannot complain that Christ did not die
for him.
1t isa very great mistake, therefore,
to suppose Gas our correspondent, indeed
asserts) that the heather have right
to an offer of mercy. They have no claim
at all. And God could, if he had seen
proper, with perfect justice, have shut up
his salvation within the family of Abra-
ham.
1t is exceedingly important to have a
correct view here. Even Christians but
feebly realise the dreadful reality of the
fact that is upon our race; that it is
rasined-obSOJwtely ruined; and that,
more than that, terrible punishment in
the future world awaits it. That is the
situation, and the less sentimentality we
have about it, the better. For people in
our condition to be talking about " ri gifts
is absurd. We have lost everything.
How God will deal with those who never
heard Of Christ, is not the question the
point that we make is that God ONES them
nothing. He can send the gospel to those
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