Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-03-14
The Atouement.
BY Hey. A. A. Wallace


DrleI synoPsls-the doctrine OF
the atenement, oft as it has been
repeated is still new song in the
Christian heart. Simple as 1t is,
upon ii is based the hope OF life.
The cross with its dying Jesus, the
inspiration of poet and painter, is
the pivot of humans destiny. If
men are saved ii is because they
are cleansed in the blood of Christ.
If they are lost, it is because they
have spurned it. Drop the cross
from the record of events and his
tory loses its centre. Cast it out of
the sermon and preaching becomes
vain and powerless. Take it from
life, and religion dwindles into pre-
tense. But with the cross and with
it alone man is both blessed and
rich. Destroy if you will, art, lit
erature, science and philosophy
take even friendship and property,
but leave US the story of the Savior
of mankind 1t is old, yet new;
simple and yet inspiriting-an ever
present joy and comfort Let us.
therefore, continued Mr.. Wallace
approach the discussion Of our
theme reverently, that We may
get therefrom view of Christ as a
personal Savior, but before enter
ing upon it, let us briefly consider
mans need of an atonement 10th
as many are to admit it, man is a
sinner. Having marred the divine
image in which he was created, he
is no longer the pure and noble be-
ing that in Eden stood face to face
to God and communed with him in
love. His intellect, bestowed fol
God-like thought, has been debssed
by dwelling on that which is low
and grovelling: his imagination
given to soar in realms of purity
has been dwarfed to conjure vile
suggestions: his memory, impaired
to register Gods wonderful dolngs
has been converted into a reminder
of that which is degenerate; his will
conferred to enable HIM to keep the
path of loyalty and virtue, has been
diverted from its aim and serves tc
assist him in following and pleas
ing himself, and as a consequence
if not rescued from his impending
fate, he must be made to suffer the
dreadful and deathly effect of hi:
condition. Gods justice inten
SITES this need. Has laws mus
be enforced or God must cease Il
rule. Thus, whether we will o.
not we are driven to the conclusion
that if man is to be saved, a thirt
party must take his place and beal
the penalty of his transgresslon
Let us now look into the nature o
this atonement. For what die
Christ die? Some have said in re
ply to this question that his deatf
was to manifest bright and per
feet example of patience. Other:
have regarded it as the death of ;
martyr for truth. Again, Others
| look upon it as an exhibition o
self-denial. And still others as in
tended to display Gods righteous
ness. But as against all such con
ceptions, taken singly there stand
out clearly in Gods word the viev
that Christ died first of all TO
mans sin. His chief object il
going up to Jerusalem for the las
time was not to become an example
of patience or a martyr for truth
or to lead his followers to self
denial, or exhibit the righteousness
|of God. Irue, in going as he di'
to the cross, he did all these, never
theless they did not, either separ
ately Or as whole, constitute hi
entire purpose. He went ther
mainly to take humanity's plac
and be offered sacrifice for sin
to redeem mankind from the penal
ty and curse of broken law-t
shed his blood for that purpose
bear in his own body the trans
gressions of the world and open u
) a way of return to God. Let us, il
} the next place, continued Mr.. Wal
lace, attend to the enumeration c
some of the practical results of ac
cepting this view of the atonemen,
First, it reveals mans condition
If it required the death of God
son to atone for transgressien with
out it that condition had been sa
, indeed. 1t is popular to spea
lightly of sin, but in the light {
, Christ's atoning sacrifice it is il
vested with terrible significance
In the second, it brings to view, a
nothing else does or can-the tran:
cending worth of Il soul in God
| eye. A still further result is real
ization of the Fathers aboundin
love Gods love is manifested i
: all mis- dealings, His mercy is man
refuge, but 1t shines forth in il
highest and brightest splendo
! from the cross. Why then not az
cept of Gods preferred love i
Christ? Why not take Jesus as
personal Savior? The sinner ma
have correct views of the atom
! ment ; he may look upon it as
sacrifice for sin he may eve
realize the high estimate placed b
the Almighty on human souls, b,