The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-09-25


stand the cry Of the publican, God be
mcrciful q. q. propitlous) To- me, O.
sinner" Underlying the sacrifices Of
The heather. Us the feeling that there
II wrath in God 10 he reckoned with.
Dr. n c. Mabie points out that
heather man. on his way to the temple
with n Md for sacrifice. may not I'M
derstani Just why he offers II. lie
will tell you that his fathers did IL
before him. and hence he does Il. Yet,
II be is questioned further. and Il Is
suggested that 'he blood Of the Kid
o. 10 take the place Of his own death
for his SINS his face will brighten and
he will confess that this Is the thought
Of his heart In the matter. II is true
the heather may have wrong thoughts
Of Cod yet the Scriptures confirm his
feeling that there is. wrath In God
against sin, and that this must be APP
peascd. The cross docs not minimize
the awfulness ~ sin. nor deny Gods
anger against a.; m't, as Professor
Bennry has suid. "The cross is in
scribed God Is love- only because 10 Is
inscribed also. the wages of sin is
DEATH"
God Provides a Covering for Sin.
The glory ~ the Gospel IS, that
while God requires Precipitation, he
himself provides II. As our text de-
clares. Il was God who set forth Christ,
q. O.. In n public way) to be a propi-
tlation through his blood. Hence, there
Is self-propitiatlOn by God In the
cross. His wrath against sin is ef-
dent. hut also his love for sinners, for
what his holiness eXacts. his love pre-
yides Men would say, God Is love
and does not require Precipitation;
but the Bible argues. God is love and
provides a propitiation.' As Romans
as puts II: God commcndeth his love
toward MS I'm that while We were yet
sinners. Christ died for US"
The fact that God provides a prOpi-
tiation makes clear there Is no oppo-
sition between the Father and tho son
In redemption. While Christ loved MS
ard gave Himself. II is also true that
God So loved the world that he gave
his only begotten Son. While we are
amazed at Christs cry Of forsaken-
ness upon the cross, yet we should not
forget the solemn words, at pleased
the Lord 90 bruisc him" and. "Tho Lord
hath laid 90 him the iniquity Of us all"
At what infinite cost 90 the Father was
that bruising
Inc ltuN "a
clares Gods righteousness for the re-
mission of sins that are past, or as the
r. V. has Il. because Of the passing
over OF the sins done aforetime.' This
refers TO the sins committed under
the old covenant before Christ came.
II might have seemed that God was not
angry with tie wicked since he allowed
them TO live and even 10 flourish. The
cross, however, makes clear that he
was regardful of sin and dealt lenlent'
ly with sinners only because Of the
sacrifice yet TO he offered on Calvary.
Moreover, the cross not only looks
backward to vindlcate the righteous
ness of God; il also looks forward
and declares "at this time his
righteousness that he might be just
and iusti6er Of him which believeth
in Jesus" oh, that men understood
the marvel of IL ALL To clear think
Ing. eternal punishment is no mystery
in the dealings Of Il holy God with sin
ners. The amazing mystery Is that
such a God has found a way by which
he can be just and stlll Justify the UNI
godly.
The Experienee Of cowper.