LINE 278. Though last created; that for him I spare. LINE 290. Imputed thy merit Faith in the righteousness of the Son of man, as "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God LINE 305. Because thou hast, &c. Through this whole period ending at line 322, the "A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity LINE 341. God shall be all in all. It may not be amiss at the close of these admirable selves a moment's pause for the purpose of taking a short retrospect of the doctrines contained in them. Man in the beginning, is placed in a probationary state, and made the arbiter of his own destiny. By his own fault he forfeits happiness both for himself and for his descendants. But mercy interposes for his restoration. That mercy is represented as perfectly free, as vouchsafed to the most unworthy; to creatures so entirely dead in sin, as to be destitute even of a sense of their need of it, and consequently too stupid ever to ask it. They are also as poor as they are unfeeling, and were it possible that they could affect themselves with a just sense and apprehension of their lapsed condition, have no compensation to offer to their offended Maker, nothing, with which they can satisfy the demands of his justice, in short, no atonement. In this ruinous state of their affairs, and when all hope of reconciliation seems lost for ever, the Son of God voluntarily undertakes for them undertakes to become the Son of Man also, and to suffer in Man's stead the penalty annexed for his transgression. In consequence of this self-substitution Christ becomes the fœderal head of his church, and the sole author of salvation to his people. As Adam's sin was imputed to his posterity, so the faultless obedience. of the second Adam is imputed to all, who, in the great concern of justification, shall renounce their own obedience as imperfect, and therefore incompetent. : The sentence is thus reversed as to all believers, "Death is swallowed up in Victory"-the Saviour presents the redeemed before the throne of the eternal Father, in whose countenance no longer any symptom of displeasure appears against them, but their joy and peace are thenceforth perfect. The general resurrection takes place, the saints are made assessors with Christ in the judgment both of men and angels, the new heaven and earth, the destined habitation of the just, succeed; the Son of God, his whole undertaking accomplished, surrenders the kingdom to his Father, and God becomes All in All. It is easy to see, that among these doctrines there are some, which in modern times have been charged with novelty; but, how new they are, Milton is a witness. END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. W. Mason, Printer, Chichester. |