otherwise He cannot represent us and be one of us, the Head of the human race, and we cannot feel convinced that He sympathizes with us, understands us, loves us. He must therefore both be higher in nature and dignity than are the men whom He saves, and yet He must share their nature in some way. He must be free from sin, and must render perfect obedience to all the Law of God. This is what Reason itself tells us must be the case, if there be a Saviour for men. If there be no such Saviour, then mankind is lost, has no hope, and can never attain to the state of holiness and happiness for which all men naturally yearn.

But is there such a Saviour to be found? When we turn to the Bible we find that there is: that the Old Testament contains the promise of His coming, and the New Testament tells us how He came. Prophets and Apostles have alike borne witness to Him, the true and only Saviour from sin, the Saviour who has offered to God a perfect propitiation and atonement for the sins of the whole world (1 John ii. 1, 2), and who is thus able to obtain pardon for transgressors. This Saviour is the Lord Jesus Christ, who by His greatness and holiness, His perfect obedience even unto death, has borne the sin of the world, and has become the one Mediator for all men. He has made Atonement and has reconciled man to the Holy and Righteous God, having obtained eternal salvation for all who truly believe in Him. Therefore He offers to all men forgiveness of sin and eternal joy.

Hence with thankful hearts we join our voice with the Apostle's and say: "Unto the King eternal, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever" (I Tim. i. 17). For He, the Living, the Loving, the Most Merciful God, has, of His infinite love and mercy, offered to us guilty sinners so great a redemption and such a glorious salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER IV

THE WAY IN WHICH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS WROUGHT OUT SALVATION FOR ALL MEN

Now, invoking and relying upon the guidance and blessing of Almighty God, we proceed to explain in what manner the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the teaching of both the Old Testament and the New, has wrought out salvation for mankind. There may be much in God’s marvellous plan of salvation which may transcend our finite reason, and it is clear that we cannot know anything of His Divine Purpose except what he has been pleased to reveal to us. Yet the fact that He has given us reason shows us that He wishes us to use it to His glory. And, as He has graciously disclosed to us the method of salvation, it is evident that He wishes us to reflect upon it with reverence and to understand it (1 Thess. v. 21), as far as finite creatures can. Nor does our salvation depend upon the keenness of our intellect, but upon the reality of our faith in the Saviour of the world.

That the Most High, out of the fullness of His love and mercy, has vouchsafed to provide salvation for sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ is clearly taught in the New Testament (for instance in Luke xix. 10; John iii. 16; 2 Cor. v. 19, 21; 1 Tim. i. 15; 1 Pet. ii. 21-24; 1 John ii. 12; iv. 9, 10). The fact that this way of salvation has thus been provided is thus evident. We must now endeavour to explain how salvation can be obtained through Christ, and how it is that such high titles are given Him in these verses and elsewhere. We shall thus in some measure understand His true Nature and Dignity, and learn how He satisfies the conditions mentioned at the end of Chapter III.