consequences, and choose the pleasures of sin for a season, and refuse to submit to the terms of the gospel?
2. Jesus Christ is possessed of all needed qualifications to the work of mediator. In order rightly to estimate this sentiment, it is necessary to consider briefly what it is to be a mediator, and what the Lord Jesus Christ had to do as mediator between God and man. A mediator is one who stands between parties at variance to bring about a reconciliation, and to do it in such a way as will imply no dishonor upon him who received the injury, or against whom the offense was committed. Now, Christ comes forward as mediator between a rebel world and the holy and righteous government of God. He stands in the sinner's place, and the sin, the accumulated sin of a world, is imputed to him; and what is to be done? Will he plead the harmlessness of the offense? will he take the sinner's part in this way? will he attempt to lay aside any of the claims of God's law and government? &c. What, then, must be done? Shall the sinner be condemned to irretrievable ruin? An atonement must be made for sin-a provision must be found which will answer all the ends of public justice, and secure all the principles of divine government, while the repenting and believing sinner is fully and forever pardoned. And what was that atonement? Read the transactions of Bethlehem, of Gethsemane, and of Calvary.
Now, the Lord Jesus Christ is possessed of all the needed qualifications to fulfil the office of mediator. He is one nearly related to both parties. He is one who never participated in the sinner's offense; though he clothed himself in our nature with all its sinless in-
