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HOULSTON AND WRIGHT, 65, PATERNOSTER ROW;
GEORGE HUNT, BIBLE AND TRACT DEPÔT,

32, DUKE STREET, MANCHESTER SQUARE.

1861.

101.1.431

On Justification through the Blood and Righteousness

of a Substitute.

THE first thought to which the mind should be directed in every question respecting Justification, respects THE JUSTIFIER. To whom belongs the right to justify? The answer is very obvious to all who admit the sovereignty and almighty power of God. As there is only one supreme Ruler and Legislator, so there is only One Judge to whom alone it belongeth to justify or to condemn. Every question, therefore, respecting Justification necessarily brings before us the judicial courts of God. The principles of those courts must be determined by God alone. Even to earthly governors we concede the right of establishing their own laws, and appointing the mode of their enforcement. Shall we then accord this title to man, and withhold it from the all-wise and almighty God? Surely no presumption can be greater than for the creature to sit in judgment on the Creator, and to pretend to determine what should, or should not be, the methods of His government. It must be our place reverently to listen to His own exposition of the principles of His own courts, and humbly to thank Him for His goodness in condescending to explain to us what those principles are. As sinners, we can have no claim on God. We have no claim to a revelation that should acquaint us with His

ways.

The judicial principles of the government of God, are, as might be expected, based upon the absolute perfectness of His own holiness. This was fully shown both in the prohibitory and in the mandatory commandments of the Law as given at Sinai. That Law prohibited not only wrong deeds and wrong counsels of the heart, but it went deeper still. It prohibited even wrong desires and wrong tendencies, saying, "Thou shalt not be concupiscent"- that is, thou shalt not

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