IN CHRIST GOD'S LOVE AND JUSTICE MET. God cannot part with His justice even to express His love; and His justice shines equally with His grace in the present and eternal salvation of our souls. He gave His Son for our substitute, He appointed Him to our surety, and punished Him in our stead. He justly condemned Him to die, though guiltless, because our sins were imputed to Him; and He justly raised Him from the dead, because our sins had been expiated by Him. His work was perfect, therefore His deliverance was just. He is a just God, and therefore never will exact the same debt again of the sinner, which was already paid by his surety; nor condemn him for that for which his substitute atoned. His justice will shine in our final acquittal, and be eternally honoured in our everlasting salvation. He drew the plan of salvation, sent His Son to execute it; gives His Spirit to put us in possession of the blessing, and at last receives us to Himself, of purest grace. "He saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

For Meditation:
Mystery of redemption this -
All my sins on Christ were laid;
Mine offence was reckoned His;
He the great atonement made!
Here His justice He displays,
Here He saves me by His grace.