It was man’s place, as the offender, to seek a reconciliation. God was under no obligation. But, alas! man had neither the means nor the inclination. What could be done? Hear, O ye heavens! and be astonished! Listen, O earth! and wonder and adore! While man was far from God, an enemy in his heart by wicked works, rushing on in determined hostility to his Maker’s government, and there was no sacrifice found for his sin, and no disposition in him to seek a sacrifice, God sought within himself the adequate and only means of pardon and peace. He found in his own bosom the Lamb for the altar; exhibited him to Israel in the predictions and promises of the Old Testament; and in the fulness of time, sent him forth to expiate sin, by the offering of himself, once for all. “For the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.” God provided a Mediator. Why? Did he fear that the deserved ruin of the human race would dethrone eternal Justice? No. Eternal Justice would have been honored as much in their destruction as in their salvation. The law would have been as fully vindicated in the infliction of its penalty upon the transgressor, as in the reparation of its breach by a vicarious atonement. The glory of the Divine government would have been untarnished, as when the rebel angels were cast down from heaven, and locked up in everlasting darkness. This wondrous provision was not the result of necessity, but the prompting of Infinite Love. Divine Mercy sought to remove the barrier interposed by Divine Justice. The sinner cannot be pardoned, till his Great Substitute has met the demands of the law. There must be a full satisfaction and settlement of its claims, as the only ground on which the rebel can be acquitted. Love is the “Alpha and Omega” of redemption, the love of God to man. Read it in the journey of the Mediator from heaven to earth! Read it in his pilgrimage through the land of sorrow! Behold him “nailed to the shameful tree!” See the blood and water gushing from his side! Hear the sound of the water-spouts, as the floods of wrath rollover him! Then ask the reason. The answer is: “God is love.” “He is not willing that any should perish.” It seemed good in his sight to save his rebel children, whatever it might cost him. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” “Herein is love, not that we loved God”—no; we hated him; we were his sworn, inveterate foes; “but that he loved us”—loved us while we were yet enemies—loved us with an ineffable love; “and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”