"The Incarnation is the manifestation of perfect love, but perfect love cannot halt at anything short of the extreme disintegration wrought by the fall. Christ must sacrifice Himself wholly to man, or his love is not sufficient to draw man to him. He must enter into man's joys and man's woes, to meet him at every turn of the winding lane of life. Love is not satisfied till it has made every sacrifice that is in its power to make and no more complete sacrifice can be imagined than that of honor, ease, and finally life. The narrative of Christ's life is, therefore, one of continuous sacrifice, of emptying himself of everything in the overflowing Passion of his love, counting all as nought if only he might catch man's eye and draw him towards himself. "He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Such is reported by the Evangelist to be the account he gave of his mission." * * * "Pain is the deepest thing we have in our nature, and union through pain has always seemed more real and more holy than any other.[A] [Footnote A: "Origin and Development of Religious Beliefs," Vol. II, pp, 305, 307, 330.] _4. The Severity of the Atonement Justified from the Value of Things Purchased by It:_ The severity of the Atonement may be justified if viewed with reference to what it purchased for man, and the effect it was doubtless designed to have in forever fixing the values upon certain great things, in the mind of man. When the plan of redemption is contemplated with reference to what it cost the Christ, then we must have exalted notions ever after of the majesty and Justice of God, for it was to make ample satisfaction to that majesty and Justice of God that the Christ suffered and died; we must have exalted conceptions of the value of that stately fabric known as the moral government of the world, for it was for the preservation of its integrity that the Christ suffered and died; we must hence forth have a higher regard for God's attribute of Mercy, for it was that Mercy might be brought into the earth-scheme of things, and claim her own, that the Christ suffered and died; we must set a higher value even upon physical life hereafter, for it was in order to bring to pass the resurrection of man to physical life, and to make that life immortal, that the Christ suffered and died; new glory must attach hereafter to spiritual life,--perpetual union between soul of man and soul of God,--for to bring to pass that spiritual life, that indissoluble union with God on which it depends for existence, that the Christ suffered and died; we must henceforth have a deeper reverence for the Love of God and the Love of the Christ for man,--and a higher regard for man himself since God so loved him--for it was to give a manifestation of that Love, that the Christ suffered and died.