"Yes, he has ransomed us and become the way whereby we may return to our heavenly Father, whom we have offended. There can be no real comparison between the case I have given you and the abounding love and goodness of our Saviour, because, in the first case, I only referred to the well-being of Edward and his family, and the benefits to them in this world, while the blessings we may receive through the redemption of Christ, which will be hereafter explained, will last through all eternity. "But I hope by this illustration you may be led to view the wonderful love of our heavenly Father toward our guilty race. Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, says he did this 'according to the good pleasure of his will.' "In some lessons which we have gone over, we have explained to you that when God created the world, he made his whole plan or decree concerning it; and, of course, the system of redemption, as a whole and in its minute details and application, was a part of it. Those savingly interested in this plan he calls elect. Edward's uncle could not know, beforehand, whether any of his relatives would accept his kind offer. But if he had possessed the power of foreknowledge, they would have been equally free to accept his offer. "But, Walter, can you tell me what this new covenant is called?" "The covenant of grace." "What was the object of it? You may use your own words." "To deliver men from their wretched condition, just as Edward's uncle intended to deliver him and his family from their poverty and distress." "Yes, and more than this; God offered to raise them to a seat at his right hand, and to the glorious privileges of the sons of God. How can he do this, Helen?" "Through Christ, who died for us." "Yes, through the sacrifice of his dear Son, who offered to be our Redeemer." "Do all gladly accept this salvation?" Walter held down his head as he softly answered, "No, sir." "No, many poor guilty sinners would do so if they could earn the right to this happy home. Some do, indeed, think they earn it by outwardly conforming to his requirements, while their hearts are alienated from him; others by loudly professing to be his friends, and to be very zealous in his cause; while still others are so deluded that they lie upon beds of thorns, or scourge themselves with small cords, or go on painful pilgrimages, wearing small stones in their shoes. But all these methods cannot avail them; the salvation is free, without money and without price." CHAPTER XXI. CHRIST THE REDEEMER; OR, THE PARDONED REBELS. QUESTION XXI. _Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?_ ANSWER. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man, in two distinct natures and one person, forever. ——————