, and descending from the throne of infinite
majesty, to assume the nature, and expiate the guilt of a ruined
race;--and we are struck with the appropriateness of all the attending
circumstances. The splendid ceremonials of the Jewish ritual, and the
raptured songs of prophets and of angels were well employed to prepare
the way for the visible manifestation of Deity among men. The
annunciation of the divine nature of the Redeemer must, therefore, be an
essential part of _the preaching of the cross_.

Equally indispensable is a decided testimony to that perfect _atonement
for sin_, which was made by this great offering. Here is the only
foundation of human hope. This was the grand object accomplished by the
Saviour's sufferings. Thus was completely solved the mysterious problem,
which all created intelligences had deemed inexplicable--how sin could
be remitted, without infringing the rights and tarnishing the honour of
the divine government--and how the guilty could be rescued from wrath,
without a forfeiture of the divine veracity. Never indeed was the divine
law so completely vindicated, or the claims of justice so awfully
asserted, as when the Lawgiver offered himself as a ransom. And no other
possible manifestation of the malignity and atrocity of sin, of the
divine abhorrence of all iniquity, and, at the same time, of the
exhaustless treasures of redeeming mercy, could equal that which was
witnessed on Calvary. As, therefore, Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so is the cross to be held up now, by its heralds, to a
perishing world. Its atoning sacrifice is to be proclaimed, and its
purchased blessings offered to lost sinners, as their only hope--their
only remedy.

Another important part of _the preaching of the cross_ consists in a
full disclosure of _the entire depravity and helplessness of our fallen
nature_. This doctrine lies at the foundation of Christianity. It is
from the corruption of our race, the dominion of spiritual death, and
the actual sentence of condemnation, that the necessity arises for so
_great salvation_. If hope could have been afforded from any other
source, if there had been any possibility of the sinner's expiating his
own guilt, and restoring himself to the divine favour, the great
Sacrifice would never have been offered. But until men are convinced of
their apostacy and corruption, they will never be persuaded of the truth
and necessity of the great atonement. And until they