November 1928
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
645
The Christ of Calvary ERE are the concessions of a Unitarian on the great truth of Christ’s atonement. ¿¡Thomas Starr King said: “The diJcfrme'of vicarious atonement is embodied by the holiest memories, as it has been consecrated by the loftiest talent of Christendom. It fired the fierce eloquence of Tertullian in
Within the narrow limits of a few hours, the Christ of Calvary experienced every form of human weakness and infernal wickedness—ingratitude, desertion, injury, in§ult—physical and mental anguish indescribable, that culminated in the most ignominious death known among Jews or Gentiles. The spotless Son of God was seized in the night, dragged from court to court, arrayed in an old robe, :with a thorn crown on His head, insulted, slapped, beaten, spit upon, compelled to carry His own cross until He fell, nailed to the tree, hung between two malefactors, God-forsaken. Every member of His body suffered cruel torture. His head was wounded by thorns, His face spit upon, cuffed, marred, the hair plucked off. His body was mangled with scourging, stripped, covered with a cloak
> the early Church, and gushed in honied periods from the lips of Chrysostom; it enlisted the life long zeal of Athanasius to keep it pure; the sublimity of it fired every power, and commanded all the resources of the tnighty soul of Augustine; the learning of Jerome, and the energy of Ambrose were committed to its defence; it was the text for the subtle eye and analytic thought of
Aquinas; it was the pillar of Lu ther’s sdtil, toiling for man ; it was shaped into intellectual propor tions and systematic symmetry by the iron logic of. Calvin; it in spired the beautiful humility of Feneldn;, it fostered the devotion and sqj^sacrifice of O b e r 1 i n ; flowed like molten metal into the rigid forms of Edwards’ intellect, and kindled the deep and steady rapture of Wesley’s heart. All the great enterprises of Christian his tory have been born from the in fluence, immediate or r e m o t e , which the vicarious theory of re demption has expressed upon the hedrt and mind of humanity.” Ffancis Turretin speaks of the atonement as the chief part of our salvation, the anchor of faith, the refuge of hope, the rule of char ity, . the true foundation of the Christian religion, and the richest treasure of the Christian Church. He further remarks: “So long as this doctrine is maintained in its integrity, Christianity itself and the peace and blessedness of all who believe in Christ are beyond
of scorn. His arms and legs were cramped with pain. His hands were pierced by cruel nails. His feet were likewise torn with spikes. His side was pierced. His tongue was forced to taste vinegar and gall. His back was given to the smiters. His heart was broken. What did this all mean? Was this a martyr’s death, as some are now telling us? Contemplate that cross prayerfully and we must say with Bishop Hall in his fine inter pretation of Calvary— “Seest thou thy S a v i o u r hanging on the cross? All who a c c e p t «H im . hang there with Him. The members take the same lot as the head. Every believer is a limb of that body; therefore, how can he but die with Him and in Him? That real union, then, which is betwixt Christ and us, makes the cross or any passion of Christ’s ours; so the thorns pierced our heads, the siourges blooded our backs, the nails wounded our hands and feet, and the spear gored our- sides and hearts; by vir tue whereof we receive justifica
the teach of danger; but if it is reflected, or any way impaired, the whole structure of the Christian faith must sink into decay and ruin.” He who knows not the Christ of Calvary knows not God, and he who does not thus know, knows not any thing that is worth knowing. Adolph Saphir says: “To knbiv Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, is not the minimum of knowledge, but the maximum of knowledge . . . it is riot to know little, but to know all; here is not a descent from a loftier region, but an elevation to the high est sanctuary. In Jesus Christ and Him crucified all doc trines, all God s teachings, and man’s experiences, cul- triittate; and from Jesus Christ and Him crucified all duties,- all works, all ministries are to culminate and to be evolved.”
tion from our sins, and true mortification of our corrup tions. Every believer, therefore, is dead already for his sins in his Saviour; he need not fear that he shall die again.” “He suffered in our stead; He saved His people thus. The curse that fell upon His head Was due by right to us. The storm that bowed His blessed head Is hushed forever now,
And rest divine is mine instead^ While glory crowns His brow.”
“Be Ye Thankful” T HIS exhortation of three words in Col 3:15 is strangely Connected with the words: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Here is a hint as to the
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