A VALUABLE BOOK—JUST PUBLISHED.
By Editor
THE ATONEMENT: AN EXAMINATION OF A REMEDIAL SYSTEM, IN THE LIGHT OF NATURE AND REVELATION.
IT would be impossible to find a subject of greater importance, of grander scope, or of more thrilling interest to every human being than the Atonement. This fact is acknowledged by all Christians, however much they may differ in regard to other doctrines, or in their theories of this. In fact, the Atonement is the gospel. This being the case, a book on that subject, treating it in a candid manner, from a Scriptural stand-point, should be hailed with joy by all lovers of truth. This book is a critical and exhaustive treatise on the plan of salvation as revealed in the Scriptures, showing its harmony with the principles of justice and mercy, its consistency with reason, and its final results as affecting the destiny of the human race. We think that we run no risk in saying that it is by far the most complete work yet published on the subject. It is complete because it considers the Atonement in all its bearings, tracing out all the doctrines which spring from it; and since everything depends on the Atonement, the book is in reality a compendium of Christian doctrine—a Christian system. Although the book is so comprehensive, the points are stated so concisely that it is not bulky, there being just 368 pages. Care has been taken, however, not to condense to such an extent as to make the book difficult of comprehension. We do not see how the great themes which are discussed could be more simplified. The love of God as manifested in the plan of salvation is a mystery that the mind of an angel can never fathom, and it is not to be expected that even the simplest exposition of the Atonement should be understood without the exercise of careful thought; but thought on such a subject elevates one, and brings with it capacity for increased comprehension. The mind expands in the contemplation of so vast a scheme. Such books as this are true educators. That our readers may learn the scope of the book more perfectly than is possible by any brief description, we append the following table of contents:— Part First—An Atonement Consistent with Reason.
Comparison of Nature and Morality.—Nature declares a God—Cannot teach morals—Did not make her own laws—Idea of the eternity of matter unreasonable—Natural laws no standard of right—Difference of penalties and consequences. The Moral System.—Reason calls for a moral government—Necessity of revelation—Infinite justice of God—Human responsibility—The wrong-doer an incompetent judge. Requirements of the Moral System.—§1. Sin ought to be punished—§2. Can the sinner be cleared?—§3. What pardon supposes—§4. What must be done in granting pardon?—§5. Voluntary substitution—§6. Why an atonement is necessary—§7. The sinner must accept, not make, conditions—Rights of subjects—Remarks and questions. Part Second—Atonement as Revealed in the Bible.
Principles of the Divine Government.—Attributes of God—His Law—Its nature—Ten commandments—Objections considered—Distinctions of covenant and law—Conversion—The fourth commandment. Sin and Its Penalty.—Dr. Barnes' View—Remorse of conscience not a penalty—Death the penalty—What is death?—"Punishment" not a specific term—Destruction. Justification Obedience.—Difference of justification and salvation—Righteousness of God in his law—Justification by faith has reference to a future judgment—Gospel a system of "naturalization"—Andrew Fuller on nature of the Atonement. Death of Christ Vicarious.—Substitutionary nature of offerings for sin—Christ's death satisfaction to justice—Justice and mercy meet—Error of authors noticed—Impressive sentiments from Maclaurin and Dobney. The Son of God Died.—Why blood of bulls and goats insufficient—Value of the Atonement in the dignity of the offering—Union of natures in Christ—Methodist Discipline—The Word made flesh—Scripture proofs of the exalted nature of Christ—This divine Being died for man—Value of the law attested by his sacrifice. Doctrine of a Trinity Subversive of the Atonement.—Trinitarians do not believe that the divine nature died—Their sacrifice only human—Distinctive being of the Father and the Son—Self-contradictions of Trinitarians—"The mystery of godliness"—Incarnation of Son of God beyond comprehension. What the Atonement Is.—The Atonement is the work of the priest—Not the death of the offering—Made in the sanctuary—Blotting out of sin—Typical nature of the earthly priesthood, sacrifices, and sanctuary—Love of God provided the sacrifice—Death of Christ makes salvation possible to all. The Judgment.—Judgment of the righteous precedes the resurrection—"Judgment is come" (Rev. 14) before the advent—A warning must be given—Prophecy of Daniel—Sanctuary in Heaven—Days of Noah and last days—Probation ends before the advent—Judgment proves the value of the law. The Scapegoat.—Distinction of sin-offering and scapegoat—Argument of Dr. Edward Beecher—A type of Satan—Binding of the devil—The earth desolated—Sin returned upon the head of its author. The Kingdom of Christ.—Erroneous opinions noticed—To be set up on the earth—Prophecy of Daniel—Saints are now heirs—Mortals cannot inherit the kingdom—Possess it at the advent—The two thrones—Work of the saints in the one thousand years—The meek inherit the earth. Redemption.—Salvation and redemption—1. The redemption of man—the resurrection—Literal, or physical—Importance of the doctrine—A substitute accepted—Life the greatest gift of God—Death an enemy. Redemption—Continued.—The original purpose of the Creator—2. Redemption of the earth—Promises to Abraham—Christ the seed—Believers are joint-heirs—Gentiles made fellow-heirs with Israel—The token or earnest—"The rest that remains," Heb. 4—Various authorities. Conclusion.—The new earth—The promised glory—Beyond our comprehension—All things new—Our need of God's grace to fit us for that glory. Appendix A.—Justification by faith illustrated—Pardon during probation conditional—Death of Christ unconditional—Nature election—No personal or unconditional reprobation—Danger of losing our justification—Chosen "in Christ," not out of him—All by nature children of wrath.
Appendix B.—Christ, Mahomet, or Confucius—No vindication of divine justice in the Koran—Mahomet and Christ compared—Confucius a political reformer—Specimens of Chinese philosophy—Superiority of the gospel. Love of God in Creation. Price, $1.00. Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. By ELD. URIAH SMITH.
THIS work shows the nature of the mistake made in expecting the Lord to come in 1844, which was not an error of time computation, but in the nature of the event to take place, namely, the cleansing of the Sanctuary. The work sheds a flood of light on the Scriptures, especially on the subject of the Atonement. 352 pp. Price, cloth, $1.00. Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. THOUGHTS ON REVELATION, CRITICAL AND PRACTICAL.
By ELD. U. SMITH.
THIS work presents every verse in the book of Revelation, with such remarks as serve to illustrate or explain the meaning of the text. It is a new and harmonious exposition of that important book, and is designed to create an interest in its study. 416 pp. Price, $1.25. Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.