Man had ruined himself without cause, and forfeited all claims to the favour and mercy of his almighty Maker, and justly incurred the penalty of the law, and the wages of sin, which is death. Howbeit, as God had created man for his own glory, he was not willing that any should perish without hope; that is, without an overture of mercy and salvation. But this overture could not be made, consistently, without an adequate atonement for human guilt. God’s law was broken, and his justice required that it should be made honourable. This could not be done by fallen man himself, for he was without strength. Hence God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, and according to his abundant mercy, laid the wondrous plan of salvation as exhibited in the Gospel. The groundwork of this plan is the atonement of Jesus Christ.

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