and he had to die, or pay the wages of death. He could not pay the
penalty and live; so he wanted a substitute. Every man had sinned, and
could not be a substitute for his fellow; but Christ was sinless, and
could become the substitute for man; and He has become that
substitute, because He has died in the room and stead of man to
satisfy the law. Then the question for each and every one to answer
is, whether they will love Him and serve Him who has died to redeem
them by His precious Blood.
In Leviticus xvii. 11, we read: "For the life of the flesh is in the
blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement
for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the
soul." There may be some who are saying, Why does God demand blood?
Some one said to me: "I detest your God; He demands blood. I don't
believe in such a God; for my God is merciful to all." I want to say,
My God is full of mercy! But don't be so blind as to believe that God
is not just, and that He has not got a government. Suppose Queen
Victoria didn't like any man to be deprived of his liberty, and she
threw all her prisons open, and was so merciful that she could not
bear any one to suffer for guilt, how long would she hold the sceptre?
how long would she rule this empire? Not twenty-four hours. Those very
men who cry out about God being merciful would say: "We don't want
such a Queen."