THE ATTRACTION OF THE CROSS; DESIGNED TO ILLUSTRATE THE LEADING TRUTHS, OBLIGATIONS, AND HOPES OF CHRISTIANITY. BY GARDINER SPRING, D.D. OF NEW YORK, AMERICA. LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY; Instituted 1799. SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW, AND 65, ST. AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS. [In this edition a few expressions are altered or omitted, to adapt the work still more to English readers.] THE ATTRACTION OF THE CROSS. CHAPTER I. THE NARRATIVE OF THE CROSS. THE story of the cross is related in the Holy Scriptures. They uniformly teach us to look upon Christ's death in a light totally different from that of any other person. They never mention it without emphasis, nor without admiration. When the great Ruler of the world was pleased to accomplish his purposes of mercy toward sinful man, he saw fit to do it in a way that expressed the mysterious fulness of his own eternal nature. God is one in nature, and three in persons. A fundamental article of the Christian religion is, that one of these three Divine persons became incarnate. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." "Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given—and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." "When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." His birth was humble, away from home, and in a manger; but it was announced by angelic voices, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,....for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a SAVIOUR, which is Christ the Lord!" Behold the wonder !—the immortal Deity B |