Book of Books
91
of a physician. They can only understand the depth to which they have
fallen, by beholding the infinite sacrifice that has been made by Jesus
Christ, to lift them out of their degradation.
There are but few who have an appreciation of the grievous char-
acter of sin, and who comprehend the greatness of the ruin that has
resulted from the transgression of God’s law. By examining the won-
derful plan of redemption to restore the sinner to the moral image of
God, we see that the only means for man’s deliverance was wrought
out by the self-sacrifice, and the unparalleled condescension and love
of the Son of God. He alone had the strength to fight the battles with
the great adversary of God and man, and, as our substitute and surety,
he has given power to those who lay hold of him by faith, to become
victors in his name, and through his merits.
We can see in the cross of Calvary what it has cost the Son of God
to bring salvation to a fallen race. As the sacrifice in behalf of man was
complete, so the restoration of man from the defilement of sin must be
thorough and complete. The law of God has been given to us, that we
may have rules to govern our conduct. There is no act of wickedness
that the law will excuse; there is no unrighteousness that will escape
its condemnation. The life of Christ is a perfect fulfillment of every
precept of this law. He says, “I have kept my Father’s commandments.”
[
John 15:10
.] The knowledge of the law would condemn the sinner,
and crush hope from his breast, if he did not see Jesus as his substitute
and surety, ready to pardon his transgression, and to forgive his sin.
When, through faith in Jesus Christ, man does according to the very
best of his ability, and seeks to keep the way of the Lord by obedience
to the ten commandments, the perfection of Christ is imputed to cover
[113]
the transgression of the repentant and obedient soul.
There will be an effort made on the part of many pretended friends
of education to divorce religion from the sciences, in our schools. They
would spare no pains or expense to impart secular knowledge; but they
would not mingle with it a knowledge of what God has revealed as
constituting perfection of character. And yet a training in the truth of
God would develop the mind, and impart secular knowledge as well;
for the very foundation of true education is in the fear of the Lord. Says
the psalmist, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The
living oracles of God reveal the deceptions of the father of lies. Who
of our youth can know anything of what is truth, in comparison with