On the Atonement and Intercession of Jesus Christ. By Rev. William Symington [pp. 201-233]

Symington on the dltonement.
RESURRECTION AND INTERCESSION OF CHRIST-FROM THE
WORK OF THE SPIRIT-FROM THE LIMITED APPLICATION AND
REVELATION OF THE ATONEMENT-FROM THE ABSURD CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONTRARY SUPPOSITION-AND FROM EXPRESS TESTIMONIES OF SCRIPTURE. He then considers and
answers the objections to this opinion, derived from its being
derogatory to the honour of the Saviour-from its supposing
a redundancy of merit from the universal offer of the gospel-from universal terms used in scripture-and from the
possibility of some perishing for whom Christ died.
Whether on this much disputed point the arguments in
favour of a definite or general atonement preponderate, will
be differently decided by readers according to their respective prepossessions. But for ourselves, we are of opinion,
that the author has placed the subject on the old Calvinistic
ground, as particular redemption is known to have been
one of the doctrines in which almost all old Calvinists
were agreed, and was one of the five points disputed between
the Calvinists and Arminians, and decided in the synod of
Dbrt. It may, however, be admitted, that where there is an
agreement respecting the vicarious nature of the atonement,
and in the belief of the doctrine of election, the controversy
must be rather verbal than real; for both sides hold the intrinsic sufficiency of the atonement, and both maintain that it
was the design of the Father in giving his Son, and the design of the Son in dying, to save only those chosen in him
before the world was. Wherein then is the difference, except in the proper mode of expressing our views? But we
can see no advantage from representing the atonement to be
universal; and when it is said to have been made as much
for one man as another, the language is certainly inconsistent
with the other parts of the Calvinistic system, and furnishes
strong ground on which both the Arminians and Universalists can erect their batteries to subvert it.
After discussing the extent of the atonement pretty fully,
Mr. Symington devotes one section to the consideration of
its results, which he makes to be the following: IT ILLUSTRATES THE CHARACTER OF GOD-VINDICATES RHIS MORAL GOVERNMENT-DEiVtONSTRATES THE EVIL OF SINSECURES FOR ITS OBJECTS PERFECT AND ETERNAL SALVATION-OPENS A WAY FOR THE EXERCISE OF DIVINE MERCY,
AND ENCOURAGES SINNERS TO RELY ON THE MERCY OF GOD,
A,ND AWAKENS GRATEFUL EMOTIONS IN THE PIOUS-AFFECTS
THE DIVINE DISPENSATIONS TO OUR WORLD -and FURNISHES
1836.']
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