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

Symington on the./tonement.
AN ETERNAL J THEME OF CONTEMPLATION TO THE WHOLE
UNIVERSE OF MORAL CREATURES.
This concludes what strictly belongs to the atonement, but
the author has very judiciously annexed a Second Part,
containing the fullest and ablest view of the intercession
of Christ, which we have seen. Indeed the subject of
Christ's intercession cannot be separated from his atonement;
for while the latter may be represented by the slaying of the
sacrifice and laying it on the altar, the former is strikingly
typified by the presentation and sprinkling of the blood of
the sin-offering in the most Holy Place, accompanied with
clouds of precious incense. The offering of Christ's body
on the cross would have accomplished nothing, ubless he
had entered with his precious merit into the highest heavens, there to plead the cause of his people. We would particularly recommend this part of the work to the attentive
perusal of the pious; it cannot be read, we think, without
pleasure and profit by any sincere Christian. The topics
which are introduced under this head are such as these; the
Intercession of Christ displays the love of God, and
proves the Divinity of Christ-shows the efficacy of his
death-affords security to the people of God. The discourse is concluded by considering the sin of dishonouring Christ's intercession, and the duty of daily seeking an interest in it.
It is gratifying to learn that the first edition of this work
was all sold in a few days, and a second edition called for,
before the author had the opportunity of revising the work,
or availing himself of the remarks of the reviewers. He
promises, however, "if a third edition be required, to supply
this deficiency." The Christian Instructor of Edinburgh,
which has always been ably conducted, and uniformly appears on the side of orthodoxy and evangelical piety, speaks
of this work in the following terms, "'Mr. S. has accomplished his work in the happiest possible manner. We have
not often read a work which does more credit to its author,
or is better fitted to edify the Church of God. The divine
and the private Christian will alike find their account in
giving it a careful perusal, and, we are mistaken, if there be
many of its readers who will be satisfied with perusing it
only once." The work is also highly commended in the
Presbyterian Review, published in Edinburgh.
To account for the avidity with which this volume was
bought up in Scotland it will be necessary to advert to the
204
[ArtIL