this method is the one possible way of salvation for men. And doubtless it is the best way of all that God's infinite wisdom and love could devise; for, if there had been any better method, God would certainly have chosen and appointed it instead. To suppose otherwise is to admit a doubt as to God's perfect wisdom and His boundless goodness and mercy. Since then the Almighty and Absolute Ruler of the universe has appointed Christ's sufferings and death on the cross as the one way in which sinners can obtain salvation and remission of their sins (as is evident from the holy Scriptures), it is absolutely certain that this is the best possible and the best conceivable way of salvation which God's infinite wisdom could devise. Who, therefore, among His creatures will venture to dispute the matter with his Creator, and to reject the appointed way of salvation?

It is quite possible that there may be much that is mysterious, much that man's limited intellect cannot fully grasp, about the method of salvation revealed in the holy Scriptures. Therefore an Apostle well says: 'O ¹ the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord?' Yet every thoughtful and intelligent man is able, if for a time he reflects without prejudice, to perceive at least this fact,

that this way of salvation is in accordance with both justice and mercy and is worthy of God, the holy and the merciful. This is not the case with the baseless theories of the philosophers which we have already considered, nor with the ways of salvation taught by the religions of the heathen. These latter are clearly opposed to God's justice and holiness, and they have no power to draw men away from evil and bring them in heart and spirit nearer to God Most Holy. Nor can it be said that the methods by which our Muslim brothers hope to obtain salvation accomplish this change of heart and sanctification of life. But through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, the requirements of both mercy and justice are fully satisfied, and by faith in the Lamb of God, ¹ who taketh away the sin of the world, the true believers inmost heart and outward walk are purified and rightly directed. For we learn from holy Scripture that God did not forgive men's sins until Jesus Christ the righteous ² had freely offered His own life as a ransom ³ for sinners, had borne our sins in His own body on the tree, ⁴ and had made a full atonement for the sins of the whole ⁵ world. In this way, therefore, the demands of divine justice are so completely satisfied that, when God for Christ's sake forgives the sins of all those who truly believe in Christ and accept the salvation gained for them by