While preparing to speak to Lake Wylie Christian Assembly tonight, I came across this quote from B.M. Palmer. It requires no commentary.
"There is reserved, however, a more inferior display of Divine perfections
through a method of grace. The law discovers God to us in
the attributes of wisdom, power, holiness, justice and truth. But how
shall Jehovah open to us his infinite heart — disclosing the depths of
its tenderness, his boundless compassion, his inconceivable mercy and
love? To do this, he must look upon the suffering and loss, and find a
surety who shall bear their guilt and die their death under the curse.
But where shall this substitute be found? In vain the challenge went
forth from the august throne in tones which only the offended law
could use, 'Whom shall I send and who shall go for us? Silence
reigned throughout the courts of heaven : for none of the sons of the
morning might adventure the dreadful perils of such a trust — till a
voice sounded forth from the midst of the throne, 'Lo, I come, I delight
to do thy will, oh, my God! yea, thy law is within my heart.'
Psalm 40: 7, 8. Bursting from the secret pavilion, the eternal Word
leaps forth to execute the stern demand. He unclothes himself of light,
and lays aside the garments of praise, and takes upon him the form
of a servant, that he may sound the depths of human woe, and pay
the costly ransom for a guilty soul. By an obedience grander in its
proportions than the aggregate obedience of all the creatures, Christ
vindicates the law's injured majesty; whilst through his grace he brings
out the tenderest affections of the Father as a God of love. Sublime
is that utterance of Scripture, which tells us that God is life; equally
sublime the testimony, which tells us he is light; but grander still, in
the comprehension of them both, is the revelation which tells us God
is Love. To enthrone this grace by the side of law as the Queen
Majesty, the author of grace is made the administrator of law. As
the covering cloud tempered the brightness of God's presence upon
the mercy seat, so forever must the law shine out from the mercy in
which it is embosomed; that obedience may be sweetened — not only
as a debt which conscience pays to duty, but an homage which the heart
pays to love. Thus, the two lines of law and grace by which the Divine
glory streams forth upon the universe, converge upon the person of Jesus
Christ in the administration of his delegated trust as 'the Head over all
things to the Church.' "1
1. John E. Richards, The Historical Birth of the Presbyterian Church in America (Liberty Hill, S.C.: The Liberty Press, 1986) 17-18.