Once when I was in the vestry an Irishman came to see me. Pat began by making a bow and saying,
"Now, your Riverence, I have come to ax you a question."
"Oh!" said I, "Pat, I am not a Riverence, but what is your question?"
"Just this: God is just, and if He be just, must punish my sins. I deserve to be punished. If He is a just God, He ought to punish me; yet you say God is merciful and will forgive sins. I cannot see how that is right; He has no right to do that. He ought to be just, and punish those who deserve it. Tell me how you make out that God can be just and yet be merciful."
"That is through the blood of Christ."
"Yes, that is exactly what my priest said; you are both in agreement there. But he said a good deal besides that I did not understand, and that short answer does not satisfy me. I want to know how it is that the blood of Jesus Christ enables God to be righteous and just, and yet at the same time to be merciful."
Then I saw what he wanted to know, and explained the plan of salvation thus: "Now, Pat, suppose you had been killing a man, and the judge had said, 'That Irishman must be hanged?'
"But, Pat, suppose I was very fond of you, can you see any way by which I could save you from being hanged,"
"No, sir; I cannot."
"Then suppose I went to the very highest judicial authorities of the land, and said, " 'Please, sirs, I am very fond of this Irishman. I think the judge was quite right saying that he must be hanged, but let me be hanged instead, and you will then carry out the law.' Now they could not agree to my proposal; but suppose they could— and God can, for He has greater power than all kings and queens— and suppose they should have me hanged instead of you, do you think the policemen would take you up afterward?"
"No, I should think not," he at once said; "they would not meddle with me; but if they did I should say, " 'What are ye doing? Did not that gentleman condescend to be hanged for me! Let me alone; shure, you don't want to hang two people for the same thing, do ye?"
"Ah, Pat, my friend," said I, "you have hit it exactly; that is the way whereby we are saved! God must punish sin. Christ said, 'Punish Me instead of the sinner,' and God did. God laid on His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the whole burden of our sins, and all their punishment and chastisement: and now that Christ is punished instead of us, God would not be just if He were to punish any sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. If thou believest in Jesus Christ, the well-beloved and only begotten Son of God, thou art saved, and thou mayest go on thy rejoicing and full of hope."
"Faith," said the man clapping his hands, "that's the gospel! Pat is safe now; with all his sins about him, he'll trust in the Man who died for him, and so shall be saved by His sacrifice."