the Rev. W. Turner , Jun. , MA., Lives of the eminent Unitarians

[325] the effects ascribed in Scripture to our Lord's ‘atonement;’ and expresses the result in the following terms:—‘I conclude, therefore, that the sacrifice of Christ was truly and properly, in the highest degree, and far beyond any other, piacular and expiatory, to make atonement for, or to take away sin. Not only to give us an example; not only to assure us of remission, or to procure our Lord a commission to publish the forgiveness of sin, but, moreover, to obtain that forgiveness, by doing what God in his wisdom and goodness judged fit and expedient to be done in order to the forgiveness of sin, and without which he did not think it fit or expedient to grant the forgiveness of sin.’ P. 91. At the same time he denies that this efficacy consisted in any satisfaction to vindictive justice by suffering a vicarious punishment. The blood of Christ is precious in the sight of God, inasmuch as his obedience unto death was the crowning act of a life of pure and perfect holiness; so that, for the sake of it, the Father was pleased to grant, through him, the forgiveness of sins, and a new dispensation of grace; in the same manner and in the same sense as the obedience of Abraham was a reason for bestowing blessings upon his posterity; and as Moses and other good men averted the judgments of God by their prayers and righteousness. P. 102.

Even by those least disposed to favour the notion of a vicarious sacrifice, it may be thought not unreasonable to suppose that the death of Christ, together with all the other actions of his pure and holy life, might be in themselves the motives or reasons why God thought fit to bestow many blessings and favours upon mankind. There are