Many years ago the king of a certain country put into effect a rigid law which said that anyone convicted of stealing would have both his eyes put out. It so happened that the king's son broke that particular law and everyone in the kingdom wondered whether the king would deal in strict justice with his son, or be lenient. When faced with this awfil dilemma the king, in compliance with his own statute said, "I have declared that the penalty for being found of thievery is the foss of two eyes. Put out one of his and one of mine" So, the king saw to it that the penalty was carried out and both he and his son lost an eye. Mercy was shown without dishonoring justice.

God's holy law declares "The soul that sinneth shall die." "The wages of sin is death." The Lord's many adopted sons broke the law which demands our death. How can God be just and justify the ungodly? How can God's perfect character remain intact and yet the objects of God's love affowed to live? The Father found the only way whereby He could show mercy to lawbreakers and yet deal in strictest justice. The Lord Jesus came, bore the sins of all His people and died under the wath of God to satisfy divine justice. He died, "the just for the unjust to bring us to God." Now, God saves the objects of His love without any dishonor whatsoever being done to His just and holy character. "Grace reigns through righteousness."