Thus, “by one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”  They are “dead in trespasses and sins,” spiritually dead, and legally dead; dead by the mortal power of sin, and dead by the condemnatory sentence of the law; and helpless as sheep to the slaughter, they are driven fiercely on by the ministers of wrath to the all-devouring grave and the lake of fire!

But is there no mercy?  Is there no means of salvation?  Hark! amid all this prelude of wrath and ruin, comes a still small voice, saying:  “Much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

II.  This brings us to our second topic, man’s gracious recovery to the favor of his offended God.

I know not how to present to you this glorious work, better than by the following figure.  Suppose a vast graveyard, surrounded by a lofty wall, with only one entrance, which is by a massive iron gate, and that is fast bolted.  Within are thousands and millions of human beings, of all ages and classes, by one epidemic disease bending to the grave.  The graves yawn to swallow them, and they must all perish.  There is no balm to relieve, no physician there.  Such is the condition of man as a sinner.  All have sinned; and it is written, “The soul that sinneth shall die.”  But while the unhappy race lay in that dismal prison, Mercy came and stood at the gate, and wept over the melancholy scene, exclaiming—­“Oh, that I might enter!  I would bind up their wounds; I would relieve their sorrows; I would save their souls!” An embassy of angels, commissioned from the court of heaven to some other world, paused at the sight, and heaven forgave that pause.  Seeing Mercy standing there, they cried:—­“Mercy! canst thou not enter?  Canst thou look upon that scene and not pity?  Canst thou pity, and not relieve?” Mercy replied:  “I can see!” and in her tears she added, “I can pity, but I can not relieve!” “Why canst thou not enter?” inquired the heavenly host.  “Oh!” said Mercy, “Justice has barred the gate against me, and I must not—­can not unbar it!” At this moment, Justice appeared, as if to watch the gate.  The angels asked, “Why wilt thou not suffer Mercy to enter?” He sternly replied:  “The law is broken, and it must be honored!  Die they, or Justice must!” Then appeared a form among the angelic band like unto the Son of God.  Addressing Himself to Justice, He said:  “What are thy demands?” Justice replied:  “My demands are rigid; I must have ignominy for their honor, sickness for their health, death for their life.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission!” “Justice,” said the Son of God, “I accept thy terms!  On me be this wrong!  Let Mercy enter, and stay the carnival of death!” “What pledge dost thou give for the performance of these conditions?” “My word; my oath!” “When wilt thou perform them?” “Four thousand years hence, on the hill of Calvary, without