1843 Circular Letter of the Lexington Association

THUS MIGHT WE TRACE every act of the Saviour’s life until we come to the more clear light of the mysterious facts at the period when he should suffer and die. Here, in the solemn transaction of the Saviour’s death we may understand the Son of man goeth as it were determined. But woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. “For of a truth against that Holy Child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

Here are all things, good and bad, working together for the good of them that love God: it was infinite goodness that the Son of God should die for sinners, —it was infinite evil in those that put him to death: it was infinite wisdom and unequaled mercy, displayed in every act of the Saviour’s life, death, and resurrection, and ascension to glory, in behalf of his people. And it was infinite evil in the heart and conduct of his enemies that pursued and persecuted him from his birth to the cross.