"The LORD Is Known By HIS Judgment Which HE Executes."

The most matchless exhibition of mercy--

and the most dreadful exhibition of holy wrath!
(Archibald Brown, "HIGGAION" 1873)

"The LORD is known by the judgment 
which HE executes." Psalm 9:16

If you desire to see the most dreadful 

specimen of GOD'S wrath, I ask you to come 

with me now, to a place called Calvary. 

I want you to gather together on that little spot 

just outside the city, and see such a sight as 

Moses never saw when he beheld the bush 

burning. I want you to see on Calvary, 

the LORD making HIMSELF known 

by the judgment which HE executes.

Who is that upon the tree in agonies 

and blood? The answer is, JEHOVAH'S SON! 

What, HIS beloved SON? Yes, HIS beloved 

and only SON. But mark HIS agony. 

Do you see that ashen face, furrowed 

deep, turned up to Heaven? Do you hear 

that anguished cry that seems to pierce 

the clouds, 

'MY GOD, MY GOD, why have YOU 
forsaken ME?' (Matthew 27:46)

When the LORD looked at the adorable 

JESUS, HE saw in HIM not only HIS own SON--

but the sinner's substitute. 

HE saw on HIM my accursed sins--

HE saw yours also! And oh, 

solemn truth, although the Substitute 

was HIS own SON, HE would not, 

HE could not spare the blow! 

That heaving bosom of HIS beloved SON, 

was made the sheath of the sword 

of HIS inflexible justice! 
GOD must undeify HIMSELF, 

before HE can wink at sin, or fail 

in the execution of HIS threatened 

wrath against iniquity. HE must cease 

to be the HOLY ONE, before mercy can 

ride rough-shod over justice and truth. 

But righteousness and mercy, truth and 

peace all meet in the sin-atoning sacrifice.

'The LORD is known by HIS judgment 
which HE executes.' 

Above all, by HIS judgment of sin at Calvary!

Oh, am I speaking to any who imagine 

sin to be a trifle? I beg you to measure 

sin by the woes of CHRIST! 

If you think that iniquity is but a small 

thing, understand that iniquity can only be 

understood as it is measured by the agonies 

of a dying GOD.  Probe those wounds--

and fathom that depth of anguish if you can. 

Tell me how hot the fire burned within that 

loving heart; and when you have told me that--

you have told me how much GOD hates sin!

While Calvary is the most 

matchless exhibition of mercy--

it is also the most dreadful 

exhibition of holy wrath! 

In one and the same person, and 

at one and the same time--

there is illimitable love to the sinner, 

and there is illimitable hatred to his sin. 

Go to Calvary, not to Sinai, to learn how 

much GOD abhors this accursed thing, sin!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

You may want to read the whole of Archibald Brown's superb sermon, 
"HIGGAION" 
This is one of the most insightful and powerful sermons we have read.