“The sacrifice of Calvary is the source of praise” by Hugh Martin

“The marvel is how poor guilty slaves like us can ever be brought into this position. Says the apostle, ‘They come into it, they are brought into it, by Christ tasting death for each of them,’ drinking for each one of them a cup of death and expiation, being thus made perfect through suffering as the captain of salvation, in whom they are as free from the bond of guilt as He is — for He has, in bearing it Himself, broken it from off Himself, and broken it as much from off them, seeing that He never wore it for Himself, but only as in and for them with whom He became one- with whom He became one just in order to sanctify, separate, deliver, and purge or emancipate them from it.

Deep, therefore, and most real and blessed, is their brotherhood, their fellowship, their oneness and communion. And as He, emerging from the furnace of His Father’s wrath, with the anger all past and His Father comforting Him, bringeth forth with Him likewise His believing people, with the anger as completely removed from them (for it was precisely and wholly and alone their deserved wrath He bore) – bringeth them forth altogether free from anger and without even the smell of fire having passed upon their garments, He and His people are brethren in gratitude and glorying, in joy and praise.

One Spirit and one song animate them both. The sons of the adoption join with the Eternal Son. For the Eternal Son, clothing them with His merit and peace, animating them with His words and Spirit, leads the song of the sons of the adoption. And in the midst of the church the living head, in His preeminence, singeth praise unto the Father.

In one word, the cross of Christ is the place of song: the sacrifice of Calvary is the source of praise: the risen Redeemer is the model, the leader, the fountain of all our psalms of joy.”

–Hugh Martin, “Silence Between Heaven and Earth Broken,” Union with Christ: Sermons of Hugh Martin, eds. Matthew J. Hyde and Catherine E. Hyde (Glasgow, Scotland: Free Presbyterian Publications, 2024), 56-57. Martin is preaching on Hebrews 2:12.