How to be Happy, What the Remedy is which alone can afford Relief to an Agitated Conscience

2.  Now, as the principal cause of the distress is a sense of God's displeasure, it is evident that no relief can be experienced until the anxious individual perceives some means by which God can be appeased.  

This is effected solely through Christ's atonement.  The term atonement signifies that satisfaction has been rendered to God for man's transgressions.  

God is often represented as being angry in consequence of our sins.  We are, however, not to consider His anger as an emotion similar to that which exists in a frail creature.

By His anger we are to understand the exercise of His vindictive justice in punishing sin.  Hence the atonement is that ransom which the justice of God requires in order that the guilty may be honourably pardoned.

And what is it that can be a ransom or satisfaction to God as a righteous judge?

It is clear that it must be something in respect to whcih the law is not tarnished when the transgressor is spared.

There can be no satisfaction unless the requirements of the law  are fully answered and unless its threatenings for transgressions are fully executed.

What then is the satisfaction?

It is the complete obedience and sufferings of Christ as our substitute.

The greatness of God and the greatness of sin require a greatness of sacrifice.  But since the Son of God, in the nature of man, offered Himself for us to God, this is a sacrifice which our enlightened reason commends even when we have the most elevated notions of the Divine character, and the liveliest apprehension of our own demerit.