SERMON VIII.
Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all icisdom and prudence. — Eph. I, 8.
In the context the apostle speaks of the spiritual blessings we have by Christ : he considers them under a threefold reference : — (1.) As they were appointed and prepared for believers in God's decree of election. There was the first stone laid towards this building. (2.) As they were purchased by Christ in the great and wonderful work of redemption. (3.) As conveyed and applied to us in effectual calling, and so brought home to our souls. In all these God gave evident proofs of the riches of his free grace. For (1st,) If he ' chose us to bo holy before the foundations of the world,' nothing anteceded his love ; not in us — for there was nothing in being then ; we were not, and so could do nothing to deserve it — nor in that prospect and foresight which God had of things ; for he could foresee nothing but what was the effect of his free grace : not because holy, but ' that we might he holy and without blame before him in love.' (2dly,) Consider his
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purpose to bring about all this by Christ, still he showed his free grace. For when there was nothing to move him, much to hinder the design of his grace, yet he found out a way to bring this about by Christ. (3dly,) In the effectual application to us, who were ignorant, obstinate, unbelieving, his grace doth more shine forth that he would do all this for creatures so much unworthy. Now, in the application, God discovers two things : — (1.) His abundant favour, or the riches of his grace, ver. 7. That his love, so long hid in his decree, did after- wards overflow in the effects to persons so averse and unworthy. (2.) His excellent wisdom in the text, ' Wherein he hath abounded to us in all wisdom and prudence,'
The only difficulty in the words is, What is this wisdom and pru- dence spoken of? Whether it imply the wisdom of God, or the wis- dom wrought in us by the Spirit in conversion ? Many interpreters go for the last. The former, I suppose, is here meant, which is emi- nently discovered in the mysteries of the gospel : Kom, xi. 33, ' Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! ' Surely it is not meant of wisdom in us ; for how little a portion have we of true and heavenly wisdom. Now, the two words used : luisdom noteth the sublimity of the doctrine of the gospel, and prudence the usefulness of it. As Prov. viii. 12, ' I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,' which showeth there is some distinction between those words. It was wisdom to find out a way of recovering lapsed mankind, and it was prudence to dispose it into so good and convenient order that it might be commodious for our acceptance. If any think it relateth to the effects wrought in us, I am not against it. Christ is wisdom, 1 Cor. i. 24, and ' made wisdom ' to us, 1 Cor. i. 30. These Asiatics, to whom the apostle wrote, gloried in their secular wisdom and curious arts ; now the true wisdom was found in the mysteries of the gospel.
Doct. That in the dispensation of grace by Christ, God hath showed great wisdom and prudence.
When his grace overflowed to us, he showed therein not only his goodness but his wisdom. Now, though we can easily yield to this assertion, yet to make it out needeth more skill. ' The manifold wis- dom of God' is better seen to angels than to us, Eph. iii. 10. They have more orderly understandings ; whereas we are confused and dark. Yet to discover it to you in a few particulars, the grace of the Kedeemer may be considered three ways : —
I. As to the purchase and impetration of it by the incarnation and death of the Son of God.
II. The publication of it in the gospel or covenant of grace.
III. The application of it to particular believers. In all these God hath shown great wisdom.
I. As to the purchase and impetration of grace by the death and incarnation of the Son of God.
1. There is wisdom in this, that in our fallen estate we should not come immediately to God without a mediator and reconciler. God is out of the reach of our commerce, being at such a distance from us, and variance with us. The wise men of the world pitched on such a way, 1 Cor. viii. 5, 6. The heathens saw so far that it was an uncomfortable thing to make their immediate approaches to their
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pupronie Goil. But here is the true God and the true Mediator: ' But to us there is but one God, the Father, of wliom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.' (Jne God, the Father, from whom we derive all graces, to whom we direct all services ; one Lord, Jesus Christ, who convey- eth the graces and benefits to us, and returneth our prayers and acts of obedience to God. This is a mighty relief to our thoughts ; for the apprehensions of the pure Godhead do amaze us and confound us when we come to consider of that glorious and infinite being. As heretofore, before they found out the use of the compass, they only coasted, as loth to venture themselves in the great ocean ; so by Christ we come to God. He is the true Jacob's ladder, John i. 51.