The creation of all things out of nothing, we believe it upon the testimony of the word, but it is too wonderful for us to search it to the bottom ; yea, the framing of the body in the womb, so many different things out of the same seed, as flesh, and bones, and muscles, and in such an order and proportion : Ps. cxxxix. 14, ' I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made : marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knov/eth right well.' If the commonness did not abate our observation, we would wonder at it. So his providence in govern- ing every creature to their proper ends, especially his care over us, and conduct of us. ' Many, 0 Lord, are thy wondrous works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward. They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee : if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered,' Ps. xl. 5. But especially the redemption of mankind is wonderful: 1 Tim. iii. 16, 'And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness : God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.' The mys- teries of the gospel, every time we think of them, should strike admi- ration into our hearts. It could not sink into the head of any creature how to satisfy justice, and to make up the breach between God and us. That a virgin should conceive ; the word be made flesh ; that justice and mercy should so sweetly be brought together, and conspire in the salvation of a lost sinner, all these are wonders ; and when we come to believe them indeed, to draw forth comfort from them, these are wonderful to us !
The law of God is wonderful. Look to the precept or the sanction. Look to the precept. A wonderful purity there : * I have seen an end of all perfection ; but thy law is exceeding broad,' ver. 96 of this psalm. When a child of God sees how the law reacheth every thought, every motion, every operation of his soul, what wonderful purity is here! So a marvellous equity : ' The law is holy, just, and good;' and ' the commandment is good/ Kom. vii. 4. God hath given us such a law, if a man were tree, yet, to ennoble his nature and live happily, he would choose such a rule. Then to see such wise precepts so ordered that in ten words God should comprise the whole duty of man : Deut. iv. 6, ' Keep, therefore, and do them ; for this is your wisdom, and your understanding in the sight of the nations.' First, God hath provided in his law respects to himself. First the law pro- vides for God, then for the creature. In the first commandment, * Thou shalt have no other gods before me ; ' there is the ol)ject of worship. In the second, * Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven image,' (fee, the means of worship. Then the manner of worship in the third, ' Tliou shalt not take the name of God in vain.' Tiien the
2G2 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXVIII.
time of worslnp iu the Iburtli, ' Kemember to keep holy the Sabbath day/ See how the Lord hath built up his law. Then as to men, see first God provides for those viceroys that do represent the great God, as our parents natural and civil, ' Honour thy father and thy mother,' &c. ; then our ordinary neighbour ; and there first for his life, and then for his relations, ' Thou shaft not kill, shalt not commit adultery;' then for his goods, ' Thou shalt not steal ;' then for his good name. When a man sees the law of God in all its explications, when he con- siders the harmony and correspondence that is between all the parts of the law, then he will cry out, 0 wonderful ! Come to the sanction by which the law is established and confirmed, by promises and rewards, such a ' far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ; ' that a clod of earth should shine above the stars, and God provide such a happiness for us that we should be like the angels ! Then threatenings, that God hath appointed such a punishment to hold the world in awe, as ' a worm that never dies, and the fire that never goes out ;' the worm of conscience that shall vex us with the remembrance of our past folly, and the wrath of God that shall punish us for dis- obedience, and torment us for evermore. Still, 0 wonderful ! So for the gospel, every article of faith is a mystery to be wondered at — Quot arficidi, tot miracida. The disciples wondered when they saw the structme of the temple. Oh, how may we wonder when we see the spiritual temple, that is Jesus Christ in the fulness of his godhead ! God dwelt symbolically by outward representations in the temple, but here he dwells bodily. When David had provided such a mass of money, 1 Chrou. xxix. 7-9, they fell a wondering. Oh, but when the soul comes to view the unsearchable riches of grace in Christ Jesus, then it may cry out, 0 wonderful ! When we see some rare plot, all things suit harmoniously, we cry out, 0 wonderful ! This great mystery of godliness, the more we look into it, the more will we wonder at the wisdom of God discovered in and through Christ Jesus. For external providences, to see how God answers prayers, how he brings about our mercies according to our wants in a way we know not : Ps. xvii. 7, ' Show thy marvellous loving-kindness, 0 thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee.' In the very com- mon favours that God vouchsafeth to us, there is something may be observed that may make us wonder, either for the time, manner, or measure. Also, in the internal effects of his grace upon the heart, when a man is convinced, and his own heart is ripped up to him by the power of the word, 1 Cor. xv. 25 ; Heb. iv. 12 ; and John iv. 29. As when Christ had convinced the woman of Samaria, and ripped up her life, she says, ' Come, see a man that hath told me all that ever 1 did.' When God comes in with such convictive evidence, and rips up our privy thoughts, 0 wonderful. But especially in changing and renew- ing the heart; when a lion shall be turned into a lamb, a dunghill become a bed of spices, a swine become a saint, a persecutor an apostle, we, that had such bolts and restraints of sin upon us, when we get out ; when we that were so wedded to sensual delights and worldly vanities are brought to delight in God, this is truly admirable ! 2 Peter i. 9, ' He hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.' And then the comfort we have by the word of God, and the marvellous