[2.] These are manifested in the whole structure of his word ; his power in the histories and propliecies, which declare what God hath and shall do ; his wisdom in the precepts and counsels, and discovery of such mysteries ; his goodness in promises, institutions, and provi- sional helps. More particularly in the law part of his word, his good- ness ; that showeth man what is good : Micah vi. 8, ' He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good ; ' his power, in threatening such punish- ments and promising such rewards, and in the wonderful efficacy of his word in the conscience ; his wisdom, in stating such a rule, that hath such an admirable fitness for the governing and regulating of mankind. But though all three shine forth in the law, and all in each part, yet his wisdom is most eminent : Dent. iv. 6, ' Keep these statutes, for this is your wisdom and understanding.' In the gospel, still these three attributes appear — the wonderful wisdom, power, and goodness of God. His wisdom in the orderly disposure of the covenant of grace : 2 Sam. xxiii. 5, ' Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure ; for this is all my salvation and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.' And contriving the excellent design and plot of salvation by Christ: 1 Tim. iii. 16, ' Great is the mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up to glory.' His power in the incarnation, resurrection, and miracles of
VeR. 55.] SERMONS UrOX rSALM CXIX. 87
Christ; therefore Christ is called 'the wisdom and power of God.' But above all his love is magnified in the gospel : Eom. v. 8, ' God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us : 1 John iv. 9, 10, ' In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him : herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propi- tiation for our sins ;' Titus iii. 4, ' But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeareth.'
SERMON LXII.
/ have remembered thy name, 0 Lord, in the night, and have kept thy laio. — Ver. 6b.
[3.] These are discovered in daily providence. To rub up and revive our thoughts, God is pleased anew to set before us the glorious effects of his wisdom, goodness and power ; his wisdom in the contexture of providence, his power in the management of it, his goodness in the effects of it. His wisdom in the beauty and order of his works, in guiding the course of nature, and disposing all things about his people. He doetli all things well: Eccles. iii. 11, 'He hath made everything beautiful in its time,' or in the true and proper season; therefore, we ■ that look upon providence by pieces, stumble at the seeming confusion and uncertainty of what falleth out, as if the affairs of the world were not under a wise government ; but stay a little while till all the pieces of providence be put together in one frame, and then you will see a marvellous wisdom in them. In the work of creation, all things were ' very good,' Gen. i. 31 ; so for these six thousand years, as well as for the first six days. Those things which seem confused heaps when they lie asunder, when put together will appear a beautiful structure and building. So for his goodness. What part hath God been acting in the world for so long a time but that of mercy ? He may be traced more by his acts of goodness than vengeance : Acts xiv. 17, ' Never- theless he left not himself without witness, u^aOorroLwv, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with joy and gladness.' The whole world is a theatre of mercy. If at any time we wrest punishment out of his hand, it is with an aim of mercy : as he threateneth that he may not punish, so he punishetli that he may not punish for ever. For his power, that is notably dis- covered to us every day. If we would draw aside the covering of the creature, you might soon see the secret almighty power of God which actetli in everything that falleth out ; the same everlasting arm that made the creatures is under them to support them : Ileb. i. 3, * He upholdeth all things by the word of his power.' As they started out of nothing by his command, so they are kept from returning into nothing by the same powerful word, command, and decree of God : ' Thou hidest thy face, and they are troubled ; thou takest away their breath, and they die ; thou sendest out thy Spirit, and they are created;
88 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXIL
and thou renewcst tlie face of the earth/ Ps. civ. 29, 30, ' All thing.s- hold their life of him. If God withdraweth in any measure the wonted influence of his pov>'er from them, they presently find a change in themselves. It is even with the being and faculties of the creature a* with the image of the glass, which, when the flice removeth, it is seen no more. The Lord doth as it were breathe into them a being, and when he taketh in his breath they perish, and when he sendeth it out again they are renewed. Now, though God doth constantly discover his wisdom, power, and goodness, yet in some providence one of these- doth more especially appear ; his wisdom in some notable contrivance and chain of causes, which to a common eye seemed to have no tend- ency to such effects as are produced by them ; as when out of the sins and perverse doings of men, or the disorders and confusions of the world, he i-aisetli his own glory, or by some unthought-of, unheard- of means bringeth about the deliverance of his people, taking the wise in their own craftiness. Sometimes his power, when by weak and contemptible means he bringeth great things to pass, and a straw becometh a spear in the hand of the Almighty. Sometimes in his^ goodness, in filling us with blessings, or doing notable acts of grace for his people's sake.