In beholding the glory of this infinite wisdom of God in Christ, we behold his own glory also, — the glory given him of his Father; for this is his glory, that in and by him, and him alone, the wisdom of God is manifested and represented unto us. When God appointed him as the gi^eat and only means of this end, he gave him honour and glory above the whole creation ; for it is but little of divine wisdom which the works of it declare, in comparison of what is manifested in Christ Jesus. We no way deny or extenuate the manifestation that is made of the wisdom of God in the works of creation and providence. It is sufficient to detect the folly of atheism and idolatry ; and was designed of God unto that end. But its comparative insufficiency — with respect unto the representation of it in Christ as to the ends of knowing God aright and living unto him — the Scripture doth abun- dantly attest. And the abuse of it was catholic [i. e., universal], as the apostle declares. Bom. i. 20, &c. To see this wisdom clearly is our wisdom; and a due apprehension of it fills the souls of believers " with joy unspeakable, and full of glory."
2. We may also instance in the love of God. The apostle tells us that " God is love," 1 John iv. 8. Divine love is not to be considered
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only in its eftects, but in its nature and essence ; and so it is God liiraself, for " God is love." And a blessed revelation this is of the divine nature ; it casts out envy, hatred, malice, revenge, with all their fruits, in rage, fierceness, implacability, persecution, murder, into the territories of Satan. They belong not unto God in his nature or actings; for " God is love." So the same apostle tells us, that he who " slew his brother was of the wicked one," 1 John iii. 12. He was of the devil, his father, and his works did he do.
But the inquiry is as before, — How shall we have a view of this love, of God as love ? by what way or means shall we behold the glory of it ? It is hidden from all living, in God himself The wise philo- sophers, who discoursed so much of the love of God, knew nothing of this, that " God is love." The most of the natural notions of men about it are corrupt, and the best of them weak and imperfect. Generally, the thoughts of men about it are, that he is of a facile and easy nature, one that they may make bold withal in all their occa- sions; as the Psalmist declares, Ps. 1. 21. And whereas it must be learned in its effects, operations, and divine ways of its manifestation, those who know not Christ know nothing of them. And many things in providence do interpose to hinder our views of this love; — for al- though, indeed, " God is love," yet " his wrath is revealed from heaven against the ungodliness of men;" as all things at this day are filled with evidences of his anger and displeasure. How, then, shall we know, wherein shall we behold, the glory of God in this, that he is LOVE? The apostle declares it in the next words, 1 John iv. 9, " In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." This is the only evidence given us that " God is love." Hereby alone is the divine nature as such made known unto us, — namely, in the mission, person, and office of the Son of God ; without this, all is in darkness as unto the true nature and supreme operation of this divine love.
Herein do we behold the glory of Christ himself, even in this life. This glory was given him of the Father, — namely, that he now should declare and evidence that " God is love;" and he did so, " that in all things he might have the pre-eminence." Herein we may see how excellent, how beautiful, how glorious and desirable he is, seeing in him alone we have a due representation of God as he is love ; which is the most joyful sight of God that any creature can obtain. He who beholds not the glory of Christ herein is utterly ignorant of those heavenly mysteries; — he knovveth neither God nor Christ, — he hath neither the Father nor the Son. He knows not God, because he knows not the holy properties of his nature in the principal way designed by infinite wisdom for their manifestation; he knows not
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Christ, because lie sees not the glory of God in him. Wherefore, Avhatever notions men may have from the light of nature, or from the works of Providence, that there is love in God, — however they may adorn them in elegant, affecting expressions, — yet from them no man can know that " God is love." In the revelation hereof Christ hath the pre-eminence ; nor can any man comprehend anything of it aright but in him. It is that which the whole light of the creation cannot discover; for it is the spring and centre of the mystery of godliness.