matter in any one motion of his own body : and if he cannot tell this, how shall he presume to judge of God, " whose ways are in the great deep, and his paths past finding out ? "
3. Of his purposes ?
[We are assured that " God doeth every thing according to the counsel of his own will ; and that none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" But who has searched the records of heaven, so as to tell us what shall come to pass, either in reference to nations, or to any solitary in- dividual ? Our blessed Lord repeatedly checked all presump- tuous inquiries into these things. When his disciples asked him, " Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ? he answered, It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power V And when Peter inquired of him respecting John, "Lord, what shall this man do ? our Lord replied, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"
In truth, we know nothing of God ; nothing of what he is, or does, or will do, any further than he has been pleased to re- veal himself to us : and all our inquiries respecting him should issue in that profound adoring exclamation, " O the depth c !" Instead of complaining that our knowledge is so circum- scribed, we should be thankful that it extends so far : for if there be little communicated to gratify a foolish curiosity, there is every thing made known to us that can conduce to our present and eternal welfare.]
This idea points out to us, II. The proper use to be made of all the knowledge we obtain —
Every thing that God has revealed is intended to have a practical effect : and every thing contained in Holy Writ has a direct tendency to convey some spiritual benefit to our souls. Let us briefly trace this in what is revealed concerning,
1. God and his perfections —
[All that is spoken in Scripture upon this sublime subject, tends to fill us with holy fear, and love, and con- fidence ; and to bring us to God, as Iris obedient subjects and servants ]
2. Christ and his offices —
[There is no way to the Father but through the Son. When, therefore, we read of him as the Prophet, Priest, and
b Acts i. 6, 7. c Rom. xi. 33.