nature of our Lord in the womb of a pure Virgin, free from all the taint of our original corruption ; and enabling that body, so won- derfully formed, to bear the curse due to our iniquities, and to work out a righteousness adequate to the wants, and sufficient for the necessities, of a ruined world. View the triumphs of Jesus in the wilderness, and in the garden, and on the cross ; in all of which " he spoiled the principalities and powers of hell :" view them also in his resurrection, and ascension, and in the operations of the Holy Spirit, whom he sent from heaven to complete the wonders of his grace : view these things, and say, whether " his work be not indeed honourable and glorious %" the very summit of wisdom, and the perfection of power.]
2. In goodness and mercy —
[So conspicuous were these perfections in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, that David could behold, as it were, nothing else. In a psalm where he specifies a great variety of particulars relating to it, he repeats no less than twenty-six times in as many verses, " His mercy endureth for ever''." But what shall we say of his goodness and mercy to us in Christ Jesus ? Eternity will be too short to enumerate the instances wherein these per- fections are displayed, and to make such acknowledgments as this exhibition of them calls for at our hands. The manna from hea- ven, and the water from the rock, were but faint images of what we receive in and from the Lord Jesus Christ. O what supplies of grace, what rich communications of his blessed Spirit, does he
impart to us from day to day! And what forbearance
does he exercise towards us ! Well indeed may we say
with David, that " goodness and mercy have followed us all our days."]
3. In righteousness and truth —
[In the whole dispensation, whether towards the Lord Jesus Christ himself, as our representative, or towards us whom he has redeemed, there has not been one single act which was not an act of justice, and an accomplishment of some pre-existing declara- tion. Were our iniquities laid on the Lord Jesus, and punished in him ? Was he, after having expiated those sins, exalted to glory, and seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high ? All, as David speaks, '' was verity and judgment*." In like manner, if we are pardoned, and raised to a participation of his glory, " mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other ^." Every threatening denounced against sin has been ex- ecuted in the person of Christ ; and every thing promised to Christ, or to us, is fulfilled, when for Christ's sake we are restored to God's favour, and made heirs of his inheritance ]
Agreeable to this character of God's works is,
II. The
*= ver. 3. '' Ps. cxxxvi. 1—26. ^ ver. 7. ' Ps.lxxxv. 10.