motions and distances and mutual dependence of the heavenly bodies, how much of it would he understand ? It would be far above his comprehension: he could not embrace any part of the system. So, if we presume to speak of the greatness and incomprehensibility of Jehovah, we only " darken counsel by words without knowledge :" " it is a knowledge too wonderful for us; we cannot attain unto it." The sentiments of Zophar on this subject are well worthy of our attention : " Canst thou by searching find out God ? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection ? It is as high as heaven ; what canst thou do ? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea**." And Elihu, another of Job's friends, exactly to the same purpose says, "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out**." Sometimes indeed God is pleased to give us some little glimpse of his Majesty, light enough, if we may so speak, to make our darkness visible. Thus by the prophet Isaiah he asks, " Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance ? Behold the nations are as a drop of . a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance ; he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. All nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity." He then adds, " To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him*^^?" The Psalmist also, with exquisite beauty, thus sets forth the glory of his Majesty : " O Lord my God, thou art very great : thou art clothed with honour and majesty : who coverest thyself with light as with a garment ; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain ; who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters ; who maketh the clouds his chariot ; who walketh upon the wings of the wind; who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire''." But, after all, what idea does this description give us of him, who " fiUeth all things," " whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain ?" We are altogether at a loss on so mysterious a subject; which therefore we close with that decla- ration of the Psalmist, " His greatness is unsearchable *"."]
But though we can add nothing to what is said in the words before our text, "^ The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens," yet we see in this what will serve to illustrate the depth of,
II. His condescension —
[" He humbleth himself to behold the things that are in
heaven :"
" Job xi, 7 — 9. '' Job xxxvii. 23.
* Isai. xl 12, 15, 17, 18. " P*. civ. 1—4.
' Ps. cxlv. 3.