ami taste, and smelling, and of feeling also, far more exquisite than ours. But the endowment of reason elevates us far above them all, and puts them all, in some degree at least, in subjec- tion under our feet. In them indeed is instinct, and that too in such perfection as almost to border on the province of reason ; but in us is a capacity to comprehend things of spiritual and eter- nal import, and an ability to know, to love, to enjoy, to glorify our God. ISay whether these be not mercies which call for the devoutest gratitude at our hands ?
Nor is it a small matter that we have been brought into the world at such a time, when the light of God's truth is so clearly seen, and in such a. place as Britain, where it shines forth, as it were, in meridian splendor. We might have been born of Ma- hometan or Heathen parents ; or even in our own country have been so situated, as to hear but little of Christ and his salvation. Surely we should not overlook these great benefits, nor forget what a mercy it is to live in this present day, when there exists such an ardent zeal for the propagation of the Gospel, and such un- precedent efforts are made for its diffusion throughout the world.]
2. Of Providence —
[Innumerable are the deliverances which we have all re- ceived from dangers seen and unseen. Millions have been taken out of the world before they had attained our age ; and it is to God's gracious care alone we owe it, that we have yet " space given us for repentance," and time afforded us for securing the things belonging to our peace. And how different might be our condition from what it is ! We might be so destitute of every comfort, and so oppressed with pain and anguish, that our very existence, instead of being a blessing, might be a burthen and a curse. We all, it is true, have trials of some kind or other ; but we all have our consolations also ; and those who have most afflic- tions, have in themselves an evidence, how greatly we are all in- debted to our God for that measure of consolation which is given to mitigate our sorrows, and how infinitely short of our deserts is any trouble which is allotted us in this world.]
3. Of Redemption —
[But how shall we speak of this ? Who can " comprehend the height and depth of God's love" displayed in it ? That God should so pity us as to give his only-begotten Son to die for us ! that he should lay our ini([uities on him, as our Surety, and thus make a way for the display of all his own glorious perfections in the salvation of man ! What shall we say to this? It is " a love that passeth knowledge." Every part of it is described as far exceeding all finite comprehension. The " riches " of grace con- tained in it, are " unsearchable:" the " peace" flowing from it, " passeth underbtanding:" the "joy" imparted by it, is " unspeak- able and full of glory." The whole mystery of Redemption, as VOL. IV. cc contrived.
386 PSALMS, cxvi. 12 — 14. [416.
contrived, as executed, as applied, and as experienced in the souls of men, is so great, that we cannot contemplate it a moment, without exclaiming, " O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable are his judg- ments, and his ways past finding out''!"]
Having thus briefly touched upon the mercies of our God, let us proceed to mark,
II. The sense we should have of them —
It is not any slight acknowledgment that becomes us : we should contemplate them,
1. With overwhelming gratitude —
[This is implied in the Psalmist's expression, ^' What shall I render unto the Lord?" It is not a calm inquiry, but the lan- guage of a heart oppressed, as it were, with a load of obligation. A man who can speak calmly on such a subject, nay, I had almost said, a man who can speak at all upon it, feels it not as he ought ; it is too big for utterance : as, in a mind overwhelmed with conscious unworthiness, " the Spirit of God maketh inter- cession with groans which cannot be uttered," so methinks, if we had a just apprehension of the benefits conferred upon us, our sense of them would be expressed rather in a way of silent ado- ration, than of verbal acknowledgment. We do not mean by this, that men should not sing praises to their God, and tell of all his wondrous works ; for it is our bounden duty to celebrate