" The wisdom of God, and the power of GodV O what un- searchable depths of wisdom were contained in that mystery, the substitution of God's only dear Son in the place of sinners; whereby the sins of the whole world are expiated, and the kingdom of heaven opened to millions, who, without such a Saviour, must have inherited the blackness of darkness for
ever ! • Nor was the power that effected our redemption
less manifest, in forming the human 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 wonderfully formed, to bear the curse due to our iniquities, and to work out a right- eousness adequate to the wants, and sufficient for the necessi- ties, 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 glorious0," 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 everd." 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 perfections are displayed, and to make such acknowledgments as this exhibition of them calls for at our hands. The manna from heaven, 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 com- munications 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 declaration. 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
b 1 Cor. i. 24. c ver. 3. d Ps. exxxvi.