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 des- titute 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 afflictions, have in themselves an evidence, how greatly we are all indebted 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 iniquities on him, as our Surety, and thus make a way for the display of all his own glorious perfec- tions in the salvation of man! What shall we say to this? It is " a love that passeth knowledge." Every part of it is de- scribed as far exceeding all finite comprehension. The " riches " of grace contained in it, are "unsearchable:" the "peace" Hewing from it, " passeth understanding:" the "joy" imparted by it, is " unspeakable and full of glory." The whole mystery of redemption, as 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 judgments, and his ways past finding out a ! "
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 language of a heart oppressed, as it were, with a load of obli- gation. 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
a Rom. xi. 33.