y Ps. xi. 6. z Isai. v. 24. a Isai. xxxii. 2.
b Gal. vi. 7, 8. c Eph. v. 15, 16. d Isai. lv. 2.
e Heb. vi. 10. f Matt. x. 42. s Ps. cxxvi. 6. h 1 Cor. xv. 58.
men's disregard of the gospel.
Hos. viii. 12. I have written to him the great things of my Law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
GOD, in estimating the sins of men, takes into his consideration all the aggravations with which they
are committed. For instance ; the warnings which have been given us against sin, the judgments with which we have been visited on account of it, the mercies that have been vouchsafed to us in the midst of it, are all regarded by him as enhancing our guilt in the commission of it. Hence, in criminating his people, whom now he was about to punish, he par- ticularly charges home upon them their contempt of his word, which he had sent to guide them in the paths of righteousness, and to encourage them in a faithful discharge of their duty towards him. In this view our sins are peculiarly aggravated, inasmuch as we have been favoured with a more perfect revela- tion of God's mind and will. And to evince this, I will shew,
I. What great things God has written to us in his law —
By God's " law," we are to understand his word in general ; and by " the great things of it," are meant its fundamental truths.
Let us take a view of them, as recorded in God's blessed word —
[Our fall in Adam, our recovery by Christ, and our re- storation to the Divine image by the Holy Spirit, these are plainly written in every part of the inspired volume. They were made known in the Old Testament, so far as was neces- sary for the instruction of men under that dark and temporary dispensation. The rite of circumcision marked, that we brought into the world a corrupt nature ; and the appointment of sacrifices, whilst it shewed to all their desert of death, evinced to them the necessity of looking forward to that great sacrifice which should in due time be offered for the sins of men. The various lustrations also that were enjoined, gave a striking intimation of what should in due season be effected on the souls of men, through the operation of the Spirit of God. In the writings of David and the prophets, a further light is thrown upon these things : man is declared to be shapen in iniquity, and conceived in sina: and his guilt is said to be re- moved only through the vicarious sufferings of the Son of God, " on whom the iniquities of all mankind are laidb." And for the renewal of our nature, we are taught to look to that Divine Agent, who is sent from heaven on purpose to impart itc.
a Ps. li. 5. b Isai. liii. 5, 6. c Ezek. xxxvi. 25—27.
1165.1 men's disregard of the gospel. 105
In the New Testament, these points are more fully opened : and every thing relating to them is developed with all the clear- ness and certainty that the most scrupulous mind can desire.
Who can doubt the corruption of our nature, when we are told that " we are by nature children of wrath d?" What stronger proof can we have of the necessity of believing in Christ, than the assurance that there is salvation in no .other, and " no other name given under heaven whereby we can be savede ?" As to the Spirit's operations upon the soul, we are expressly told, that " if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."]
And are not these things justly called " great " ?
[Verily, in whatever light we view them, they are " great." Contemplate the mysteriousness of them. How do they, in every part of them, surpass all human conception ! What shall we say to our fall in Adam, and the consequent condemnation of all the human race ? What shall we think of the incarnation of God's only dear Son, for the purpose of satisfying Divine justice in our behalf, and working out a righteousness wherein we guilty creatures may stand before God without spot or blemish? What shall we say of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person in the ever-blessed Trinity, making our polluted souls his temples, for the purpose of renewing our fallen natures, and rendering us meet for glory ? Well may the Apostle say, " Great is the mystery of godliness f !" and well may every one, in the contemplation of it, exclaim, " O the depthg" — ]