[" He is good ;" every way " good ;" and appears to be so in all that he has ever done. His works of creation were all, after an attentive survey of them by the Divine Artificer, pro- nounced to be " very good." In the course of so many thou- sands of years there never has been found one single instance in which any work of his could be improved ; so perfect has been the adaptation of every part to its respective use, and so complete the subservience of each to the good of the whole. His works of providence come less within the sphere of human observation, because we know not all the ends that are to be accomplished by them : but of those which have been the most dark or most calamitous we have had the unanimous testimony of the best judges, that " he has done all things well;" and that, however " clouds and darkness may have been roundabout him, justice and judgment have been the basis of his throne." Of his works of redemption what shall we say ? In what terms can we convey any just notion of them ? Verily the tongue of an archangel is incapable of expressing the goodness of God in giving his only dear Son to die for us b : this mystery far exceeds the comprehension of any finite intelligence : its " height and depth and length and breadth can never be explored :" suffice it to say, that the incarnation and death of the Son of God is the one subject of adoration amongst all the hosts of heaven, and will continue to be so through the countless ages of eternity0.
But, whilst the goodness of God is readily acknowledged in reference to those who are the objects of mercy, it may be doubted in reference to those who shall be the objects of his everlasting displeasure. It may be asked, How can his puni- tive justice be good? I answer, If he did not maintain the rights of justice he could not be " good." Whatever ungodly men may imagine, justice is necessary in every government : and, if an earthly monarch would be thought essentially defective if he suffered all the laws of the realm to be outraged and set at nought with impunity, so would Jehovah, with reverence be it spoken, act unworthily as the Moral Governor of the universe, if he made no difference between the observers of his laws, and those who violated them without remorse. His law is a trans- cript of his holy will ; and the honour of it must be maintained, either by the observance of its precepts, or by the execution of its penalties. Besides, if the justice of God were not dis- played in the punishment of sin, he would neither be revered in heaven, nor feared on earth. In heaven, his justice and holiness and truth would be altogether darkened, and the ra- diance of all his other perfections obscured : and on earth, Satan would retain an undisputed sway over the hearts of men.
In every view therefore we must say, not only that God is
t> 1 John iv. 8—10. " Rev. v. 12—14.