And by all this is "the highest possible glory re- flected upon God himself" —
[There is not a perfection of the Deity which is not honoured by this, yea, and more honoured than ever it was before. Wisdom and goodness and power and love had been displayed before in the formation of angels, and in the blessedness diffused throughout the whole creation, and the perfect adaptation of every thing to its proper end. Holiness too and justice had been rendered conspicuous by the expul- sion of all the fallen angels from heaven, and the consigning of them over to everlasting misery in hell. But there had been no trace of mercy to be seen in any corner of the uni- verse : nor could the highest intelligence in heaven conceive how the exercise of this perfection could consist with the rights of justice. But now the union and harmony of all the Divine perfections was seen through the incarnation and death of God's only dear Son, justice exercised in a way of mercy, and mercy in away of justice, or, as the Psalmist expresses it, " Mercy and truth meeting together, and righteousness and peace kissing each other." Well then did the angels sing, " Glory to God in the highest." They had seen no " peace" proclaimed in heaven; no expression of " good-will" towards the fallen angels: but towards men on earth both were most gloriously displa)Ted. Hence with wonder and admiration this
a John hi. 16. 1 John iv. 10. '» Rom. v. 8.