a Ps. xxxvi. 6. b Job v. 9.
ways high above our ways and his thoughts above our thoughts." Observe the objects of his choice : Who are they ? Are they such as human reason would select? He takes a Manasseh, who had filled Jerusalem with the blood of innocents ; a Mary Magdalen, who had been possessed by seven devils ; a Saul, that was a proud, blaspheming, cruel, blood-thirsty persecutor ; and he leaves the young man, who, in his own opinion at least, had kept all God's commandments from his youth up : yes, publicans and harlots were admitted into his kingdom freely and in vast multitudes, whilst the Scribes and Pharisees were given over to final obduracy. What shall we say to this ? The fact is unquestionable ; and we can only say, as our Lord did in the contemplation of this great mystery, " Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."
Mark farther the manner in which he calls them to himself. Some he calls with terror, as the jailor ; and others with the gentle drawings of his love, as Nathanael : some by the instrumentality of his ministers ; and others by the secret operations of his Spirit, without the intervention of any out- ward means : some suddenly, as Matthew ; others gradually, as Apollos : some in early life, at the third or fourth hour ; and others on a dying bed, at the eleventh hour.
His mode of completing in them the good tvork must also be noticed. Some he leads through deep waters, as David ; whilst others have comparatively a smooth and easy passage : some, like Peter, are suffered to fall into grievous sins ; whilst others, like Paul, persevere in an unblemished course even to the end.
In all these things the sovereignty of God is most conspi- cuously displayed : and St. Paul has a peculiar reference to that in the exclamation before us. He asks, " Who hath first given to the Lord ?" Who has laid him under any obligation to confer his blessings upon him ? If any such person can be found, let him come and prefer his claim ; and I pledge myself, says he, that " it shall be recompensed unto him again." And then he goes on to declare, that God, as a mighty Sovereign, does every thing purely of his own will, and for his own glory : for that " of him, (as the Author,) and through him, (as the Disposer,) and to him, (as the End,) are all things : and that to him must all the glory be given for ever and everc."
Such are God's judgments, and such his ways : but " how little a portion of him is known d!" This however we must say, that though " clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and judgment are the basis of his throne."]
See then from hence,
c ver. 35, 3G. d Job xxvi. 14.