revealed to man in Paradise : and all the knowledge which is at this very hour possessed by the Principalities and Powers of heaven respecting it, is derived to them through the progres- sive revelation made of it to the Church by the Prophets and Apostles of succeeding ages'*. Even under the Mosaic dispen- sation it was for the most part " hidden :" because the types and ceremonies, by which it was adumbrated, cast so thick a veil over it, that it could scarcely be discerned at all ; and the very prophets who foretold it were unable to unravel the mys- teries which they proclaimed to us''. The things which it unfolds to our view are perfectly different from any thing that ever entered into the minds of uninspired men*^: and at this moment are they " hidden from the wise "and prudent, even whilst they are revealed unto babes ^."]
But in it is contained the *' manifold" wisdom of God^—
[It was " ordained of God before the world, for our glory," even for the salvation of our souls. And in this " great mys- tery^" we may behold his inventive wisdom, his administrative wisdom, his effective wisdom.
No finite intelligence could have conceived such a plan of rescuing from perdition our fallen race, without dishonouring that law which we had violated, and suspending the sentence which justice had denounced. He alone, " whose understand- ing is unsearchable," was capable of devising a plan whereby the offence might be punished, and the offender saved.
But how shall this plan be executed? If it be not made known, none can avail themselves of it : and if it be known, it can never be carried into effect : for who would ever dare to lay his hands upon his incarnate God, and inflict on him the things which he was doomed to bear? The Apostle himself tells us, that " if the princes of this world had known what they were doing, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory '\" And, now that the plan is executed, how shall the benefits of it be so imparted, that, whilst no room is left for any man to glory, the sovereignty of God shall not supersede, or in any degree interfere with, the free agency of man ? Who but God could divine this ?
Again : shall any thing be left to chance ? Shall it be un- certain whether, after all, God's ends shall be attained ? No : man shall have the benefit; and God the glory. God will " give a people to his Son, whom he shall have for an inherit- ance'." "A seed shall serve him^:" and, however far off they
^ Eph. iii. 9, 10. c i Pgt. i. 10—12. ^ ver. 9.
e Matt. xi. 25, 26. ^ Note ^. e ver. 7. with 1 Tim. iii. 16.
^ ver. 8. ' Ps. ii. 8. ^ Ps. xxii. 30.