yea, justice glorified in the way of mercy, and mercy in the way of justice, and truth and righteousness in all. Yes verily, " the whole glory of the Godhead now shines before us in the face of Jesus Christ^."]
2. The mysterious plan of redemption also is now fully opened —
[We are introduced, if we may so speak, to the eternal counsels of the Deity, wherein the Father gave to his Son a people to be redeemed, and the Son undertook to lay down his life for them. In the fulness of time we behold the eternal Son of God laying aside that glory which he had with the Father before the worlds were made ; and taking upon him our nature, on purpose that in the nature which had sinned he might suffer the curse that was due to sin. We behold him fulfilling the perfect law of God for us, that we may have his perfect right- eousness imputed to us, and at the same time expiating our guilt by his own suflferings on the cross. We see him further rising from the dead, and ascending up to heaven, to carry on there the work he had begun on earth ; to be the continual Intercessor for his people, and, as their living Head, to supply them with all that their necessities require. And, finally, we behold him coming again to judge the world, and to assign to his friends, and to his enemies, the portion prepared for them ; and then, having completed the whole work of redemption to the uttermost, " surrendering up the kingdom into the Father's hands, that God may be all in all."
How amazing is all this ! how infinitely beyond all that human eye ever saw, or ear heard, or heart conceived !]
3. The felicity of God's people is now also plainly- declared —
["Perfect peace" is now to be enjoyed by all who believe in Christ. No doubt rests upon the mind respecting the fulness and sufficiency of his atonement : it is known to be a sufficient " propitiation for the sins of the whole world." Now every believer has free access into the holiest of all, to behold God himself upon his mercy-seat, and to present before him his sacrifices of prayer and praise. Every saint now regards God as his Father, and with a filial confidence goes in and out before him, assured that every thing both in heaven and earth shall be ordered with an immediate view to his good, as much as if there were not another creature in the universe. And lastly, he looks up to the more innnediate residence of Jehovah, assured that a crown and a kingdom are prepared for him, even a participation of the Redeemer's glory, and an everlasting fruition of God himself, e 2 Cor. iv. 6.