predestinated to it by the sovereign and unmerited grace of
God From first to last it is all of grace; and designed
of God to exhibit to the whole universe, through all ages, " the exceeding riches of his graceV Let any one compare the state of the fallen angels in the lake of fire, and of the redeemed saints that are around the throne of God, and view the wonders of grace which have been wrought in favour of the redeemed ; and then he will be able in some measure to comprehend the character of the Gospel, as a dispensation of grace.]
2. " Abundant in wisdom and prudence" —
[In order to render the salvation of man consistent with the perfections of the Deity, justice must be satisfied, and truth be kept inviolate, by the punishment of sin. But if sin be punished, how could the sinner be saved ? This was a pro- blem which not all the angels in heaven could solve. But God, by sending his own Son to be our substitute and surety, has removed the difficulty. Sin has been punished to the full in him : and the law, both in its penalties and requirements, has been fulfilled in him : so that mercy may flow down to us in perfect consistency both with law and justice ; and " God may
be just, and yet the justifier" of sinful man Indeed
the law is the more magnified, in having executed its sentence against a person of such infinite dignity ; and mercy is the more exalted, in being exercised at such a cost as the blood of
God's co-equal, co-eternal Son Here is indeed " the
wisdom of God in a mystery :" and well may Christ be called in this view, " The wisdom of God, and the power of God."]
Application —
1. Seek to appreciate this blessed Gospel —
[We are grievously negligent in relation to this matter. Men will labour with indefatigable industry to comprehend the laws of nature; but are shamefully remiss in exploring the mysteries of grace, which are revealed to us in the
Gospel Let your minds be intent on this subject,
which can never be adequately comprehended, either by men or angels ]
2. Labour to adorn it —
[Let the character of the Gospel be exemplified in you. Is it full of grace ? Be ye full of praise and thanksgiving ; ever cleaving to him by whom your redemption has been wrought, and adoring him by whom the Saviour himself was sent into the world And is it full of wisdom ? Do ye
f Eph. ii. 7.