should devise such means for the exercise of mercy, and be capable of carrying those means into effect, they could never have imagined. Yet, in the provisions of the Gospel they beheld all this, not only contemplated, but carried into effect. We wonder not, that, on attaining such views of the Deity, they sang, " Glory to God in the highest;" for, verily, " great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh1."]
2. The harmony of his perfections —
[Of this there was not a trace in all the universe besides. But here " mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other k." Here that was visible, which the prism of the philosopher discovers in the rays of light. There are, in light, rays of a more sombre hue, as well as others that are more brilliant ; and it is the perfect union and simul- taneous motion of them all that constitutes perfect light. Such light is God himself. His perfections are various, and of a diversified, though not of an opposite, aspect. But they all combine in Christ, " in whose face is seen the light of the knowledge of the glory of God1." Yes, he is " the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person"1." In this mysterious dispensation, they saw not only every per- fection of the Deity exercised so as not to interfere with each other, but every perfection of the Deity, that was most adverse to the sinner's welfare, made his most strenuous friend and advocate. Justice, which had demanded the execution of the penalty upon him, now demands his liberation from it ; because every thing that justice could require has been done by the sinner's Substitute and Surety. If, in human judi- catures, justice require a debtor to be sent to prison, it pleads no less powerfully for his liberation from prison, the very instant that his debt is paid. And exactly thus is Justice itself now become the sinner's friend. In like manner, truth and holiness are also friendly to the happiness of man; because they demand for him the execution of every engagement that has been made in their behalf by God, with their great Head and Representative, the Lord Jesus Christ. How infinitely was this beyond the conception of the angelic powers, before it was revealed to the Church! But by the Gospel, into which they are continually searching, they have obtained the knowledge of it. St. Peter, speaking of this very salvation, says, " Which things the angels desire to look into11." In the most holy place of the temple there were, the ark, which contained the law ; and the mercy-seat upon the ark ; and two
1 1 Tim. hi. 16. k Ps. lxxxv. 10. '2 Cor. iv. 6.
™ Heb. i. 3. "1 Pet. i. 12.