emboldens us to deliver our message to sinful men. We be- lieve " that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them :" and there- fore, " as ambassadors from God, we beseech men, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God11."]
2. From that arises his ability to supply our every want —
[To Him is committed the entire government of his Church0. But if He be not God, we shall be in a state little better than the worshippers of Baal. It may be, that he is occupied about the concerns of some other person at the opposite side of the globe ; and I must wait till he can hear me, and come to me, and help me : but, whilst he is delaying, I may perish. If he be a mere creature, he cannot be omni- present, nor omniscient, nor omnipotent. These are the perfections, the incommunicable perfections, of Deity : and if he be not God, he does not possess them: and, if he possess them not, he cannot be sufficient for my wants. But he does possess them. He knows every want and every desire of my soul. " Unto Him all things, both in heaven and earth, are naked and opened :" and there can be no possible situation wherein " his grace shall not be sufficient for mep." " He is the true God ; and therefore he is, and shall be, to me eternal life."]
3. It is that which will give the chief zest to all our blessedness for evermore —
[If my sins were pardoned, though by a mere act of sovereign mercy, I should be happy any where. But when in heaven I contemplate every thing as the fruit of redeeming love, as procured for me through the blood and righteousness of my incarnate God ; with what wonder must I be filled ! I see now, why all the glorified saints fall upon their faces before God. They have reason to do so : they would be unworthy of a place in heaven, if they did not. How can they sing, " To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood ;" and remember, that He who so loved them was il King of kings and Lord of lords;" how can they sing thus, I say, and not be lost in wonder and amazement? And what are those hosannas which I hear offered to " God and to the Lamb?" What! is a creature joined in one common song of praise with the Creator? and that in heaven, too, in the very presence of the Deity ? No ; the Lamb is no other than our
n 2 Cor. v. 19, 20. ° Eph. i. 22.
p 1 John v. 20.