saying, I will not let thee go except thou bless me," and yet, instead of being reproved as guilty of pre- sumption, was commended for his perseverance, and was honoured with the name of Israel in remem- brance of it1; and, above all, if it be borne in mind that not one word has been put into Jehovah's mouth which has not actually proceeded from his lips, this fictitious statement, or ideal conference, will not be thought more than what the whole Scripture jus- tifies ; and that, in fact, it places in the clearest light what I so earnestly wish to impress upon your minds ; namely, the infinite extent of God's grace, which so far transcends all that it was possible for any created intelligence to " ask, or even think."
But, dismissing from our minds the illustration, what must we think of the point illustrated ? What must we think of the grace of God displayed in this dispensation, when there is not any one thing which the whole universe assembled in council, could ask, provided it were really good for them, and consistent with God's honour to bestow, which is not actually vouchsafed to them, unsolicited and unsought, in the Gospel of Christ ? Even things the most remote from human apprehension, and which we should have been ready to imagine incapable of being combined in the same person, are actually made to meet in the Saviour, whom God has raised up for us. Methinks, even the slightest knowledge of this incomprehensible mystery is sufficient to fill all our souls with wonder and admiration, with gratitude and praise.
Having already trespassed upon your time too long, I must wave much which the occasion calls for ; and content myself with suggesting, in conclusion, that if it be a minister's duty, as doubtless it is, to " preach the riches of Christ," and to dig deeply into the mine of Scripture in order that he may be able to bring them forth ; and if these riches be absolutely " unsearchable ; then ought we all to seek after them with our whole hearts, and to account all other
1 Gen. xxxii. 24—28.