eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen0." Those who would apply our text to Christ, think that it must refer to him, because he alone (as they ima- gine) presents his Church before the presence of his Father's glory : as it is said, " He loved the Church
and gave himself for it, that he might present
it to himself a glorious Church, &c.d" But the very same thing is spoken of the Father also, of whom it is said, that, " by Christ, the Father reconciled all
things to himself, even in the body of his flesh
through death, to present us holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight6." I consider the text therefore as addressed to the Father : and, in order to a suitable improvement of it, will set before you, I. The character of Jehovah as here described —
His wisdom and his power are altogether infinite : and we might, not improperly, speak of those two perfections as they are delineated in the Holy Scrip- tures. But I conceive, that, though mentioned gene- rally in the text, we should notice them not as existing in himself, but as exercised towards his Church.
"Wonderful is the wisdom which he has displayed in his dealings with his people —
[Contemplate the plan of salvation through the incarnation and death of his only-begotten Son What unfathom- able depths of wisdom are here ? Well is it called,
" The wisdom of God in a mystery!" To contemplate that, will be the employment of eternity.
Nor, if we entered into his particular dispensations towards his people, would this perfection appear in less bright colours ; so " unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." The experience of every saint will furnish abundant matter for adoration through all eternity ; for " he has abounded towards every one of them in all wisdom and prudence" ]
Nor is the pozver which he exercises towards them less stupendous —
[View the temptations with which every saint is beset
the enemies, even all the hosts of hell, with whom he
has to contend his utter incapacity to do any thing
« 1 Tim. i. 17. d Eph. v. 25, 27. e Col. i. 19—22.