pofure. This wisdom is far fuperior to that of the schools. But He beftows and maintains it. The eyes of their mind are opened, and they see by his light, but they have no light of their own, or in themselves. They wait upon him for direction in every difficulty, for the folution of every hard queftion which perplexes their fpirits; and he makes the crooked ftrait, teaches them to avoid the fnares that are laid for them, or extricates them when entangled. Therefore in time, and to eternity, they will admire and adore his wifdom. 3. Riches. All the stores of mercy, grace, and comfort, are in him, as light in the fun, or water in the ocean. The apostle speaking of the unfearchable riches of Chrift *, gives us the idea of a mine; the height, length, depth, and breadth of which cannot be inveftigated, nor the immenfe wealth it contains exhaufted. Of this fulness the poor are invited to receive freely, and multitudes from age to age have been enriched, and the treasure is ftill undiminished. None are fent away empty. And when all have been fupplied, it will be full as at firft. * Eph. iii. 8. 4. Strength. 4. Strength. That energy and efficacy of his power, by which he accomplishes his holy purposes. Who can conceive of this? How just is the Pfalmift's reafoning, He that formed the eye, fhall not be fee? He that planted the ear, fhall not be hear? So we may fay, How ftrong is he, from whom, all created ftrength is derived, and before whom the ftrength of all creatures, if collected into one effort, would be as chaff before the whirlwind? The Lord of all power and might fpeaks, and it is done; he commandeth, and it standeth faft. Though the waves of the ftormy fea tofs themselves, they cannot prevail; he checks them in the height of their rage, fetting bounds to their violence which they cannot pass, saying, Hitherto fhalt thou come and no farther, and here fhall thy proud billows be stayed ‡. With equal fovereignty, certainty, and ease, he rules over moral agents. He formed the heart of man, and he can fill it with terror or with comfort, in a moment, in any affignable circumftances. He can make it happy in a dungeon, or impress it with dismay and * Pf. xciv. 9. † Pf. xciii. 3, 4. ‡ Job xxxviii. 10, Ik ! Acts xvi. 25. despair despair upon a throne *. All hearts are, thus inceffantly, under his influence. And the hedge of his promise and protection, surrounds those who truft in him, as with mountains and walls of brafs and fire, impenetrable to the affaults of the powers of darkness, unless fo far as he, for wife and holy ends, is pleafed to give permiffion. With the arm of his ftrength he upholdeth them that are falling and raiseth up them that are bowed down †, and, is, in one and the fame inftant, a present and immediate help in trouble, to all who call upon him ‡. Therefore they that abide under his fhadow are fafe; they pass, unhurt, through floods and flames, because their Redeemer is strong. And when, in defiance of all their enemies, he has brought them together in his heavenly kingdom, they will, with one confent, afcribe unto the Lord glory and strength. 5. Honour. He is the fountain of it. All the honour of his creatures, and of his people, is from him; as the fun beautifies and gilds the objects he fhines upon, which, without him, are opaque and obfcure. Because his people are precious in * Dan. v. 5+ 6. + Pf. cxlv. 14. VOL. II. Ff Pf. xlvi. 1. his his fight they are honourable. He clothes "them with the garments of falvation, covers them with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, as a bride adorneth berfelf with jewels *. But who can speak of his own inherent honour, ^as God-man and Mediator! We must wait till we see him, without a cloud or vail, receiving the homage and adoration of angels and men. For, as yet, the one half cannot be told us! Then, however, it will be univerfally known, that he who poffeffes the fulness of wisdom and power, riches, and ftrength, is worthy to receive all honour. Ah! how different will he then appear, from that humble form he once affumed, when, for our fakes, he was a man of forrows, defpifed, rejected, and nailed to the ignominious crofs! 6. Glory. The manifeftation of God, that, by which, he is known and magnified, in the view of finite intelligences; the refult, the combined effulgence of his holiness, grace, wifdom, truth, and love: this is his glory, and this glory is revealed and displayed in Chrift. He is glorious in his * Ifa. lxi. 10. works works of creation and providence, but these do not fully exhibit his character. But in the Lamb upon the throne, his glory fhines, full-orbed. And all in heaven, and all in earth, who behold it, take up the fong of Mofes and the Lamb *, Who is like unto thee, O Lord? Who is like unto thee? Glorious in holiness, fearful in praifes, doing wonders! Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are thy ways, Thou King of faints + ! 7. Blefing. He is the author of alt bleffings, of all the happiness and good which his people receive, and he is the deserved object of their univerfal praise. The different fenfes, in which we ufe the word, bleffing, taken together, may express that intercourse or communion, which is between the Head and the mystical members of his body. He bleffes them effectually, with the light of his countenance, with liberty, grace, and peace. He bleffes them daily. His mercies are renewed to them every morning. He will blefs them eternally. Bleffed are the people who have this Lord for their God. They can make him no fuitable returns, yet, + Rev. xv. iii. * Exod. xv. II. in |