heart are only evil continually." This part of the wisdom of God is also a mystery.The very mode by which transgression entered the world is unaccountable to us. We cannot conceive how Adam, who had perfect knowledge in his understanding and integrity in his heart could yield to the temptation: how a rational being who was acquainted with the perfections of God and completely happy in his enjoyment would believe the suggestions of a serpent in opposition to the direct, positive command of his Creator and Lord. That sin should be admitted into the moral world is altogether mysterious to us; Jehovah could as easily have established all the angels in their first estate as a part of them; he could as easily have fortified Adam against the insinuations of Satan as restore him after he had fallen. We know also that sin is dishonoring to God, offensive to his holiness, provoking to his justice, and exposes to misery those creatures which he formed holy and happy.But although the manner by which transgression obtained admission be mysterious, yet the fact itself is true, and should be freely spoken. To offer salvation through the Son of God without endeavoring to convince men of sin, would be like presenting medicine to one who imagined himself in perfect health, or reaching forth an alms to the man who conceited himself to be rich and encreased with goods. The disease must C is purpose, although formed from eternity, is executed in all its circumstances, and at the precise time, as really as if the person had been impelled by some natural and irresistable necessity, to do whatsoever; and yet their liberty of action is not in the least affected; they were gathered together; they conspired by mutual consent and agreement; Judas acted as freely in betraying his Lord, as any traitor in selling his country or captain; Pilate acted as freely in condemning him, as any man who sacrifices his conscience to gratify a party; the people of Israel were as free in crucifying this Lord of glory, as any mob in murdering a man against whom they have conceived an implacable enmity: in this as in innumerable other instances the unconditional, eternal appointment of God perfectly harmonises with the freedom of the moral agent; his purpose is minutely and fully executed, and the cup of their iniquity filled up. 3. The universal corruption of human nature, our entire disposition to evil, and powerful opposition to all that is morally good is another part of this wisdom. The doctrine of human depravity, however melancholy, is evident both from scripture and observation. All who read their bibles are taught, and all who consult their own inclinations must feel that "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; that the imaginations of the thoughts of the heart are only evil continually." This part of the wisdom of God is also a mystery.The very mode by which transgression entered the world is unaccountable to us. We cannot conceive how Adam, who had perfect knowledge in his understanding and integrity in his heart could yield to the temptation: how a rational being who was acquainted with the perfections of God and completely happy in his enjoyment would believe the suggestions of a serpent in opposition to the direct, positive command of his Creator and Lord. That sin should be admitted into the moral world is altogether mysterious to us; Jehovah could as easily have established all the angels in their first estate as a part of them; he could as easily have fortified Adam against the insinuations of Satan as restore him after he had fallen. We know also that sin is dishonoring to God, offensive to his holiness, provoking to his justice, and exposes to misery those creatures which he formed holy and happy.But although the manner by which transgression obtained admission be mysterious, yet the fact itself is true, and should be freely spoken. To offer salvation through the Son of God without endeavoring to convince men of sin, would be like presenting medicine to one who imagined himself in perfect health, or reaching forth an alms to the man who conceited himself to be rich and encreased with goods. The disease must C be shewn before the healing balm need be offered, or will be accepted; men must be convinced that they are spiritually poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked, before they will come to the market of free grace or embrace the unsearchable riches of Jesus the Mediator. 4. The manifestation of the Eternal Son in human nature, and his sufferings as a propitiation for our sin may be pronounced an important part of this wisdom. We believe and do testisy that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. The union of our nature to the divine in the person of Immanuel; his substitution in our room; his suffering for our offences, and rising again for our justification form a chief part of this counsel of God. The apostle preached first of all, and last of all, considered it as the alpha and omega of all his administrations that Christ died for our sins, and was buried, and rose again the third day. This doctrine is also mysterious. What is his name or what is his son's name if thou canst tell? Prophets andapostles, inspired men & unsinning angels, in contemplating the incarnation of the Son of God, pronounce it the glory that excelleth; that "he who was Eternal should be made in time, the Infinite should become finite, the Immortal should become mortal, and yet continue Eternal, Immortal and Infinite, is an expression of wisdom and goodness, in which God will be adored and glorified through Eter nity." The evangelic Isaiah, foretelling his appearance in the flesh, announces his name to be WONDERFUL, containing natures so utterly distinct and immensely different that language can neither express, nor imagination conceive it. An apostle inspired with a more abundant measure of illuminating spirit exclaims, Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh. But this part of the divine wisdom, however mysterious, must be openly proclaimed. The advent of the Messiah into our world, and our redemption through his cross is so interwoven with every page of revelation that to overlook this would be virtually to shun declaring the whole counsel of God. All the divine decrees from eternity, the sacrifices which bled on ten thousand altars from the foundation of the world, all the prophecies of the old testament and promises of the new pointed either immediately or remotely to the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Immanuel, God man, the wisdom, the righteousness, the sanctification, the redemption, the advocate of his people is verily the alpha and omega of scripture; he is not only the corner stone on which the church is founded, but the topstone which binds together each part of this celestial building. Woe to that preacher who does not make "this wisdom of God in a mystery," Jesus in his atonement and intercession, the beginning and ending of eve |