ful to another, and that mutual love may be What is the weak breath of a man to convert preserved. a soul? It is like whispering in the ears of a dead man; this is foolishness in the eye of the world; but the Lord loves to show his wisdom, by that which seems folly, 1 Cor. i. 27, "He hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." Why so? v. 29, "That no flesh should glory in his presence." Should God convert by the ministry of angels, then we should have been ready to have gloried in angels, and have given that honour to them which is due to God: but when God works by weak tools, makes use of men who are of like passions with ourselves, and by them converts, now the power is plainly seen to be of God, 2 Cor. iv. 7, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Herein is God's wisdom seen, that no flesh may glory in his presence.

way

2. The second work wherein God's wisdom shines forth, is the work of redemption: 1. Here was the master-piece of divine wisdom, to contrive a way to happiness, between the sin of man, and the justice of God. We may cry out with the apostle, Rom. xi. 33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" This posed men and angels. If God had put us to find out a way of salvation when we were lost; we could neither have had an head to devise, nor a heart to desire, what God's infinite wisdom had found out for us. Mercy had a mind to save sinners, yet loath that the justice of God should be wronged; "it is a pity," saith Mercy, "that such a noble creature as man should be made to be undone; and yet no reason that God's justice should be a loser. What then shall be found out? Angels cannot satisfy for the wrong done to God's justice, nor is it fit that one nature should sin, and another nature suffer: what then? Shall man be for ever lost?" Now, while Mercy was thus debating with itself, what to do for the recovery of fallen man, here the Wisdom of God stepped in, and thus the oracle spake, "Let God become man; let the second person in the Trinity be incarnate, and suffer; and so for fitness he shall be man, and for ability he shall be God; thus justice may be satisfied, and man saved." O the depth of the riches of the wisdom of God, thus to make justice and mercy to kiss each other! Great is this mystery, "God manifested in the flesh," 1 Tim. iii. 16. What wisdom was this, that Christ should be made sin, yet know no sin; that God should condemn the sin, yet save the sinner? Here was wisdom, to find out the way of salvation. 2. The means by which salvation is applied, set forth God's wisdom; that salvation should be by faith, not by works. Faith is a humble grace, it gives all to Christ; it is an adorer of free grace, and free grace being advanced here, God hath his glory, and it is his highest wisdom to exalt his own glory.3. The way of working faith declares God's wisdom; it is wrought by the word preached, Rom. x. 17, "Faith cometh by hearing."

3. The wisdom of God wonderfully appears in the works of his providence. Every providence hath either a mercy or a wonder wrapt up in it. The wisdom of God, in his works of providence, appears: 1. By effecting great things by small contemptible means. He cured the stung Israelites, by a brazen serpent. If some sovereign antidote had been used, if the balm of Gilead had been brought, there had been some likelihood that this should have healed; but what was there in a brazen serpent? It was a mere image, and not applied to him that was wounded, only he was to look upon it, yet this wrought a cure. The less probability in the instrument, the more is God's wisdom seen.-2. The wisdom of God is seen in doing his work by that which to the eye of flesh seems quite contrary: God intended to advance Joseph, and make all his brethren's sheaves bow to his sheaf: now what way doth he take? first Joseph is thrown into the pit, then sold into Egypt: then after that put in prison, Gen. xxxix. 20. And by his imprisonment, God made way for his advancement. For God to save in an ordinary way, wisdom would not be so much taken notice of. But when he goes strangely to work, and saves in that very way in which we think he will destroy; now, his wisdom shines forth in a most glori

ous, conspicuous manner. God would make them for heaven, 2 Cor. iv. 17. These hard Israel victorious, and what way doth he go frosts hasten the spring-flowers of glory. in? He lessens Gideon's army, Judg. vii. 2, The wise God, by a divine chemistry, turns "The people that are with thee are too afflictions into cordials. God makes his peomany;" he reduceth the army of two-and-ple gainers by losses, and turns their crosses thirty thousand to three hundred, and by into blessings.-4. The wisdom of God is taking away the means of victory, makes Is-seen in this, that the sins of men shall carry rael victorious. God had a design to bring on God's work; yet that he should have no his people out of Egypt, and a strange course hand in their sin. The Lord permits sin, he takes to effect it: he stirred up the hearts but doth not approve it. He hath a hand of the Egyptians to hate them, Ps. cv. 25, in the action in which sin is, but not in the "He turned their heart to hate his people." sin of the action. As in the crucifying of The more they hated and oppressed Israel, Christ, so far as it was a natural action, God the more God plagued the Egyptians, and did concur; if he had not given the Jews life the more glad they were to let Israel go, and breath, they could not have done it; but, Exod. xii. 33. The Egyptians were urgent as it was a sinful action, so God abhorred it. upon Israel, that they might send them out A musician plays upon a viol out of tune; of the land in haste. God had a mind to save the musician is the cause of the sound, but Jonah when he was cast into the sea, and he the jarring and discord is from the viol itself; lets the fish swallow him up, and so bring so men's natural motion is from God, but him to the shore. God would save Paul, and their sinful motion is from themselves. A all that were in the ship with him, and there man that rides on a lame horse, his riding is was no way to save them, but the ship must the cause why the horse goes, but the lamebreak, and they all came safe to land upon ness is from the horse itself. Herein is God's the broken pieces of the ship, Acts xxvii. 44. wisdom, the sins of men shall carry on his In reference to the church, God oft goes by work, yet he hath no hand in them.-5. The contrary means,—makes the enemy do his wisdom of God is seen in helping in desperate work; he can strike a straight stroke by cases. God loves to show his wisdom when crooked sticks, God hath oft made his church human help and wisdom fail. Exquisite lawgrow and flourish by persecution. "The yers love to wrestle with niceties and diffishowers of blood have made her more fruit-culties in the law, to show their skill the ful," JULIAN. Exod. i. 10, "Come, let us more. God's wisdom is never at a loss; but deal wisely with them, lest they multiply;" when providences are darkest, now appears and that way they took to suppress them, the morning-star of deliverance: Ps. cxxxvi. made them multiply; v. 12, "The more they 23, "Who remembered us in our low conafflicted them, the more they multiplied;"dition." Sometimes God melts away the like ground, the more it is harrowed, it bears the better crop. The apostles were scattered by reason of persecution, and their scattering was like the scattering of seed; they went up and down, and preached the gospel, and brought daily converts. Paul was put in prison, and his bonds were a means to en-be upon the altar,-her peace and liberty large the gospel, Phil. i. 12.-3. The wisdom of God is seen in making the most desperate evils turn to the good of his children. As several poisonable ingredients, wisely tempered by the skill of the artist, make a sovereign medicine, so God makes the most deadly afflictions co-operate for the good of his children. He purifies them, and prepares

spirits of his enemies, Josh. ii. 24. Sometimes he finds them other work to do, and sounds a retreat to them, as he did to Saul when he was pursuing David; "The Philistines are in the land." "In the mount will God be seen." When the church seems to

ready to be sacrificed,-now comes the angel.-6. God's wisdom is seen in befooling wise men, and making their wisdom a means of their overthrow. Ahithophel had deep policy, 2 Sam. xvi. 23, "The counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled, in those days was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God:" but he consulted his own shame.

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The Lord turned his counsel into foolishness, most in his way, when we think he is most 2 Sam. xvii. 23; Job v. 13, "He taketh the out of the way; when we think God's church wise in their own craftiness;" that is, when is, as it were, in the grave, and there is a they think to deal wisely, he not only dis- tombstone laid upon her, God's wisdom can appoints them, but ensnares them. The roll away the stone from the sepulchre. snares they lay for others catch themselves, Christ cometh "leaping over mountains," Ps. ix. 15, "In the net which they hid, is Cant. ii. 8. Either his power can remove their own foot taken." God loves to counter-the mountain, or his wisdom knows how to plot politicians; he makes use of their own leap over it.-4. In case we are low in the wit to undo them, and hangs Haman upon world, or have but little oil in our cruse, rest his own gallows. in God's wisdom, he sees it best; it is to Use 1. Adore the wisdom of God; it is cure pride and wantonness. God knew, if an infinite deep the angels cannot search thy estate had not been lost, thy soul had into, Rom. xi. 33, "His ways are past find- been lost. God, he saw riches would be a ing out." And as we should adore, so we snare unto thee, 1 Tim. vi. 9: art thou troushould rest in the wisdom of God; God sees bled that God hath prevented a snare? God what condition is best for us. Did we believe will make thee rich in faith; what thou lackthe wisdom of God, it would keep us from est in temporals shall be made up in spimurmuring. Rest in God's wisdom in seve- rituals: God will give thee more of his love. ral cases: 1. In want of spiritual comfort. Thou art weak in estate, yet God will make God is wise, he sees it good sometimes we thee strong in assurance. O rest in God's should be without comfort. Perhaps we wisdom! he will carve the best piece for thee. should be lifted up with spiritual enlarge-5. In case of the loss of dear friends, a ments, as Paul with his revelations, 2 Cor. wife, or child, or husband,-rest satisfied in xii. 7. It is hard to have the heart low, when God's wisdom. God hath taken away these, comfort is high. God sees humility is better because he would have more of your love; for us than joy. It is better to want comfort, he breaks these crutches, that we may live and be humble, than to have it, and be proud. more upon him by faith. God would have -2. In want of bodily strength, rest in God's us learn to go without crutches. wisdom; he sees what is best. Perhaps the less health the more grace; weaker in body, the stronger we are in faith, 2 Cor. iv. 16, "Though our outward man perish, yet the derstanding heart;" "and the speech pleased inward man is renewed day by day." At the Lord." And there is encouragement for Rome there were two laurel-trees; when the us: "If any one lack wisdom, let him ask of one withered, the other flourished. The in- God who giveth liberally, and upbraideth ward man is renewed. When God shakes not," James i. 5. Wisdom is in God, tanthe tree of the body, he is now gathering the quam in fonte,-as in the fountain; his fruits of righteousness, Heb. xii. 11. Sick- wisdom is imparted, not impaired; his stock ness is God's lance to let out the imposthume is not spent by giving. Go then to God:

Use 2. If God be infinitely wise, then let us go to him for wisdom; as Solomon, 1 Kings iii. 9, 10, "Give thy servant an un

of sin, Isa. xxvii. 9.-3. In case of God's Lord, do thou light my lamp; in thy light providences to his church: we wonder what shall I see light; give me wisdom, to know God is doing with us, and are ready to kill the fallacy of my heart, the subtilties of the ourselves with care, rest in God's wisdom; old serpent, to walk jealously towards myself, he knows best what he hath to do, Ps. lxxvii. religiously towards thee, prudently towards 19, "Thy footsteps are not known." Trust others; guide me by thy counsel, and afterhim where you cannot trace him. God is wards receive me to glory!

OF GOD'S POWER.

THE next attribute is God's power, Job be are ordained of God," Rom. xiii. 1. Kings ix. 19, "If I speak of strength, lo, he is hold their crowns of him, Prov. viii. 15, strong." In this chapter is a magnificent" By me kings reign."

description of God's power: "Lo, he is II. As God hath authority, so he hath instrong!" The Hebrew word for strong, finite power. What is authority without signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. power? "He is mighty in strength," Job. "He is strong :" the superlative degree is in- ix. 4. This power of God is seen, tended here, viz. "He is most strong." He

is called, El-shaddai, ‘God almighty,' Gen. infinite power; all the world cannot make a xvii. 1. His almightiness lies in this, he can fly. God's power in creating is evident: do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish 1. Because he needs no instruments to work between authority and power; God hath with; it is proper to God to work without both. tools.-2. He needs no matter to work upon; first, he creates matter, and then works upon it.-3. He works without labour, Ps. xxxiii. 9, He spake and it was done.'

weary."

Овл. Can God do all things? he cannot deny himself.

ANS. Though God can do all things, he cannot do that which stains the glory of his Godhead: he cannot sin; he cannot do that which implies a contradiction. To be a God of truth, and yet deny himself, is a contradiction.

Use 1. If God be so infinite in power, fear this great God. We are apt to fear such

men's power as large as their will, what work Isa. xl. 28, "He fainteth not, neither is would they make in the world! God's power is of equal extent with his will. God can with a word unpin the wheels, and break the axle-tree of the creation. He can do more than we can think, Eph. iii. 20. He can suspend natural agents; he sealed up the lions' mouths, made the fire not to burn; he made the waters to stand upon a heap; he caused the sun to go ten degrees backward in Ahaz his dial, Isa. xxxviii. 8. What can pose omnipotency? The Lord cuts off the spirit of princes, Ps. lxxvi. 12. He counter-as are in power; Jer. v. 22,"Fear ye not works his enemies; he pulls down their flags me?" saith the Lord: Will ye not tremble and banners of pride, infatuates their coun- at my presence?" He hath power to cast sels, breaks their forces; and he doth it with our souls and bodies into hell! Ps. xc. 11, ease, with the turning of his hand, Ps. lxxxi." Who knows the power of his wrath?" God 24, "with his breath," Isa. xl. 24, "with a can with the same breath that made us, dislook." That is all it needs cost God to de-solve us; "His eyes are as a flame of fire; stroy his enemies; a look, a cast of his eye, the rocks are thrown down by him," Nah. i. Exod. xiv. 24, "The Lord looked into the 6. host of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire, and troubled their host." Who shall stop him in his march? God commands, and all creatures in heaven and earth obey him. Xerxes, the Persian monarch, threw fetters into the sea, when its waves swelled, as if he would have chained up the waters; but when God speaks, the wind and sea obey him; if he say but the word, the stars fight in their courses against Sisera; if he stamp with his foot, an army of angels shall presently be in battalia. What cannot omnipotent power do? "The Lord is a man of war," Exod. xv. 3. He hath a mighty arm. Ps. lxxxix. 13, "God's power is a glorious power," Col. i. 11. (1). It is an irresistible power, Rom. ix. 19, "Who hath resisted his will?" To contest with him, is as if the thorns should set themselves in battle array against the fire; or, as if an infirm child should fight with an archangel. If the sinner be once taken in God's iron net, there is no escaping, Isa. xliii. 13, "There is none that can deliver out of my hand." (2). God's power is an inexhaustible 2. This power of God is against the wickpower; it is never spent or wasted. Men, ed. God's power will not be the sinner's while they exercise their strength, weaken shield to defend him, but a sword to wound it; but God hath an everlasting spring of him. God's power will bind the sinner in strength in him, Isa. xxvi. 4. Though he chains. God's power serves to revenge the spends his arrows upon his enemies, Deut. wrong done to his mercy. God will be Alxxxii. 23, yet he doth not spend his strength. mighty to damn the sinner. Now, in what

Solomon saith, "Where the word of a king is, there is power," Eccl. viii. 4; much more where the word of a God is. O let us fear this mighty God! The fear of God will drive out all other base fear.

Use 2. See the deplorable condition of wicked men: 1. This power of God is not for them: 2. It is against them.

1. This power of God is not for them: they have no union with God, therefore have no warrant to lay claim to his power. His power is no relief to them. He hath power to forgive sins, but he will not put forth his power towards an impenitent sinner. God's power is an eagle's wing to carry the saints to heaven; but what privilege is that to the wicked; though a man will carry his child in his arms over a dangerous water, yet he will not carry an enemy in his arms. God's power is not engaged to help those that fight against him. Let miseries come upon the wicked, they have none to help them; they are like a ship in a storm without a pilot, driven upon the rocks.

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