the apostate angels had done before. But how different was the issue of the contest! the angels were cast down from heaven, and reserved in chains of darkness to the judgment of the great day: but peace was proclaimed on earth through the incarnation and sufferings of God's dear Son. The great Peace-maker was now come, to offer an atonement for the transgressions of man, and thereby to procure for him peace with God, and peace in his own conscience. Through him, God is reconciled to a guilty world, not imputing to them their trespasses: and, through him, every believing penitent may have joy and peace; and may look forward with confidence to that crown of righteousness and glory, which shall be given him in the day of final retribution.]

III. As the most astonishing display of God's "good-will to man"

[God had shewn his good-will to man in all his works both of creation and providence: but the most astonishing display of it was in the work of redemption, which was now soon to be completed by the holy child, Jesus. That God should bestow any benefit whatever on such worthless creatures, was amazing: but that he should give his only-begotten Son to take our nature, and to bear our sins; and that he should do this for men, when he had made no such provision for the fallen angels; this was good-will indeed; such as must fill all heaven with wonder for ever and ever.]

Having endeavoured to elucidate the brief expressions of this divine hymn, we would propose the conduct of the angels for our imitation

1. Let us praise God ourselves

[The angels were not so much interested in this event as we; yet they adored and magnified their God on account of it. Let not us then, whose hopes are altogether founded on it, keep silence. Let us rather contemplate the great ends. of the Saviour's incarnation, till we are inflamed with love to his name, and constrained to sing, "Glory to God in the highest."]

2. Let us declare his love to others

[Not content to worship God themselves, the angels endeavoured to stimulate others by their information and ex

This thought was likely to make the deepest impression on the minds of angels; and in that view may be considered as forming a climax: whereas, if we do not advert to that circumstance, the whole song appears an anti-climax.

VOL. IV.

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ample. Let us then say to others, "Behold, we bring you glad tidings of great joy; for unto you is born a Saviour." Let us tell them where and how they may find him; and that, in finding him, they will obtain peace unto their souls. This was an employment worthy of angels; and we, "if we thus water others, shall be watered also ourselves."]

b Ver. 11, 12.

CCCCLXXI. THE POWER AND WISDOM OF GOD.

Ps. cxlvii. 5-7. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.

AN acquaintance with God is the only source of solid and lasting peace

It is by that alone that we can ascertain the extent of our guilt and danger

Or be brought to accept the salvation offered us in the gospel

The Psalmist sets God before us, both in his essential attributes, and his dealings with mankind—

And those two points duly weighed, we shall readily comply with the exhortation addressed to us— We shall consider

I. The attributes here ascribed to God

The power of God is exceeding great

[It is visible to all in the various works of creation — We cannot but admire it in the beauty, order, connexion, and influence of the heavenly bodies

The earth, with every thing upon it, furnishes amazing proofs of it

Who can reflect on all, as formed out of nothing, with perfect ease, and in an instant, and not confess an omnipotent agent?

C

The meanest insect, no less than the largest planet, proclaims the infinite power of him who formed it—

a Rom. i. 20.

< Ps. cxlviii. 5.

b Heb. xi. 3.

d Gen. i. 3.

The works of Providence also discover the same divine

energy

Every moment does the hand of God uphold the universe in its order

Were he to withdraw his influence, the creation would instantly become a chaos

Nor is his power less conspicuous in suspending, than in maintaining, the established laws of nature]

The understanding of God is infinite

[This, no less than his power, is discoverable in all his works

Indeed, without this, his power would excite nothing but terror in our minds

It is the union of these attributes that renders each of them amiable

Either of them without the other might be counteractedBut their united exercise secures to God the accomplishment of his eternal purpose

And makes him at once a proper object of our fear and confidence-]

In these attributes we are deeply interested

II. The manner in which they are exercised

God, as the moral governor of the world, overrules the most contingent circumstances for his own glory He lifteth up the meek

[Meekness is a disposition strongly characteristic of the righteous

There are some indeed who are naturally of a kind and gentle spirit

But the meekness of a true Christian differs widely from any natural endowment

It is a temper of mind arising from a sense of guilt and helplessness

And it is always accompanied with an unreserved surrender of the soul to the will of God

This is a disposition peculiarly approved and beloved of Gods

e Whether he arrest the sun and moon in their career, or suspend the flow of waters, and the action of fire (Exod. xiv. 22. Dan. iii. 27.) or restrain the savage appetite of lions, (Dan. vi. 27.) or preserve his prophet in the belly of a fish, (Jonah i. 17.) we are necessitated to acknowledge the hand of Omnipotence, and to say, This hath God done.

{ Isaiah Ixi. 1.

1 Pet. iii. 4.

They, who possess it, are emphatically pronounced “bless

ed"

God will surely appear for the support and comfort of their souls

Like the Persian monarch, he will not long be deaf to their entreaties

He will lift up the light of his countenance upon them— And at last exalt them to a throne of glory-]

The wicked he casteth down to the ground

[The wicked are properly contrasted with the meekA want of humility and contrition is visible in all unrege nerate persons

Nor can any difference of external character atone for this defect

All who are destitute of that "meekness which is the fruit of his Spirit," are decidedly wicked in the sight of God

These God will cast "down," as monuments of his wrath and indignation

Sometimes he brings them down in mercy, as he did the persecuting Saul'

Then, as in that instance, he altogether renews their heartsBut frequently he abases them by visible marks of his dis pleasure

And hurls them at last into the bottomless abyss of hellSooner or later they shall all be witnesses of the truth of that prophecy."]

Nor are these by any means inconsiderable efforts of God's wisdom and power

[Not all the hosts of heaven could contrive a way to comfort a dejected soul

Or to lift up one who is bowed down under temptation and guilt

To administer effectual relief is a work of omnipotenceHence it is compared to the raising of Christ from the grave, and the setting of him above all the principalities and powers of heaven

Nor is created power able to abase the proud in heartWe may subdue the body, but none can change the dispo sition of the soul

'Hence God himself represents this as the prerogative of himself alone-]

While we behold these things we should be suitably affected by them

III. The effect which this view of them should produce

upon us

The glorified saints and angels are incessantly occupied in songs of praise

Such should be our employment also, while we contemplate God's power and wisdom

1. Even the wicked should sing to him with thanksgiving

[Doubtless, if they continue wicked, they have cause to

tremble

They will never be able either to elude or avert his wrathBut it should be matter of joy to reflect that God is able to save them

If they seek him with humility, his power and wisdom shall be exercised on their behalf

God "knows how to deliver" them from their most inveterate lusts

And to give them such an heart, as he himself will approve

Let the wicked then attend to the prophet's encouraging address

Let them adore God for his forbearance and tender mercySo shall that promise be assuredly fulfilled to them—]

2. The meek in particular have reason to tune their harps to his praise

[They indeed are often troubled on account of their remaining infirmities

And are ready to conclude from their own feelings, that they are forsaken of God

But the consideration of God's wisdom and power would 300n relieve them—

This was proposed to the church of old as the richest source of consolations—

Let the meek then reflect, what an almighty protector they have

May they not well adopt the triumphant language of St. Paul?

Let them consider too what an all-sufficient friend is watching over them

How wise he is to discover, and how mighty to defeat, their subtle adversary!

a Zeph. ii. 3.

Isaiah xl. 27, 28.

Ezek. xviii. 27.

Rom. viii. 31.