When we difcern the footsteps of wifdom and goodnefs in the works of the word of God, how juft is it to acknowledge, and delightful to admire them? It Pf. cxlvii. is a joyful and pleafant thing to be thankful.' Yet all our religious fentiments may be properly tinctured with awe: Serve the pr. ii. 11. Lord in fear; even rejoice unto him with

reverence.

I.

Pf.

To reprefent alfo the divine wisdom to others, in order to awaken the fame just fentiments in them, is on every account highly commendable. But here too, let Understanding be our leader, and our companion Modefty. Our charity fhould be illuminated by knowledge, and the flame of zeal tremble. Otherwife, the apologies we make for Providence may themselves want pardon; and our panegyricks on the Almighty be the facri- Eccles. v. fice of fools. My wrath is kindled against job xlii. thee, faid the Lord to one of his three famous advocates, and against thy two

VOL. II.

D

friends:

I.

7,8.

friends: therefore offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; left I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right.

Our good will may not always atone Job xiii.7. for our prefumption. Will ye fpeak wickedly for God? Dare we draw near even to vindicate the most holy without fome fenfe of our own defilement? He is attacked impiously, we rush in irreve 2 Sam. vi. rently: The ark is fhaken, we put forth unhallowed hands.

6.

Pfal.

lxxxix. 8.

God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the Saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him.

Humility, the most profound and perfect fubmiffion, is the proper difpofition of every creature in his prefence; of angels, archangels, all, and the highest orders of celestial Beings that minifter before the throne of God: how much more

of

of Man that is a worm, and the fon of man Job xxv. which is a worm.

We fubmit then, after much difputing on a dark fubject; after much dif puting, perhaps darker; we fubmit, Lord, ourselves to thee; our conduct to thy command, and our blind reafon and wordy wisdom to thy heavenly light. The very sentiments of truft and gratitude, which are inspired by thy unnumbered mercies, we temper with reverence and godly fear. Thy goodness we cannot fearch to it's fource; but we are fure we have not deferved it: and thy judgments, if they fall on our head, will only defcend upon the guilty. No oppofition can be made to this inftance of thy ju-. ftice; and however difpofed to complain or cavil, we must at least approve the fentence of our own condemnation,

6.

What can we do, but flee for refuge to Hab. vi. lay hold upon the hope fet before us? Him, 18.

1 Cor. i. who of God is made unto us wisdom, and

30.

righteousness, and fan&tification, and redemption; we, unprofitable fervants, rewarded for His merit; we, finners, sheltered from the ftorm of deferved wrath under His fufferings.

We dispute against God's providence, and call his attributes into question, when the innocent are afflicted: Behold

here the only person who was truly fuch: Ifai. liii. it pleased the Lord to make his foul an offering for fin, which he committed not: he had done no violence; yet was he ftricken, fmitten of God, and afflicted: he was wounded for our tranfgreffions, he was bruised for our iniquities. All we like sheep have gone aftray; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Will you accept these offers of divine goodness? Do you consent to be faved on fuch terms? Is the grace of God Rom. v. welcome, though it be a Free gift? and

15.

if

if

you

could not merit fuch mercy; can you be thankful for it?

Or will you rather, perhaps, ftand up in vindication of your rights? refufe to be punished, when you have not offended; and for another's fufferings difdain to be forgiven?

Alas! we know not what we do, when we do other than conform to the purpofes of God. It is His world: and fubmiffion to Him is the fummit both of virtue and of wisdom. All is right

which He wills; every thing good that comes from God.

The peftilence that walketh in darkness, Pf. xci. 6. the fickness that defroyeth in the noon day; the most extenfive and terrible of his judgments, which diftinguish not, to our eye, the righteous from the wicked; pitying neither the innocence of infancy, nor the infirmities of age; but laying D3 wafte