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SERM. fallen him, to fome guilt he has contracted, or fome folly he has committed.* Such is the profound wisdom with which Providence conducts its counfels, that, although it does not appear to interpofe, men are made to reap from their actions, the fruits which they had deserved; their iniquities to correct them, and their backflidings to reprove them; and while they fuffer, they are forced to acknowledge the justice of their punishment.-Thefe are not matters of rare or occafional obfervation; but deeply interwoven with the texture of human affairs. They discover a regular plan, a formed fyftem, according to which the whole train of Providence proceeds; and which ma¬ nifefts to every serious obferver the confummate wifdom of its Author.-As thus, in the conftitution of human nature, and in the moral government of the world, divine wifdom fo remarkaably appears, I must observe,

*See Serm. XIII. Vol. iv,

In

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In the third place, That in the re- SERM. demption of the world, and in the œconomy of grace, it shines no lefs confpicuously. The subject which opens to us here is too extenfive to be fully illustrated at present; but the great lines of it are obvious*.-In carrying on a plan, by which forgiveness was to bet dispensed to an offending race, wifdom required that the authority of the legiflator should be fully preferved, and no fuch relaxation be introduced into government, as might give licence or encouragement to offenders. Accordingly, the most admirable provision was made for these important purpofes, by the interpofition of the Son of God fuffering and dying for finners. The fovereign awe of justice is maintained, while juftice is tempered with mercy. Men are bound to righteoufnefs, under the highest fanctions; and ample fecurity and confolation are,

at

*See Serm. V. Vol. i.-Serm. V. Vol. ii.-Serm. XV. Vol. iii.Serm. V. Vol. iv.

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SER M. at the same time, afforded to the penitent. By the inftructions, and example, of their Saviour, they are inftructed in their duty; and through a Mediator and Interceffor, they are encouraged to offer their worship and prayers to the Almighty. They are affured that, in whatever is too arduous for human nature to perform, they fhall be affifted by a divine Spirit; and under all trials and difficulties, they are fupported by the express promise of that eternal life, which is brought to light by the gofpel. It is not poffible for the understanding to conceive any method of falvation, planned with more goodness, and executed with more wisdom, than what is shown in the gofpel of Christ. The confideration of this conftitution alone, gives us full reason to join in that exclamation of the Apostle: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unfearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding

out !*

* Rom. ii. 33

FROM

go

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FROM this short furvey which we SERM have taken of Divine wisdom, as difcovering itself, in the whole complex frame of the moral world; in the conftitution of human nature; in the vernment of human affairs; and in the redemption of the human race; we cannot but perceive how much reason we have to proftrate ourselves before God, and with all humility to worship and adore.When we view that immenfe ftructure of the univerfe in which we dwell; when we think of Him, whose wisdom has planned the whole fyftem of being; whofe mind comprehends, whofe counfels direct, the whole course of events, from the beginning to the end of time, by whom nothing is fo inconfiderable as to be overlooked, or fo tranfient as to be forgotten; who attends to the concerns of the poor man in his cottage, while he is fteering the fun and the moon in their course through the heavens; into what aftonishment and felf-annihilation do we fall! Before him all our boafted knowledge

SERM. knowledge is ignorance, and our wif

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dom is folly. Wherever we caft our eyes on his works and ways, we find all things adjusted in number, weight, and measure; and after all that we can furvey, Lo! these are but a part of his ways; and how Small a portion is heard of him!

It is the power of God, which produces among the multitude of men any impreffions of religion. When thunder roars in the heavens, or an earthquake fhakes the ground, they are ftruck with awe, and difpofed to worship an invisible power. But fuch impreffions of Deity are occafional, and tranfitory. The lasting reverence of a Supreme Being arises, in a well informed mind, from the display of that infinite wisdom which all the universe prefents. Its operations are conftantly, though filently, going on around us. We may view it in the peaceful and fedate state of the univerfe, as well as in its greatest commotions; we behold it in every infect that moves on the ground, at the fame time that we ad

mire