638 The Wifdom of God, Vol. I. But tho' this Defign of the Gofpel appeared filly and foolilh to rani and in- confiderate and prejudiced Minds, yet to them that are called, to them that do believe, both Sews and Gentiles, Chrifl, the Power of God, and the Wifdom of God; Chrifl that is, the way of our Redemption by yefüs Chrift, which the Apoftle preached, the wifdom of God, an eminent Inflance of it. So that the redemption of Man by Yefus Chrifl is a Defign of admirable Wifdom This I (hall endeavour to confirm to you, I. By general Teftimonies of Scripture. And, II. By a more particular Enquiry mto the Nature of this Defign, and the Means how it is accomplit'd. I. By Teflimonies from Scripture. You know I have all along, in my Dif- tourfes of :the Attributes of God, ufed this Method of proving them , from the Dilates of Natural Light , and the Revelation of Scripture But now I mull forfake my wonted Method, for here the Light of Nature leaves me. The Wifdom of Creation is manifeft in the things which are made ; the heavens de- clare the glory of God's Wifdom , and. the 'firmament thews his handy-work. The Works of God do preach and let forth the Wifdom of the Creator ; but the Sun; Moon,. and. Stars, do hot preach the Gofpel. The Wifdom of redemption is Wifdom in a myffery, hidden PVifïlom, which none of the Princes, or Philofophers, of this Worldknew. The fharpefl Wits, and the higheft and moll railed Under (landings amongtl the Heathens, could fay nothing of this. Here the Wifdom of the Wife, and the Underflanding of the Prudent is poled , and we may make the Apoflle's challenge, v. 2o. of this Chapter, Where is the Wife , where is the Difputer of this World ? There is no natural Light difcovers Clint} ; the Wife Men cannot find him out , unlefs a Star be created on purpofe to lead and dire to him. Therefore in this I thall only,depend upon Divine Revelation. a Cor.2. 7, 8. the Gofpel is called the wifdom of God in a myfiery, even the hidden wifdom which Godordained before the world unto our glory ; Which none of the Princes of this worldknew. Eph. t. 7, 8. In whom we have redemption through his blood , the forgivenefs offins, according to the riches of his grace , wherein he bath abounded to- ward to in all Wifdom andPrudence. Eph. 3. fo, u. The manifold wifdom of God, according to the eternalpurpofe which hepurpofed in Chriß Iefus our Lord. This work of our Redemption by 5tefuus Chriff is fo various.and.admirable , that it is not be- low the Angels to know and .underfland it. To the intent, that untoprincipalities andpowers in heavenly places, might beknown the manifold wifdom of God. II. By enquiring more particularly into the Nature of this Defign and the Means how it is açcomplith'd. This is Wifdom , to fit Means to Ends; and the more difficult the End, the greater Wifdom is required to find out fuitable and fufficient Means for the Accomplifhment of the End. Now the .wifdom of Redem- ption will appear, if we confider the Cafe of fallen Man ; and what fit, and pro- per, and fuitable Means, the Wifdom of God bath deviled for our Recovery. a. Let us confider the Cafe of fallen Man, which was very fad, both to. Re- fpeél of the Mifery, and the Difficulty of it. r. In Refpei of the Mifery of it. Man, who was made Holy and Upright by God , having , by his voluntary Tranlgretlìon , and wilful Difobedience, fàll'n from him, did prefently fink into a corrupt and degenerate, into a mile- rable and curled Condition, of which Heaven and Earth, and his own Con- Tcience bore him Witnefs. Man, being become a Sinner , is not only deprived of the Image of God, but is liable to his Juflice ; here was his Mifery. 2. The Difficulty of the Cafe was this, Man could not recover himfelf and raife himfelf out of his own Ruin ; noCreature was able to do it fo that our help is only in God ; and indeedhe is a merciful God , and doth not defire our. Ruin, nor delight in our Deflruetion : But fuppofe his Mercy never fo willing to fave us, will not his Holinefs, and Juflice , and Truth, check thofe forward Inclinations of his Goodnefs, and hinder all the Defjgns of his Mercy ? Is not Sin contrary to the Holy Nature of God ? Hath not he declared his Infinite Hatred of it ? Hath not hethreatned it with heavy and dreadful Punifhment ? . and laid, that, the flnner (/tall die, that he will not acquit the guilty, nor let fin go
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=