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SERM.
iC.1
THE BIDDEN LIFE
OF
A
CHRISTIAN.
171
The
word
GOD is
taken
in
scripture,
either
in
general
for the
divine
nature,
which-
is
the
same
in
the Father,
Son, and
Holy Spirit
;
or, in
particular,
for the person
of
the
Father.
And
I.
do
not
see
any
absolute
necessity
to
determine,
precisely, which was
the meaning
of
the
apostle
in
this place.
The
three particulars
by
which
I
-shall
endeavour
to
explain
it, will
include both.
The
life
of
a
christian
is
hidden
in
God;
that
is,
in the all
-
sufficiency
of
the divine
nature,
in
the purpose
of
the
divine
will,
and in the
secret engagements of
the
Father
to his Son
Jesus
Christ,
in
the
covenant of redemption.
1.
The
christian's
life
is
hidden
in
the
all- sufficiency
of
the
divine
nature.
And
there are
immense stores
of
life,
of
every kind,
hidden
in
God, in
this sense.
This
whole world of
beings,
that
have,
and
have
not
souls,
with
all
the infinite varieties
of
the
life
of
plants,
ani-
mals;
and
angels, were
hidden
in
this
fruitful and inex-
haustible fund
of
the
divine all
-
sufficiency,
before
God
began
to
create
a world. All
things were
then hidden
in God
;
for
of
him
are
all things,
and
from him all
things
proceeded,
Rom.
xi. 36.
Now this all-
sufficiency-
of
God
consists in
those
powers
and perfections, where-
by he
is
able to do
all
things for
his
creatures,
and ready
to
do
all for
his
saints;
these
are most eminently
his
wisdom, his
almightiness,
and
his
goodness.
There
are inconceivable
riches
of
goodness and grace
in God,
which
are
employed
in
furnishing
out
life
for
all
his saints
;
and
all
the unknown
preparations
of
future
glory
are the
effects
of
his
grace.
Eph.
ii.
4,
-5.
God,
who
is
rich
in mercy,
for
his
great
love
wherewith
he
loved
us,
when
we
were
dead
in sins,
bath quickened
us
toge-
ther
with
Christ
;
and he did
it
for
this
purpose,
that
in
the
ages to
cone,
he
might
shew
the exceeding riches
of
his
grace, in
his
kindness towards
us
through
Christ
Jesus,
ver.
7.
Not
all
the goodness
that
appears
in
the
rich provision
he
hath made for
all
the
natural
world
of
creatures,
nor
all
the
overflowing
bounties
of
his
provi-
dence, since the
first,
creation,
are equal
to those
un-
searchable treasures
of
mercy and. goodness, which he
bath
employed for the
spiritual
welfare,
and eternal
life
and
happiness
of
his own
chosen children
;
and
in
the
secret
of
this grace were all
the
blessings
of
his'covenant
hidden
from eternity.