meaning and importance of it still appears foolishness to those who are not truly enlightened by the Blessed Spirit. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The false wisdom of the world, though professedly Christian, would substitute some other modification of truth for the simple doctrine of the Cross. They who consult merely human reason can see no wisdom in the ignominious death of Jesus Christ. They pervert or abuse the most sober statements of the doctrine founded upon it; and tacitly substitute for it the covenant of works, or mere details of morals, or some scheme of a remedial law. In every age there is a tendency to obscure or neglect or misrepresent the pure, truth of the Gospel of Christ. Human wisdom would improve on divine. Only the truly penitent and humble are willing to become fools that they may be wise.

Still the cross of Christ is really THE

MOST ASTONISHING DISPLAY OF DIVINE WISDOM.

The designs of wisdom were, in this instance, laid as deep, as the arm of power was lifted high. In human efforts, we seldom see the union in an equal measure of wisdom and power. Where the mightiest force is exerted, prudential considerations are often overlooked. Or, on the contrary, where a consummate wisdom is dis

cernible, we do not always perceive the full display of power. But in the plans of God, and especially in that before us, we discover the greatest degree of both; it is as much the wisdom of God, as it is his power. To the principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. In the cross of Christ, God hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence. The Apostles in declaring it, preached the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom; which the angels desire to look into.

To

Something of this will appear if we consider THE PERSON OF THE CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR. have laid help upon one that was mighty, tọ have given his only begotten Son to be made man; to have found out a way in which the human and divine nature might be united in one mysterious person; to have made this union of the two natures in Christ, the foundation of the reconciliation of God and the fallen creature; to have discovered a method in which God might suffer, and suffer in the same nature which had sinned; to have united finite with infinite, omnipotence with weakness, immortality with mortality, is beyond all question the highest evidence of wisdom.

THE PREPARATION OF THE WORLD FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST, AND ESPECIALLY FOR HIS OFFERING HIMSELF A SACRIFICE FOR SIN, discovers

the supreme wisdom of God. The longer any great design is in preparation, and the more numerous the expedients and events, which, though apparently unconnected, yet all tend to the production of a common end, the greater is admitted to be the skill of the contriver. Now, in the measures which for four thousand years were preparing for the mysterious sacrifice of the Cross, what wisdom is manifested! The gradual revelation of this mystery from the first dawn of promise in the garden of transgression. to the full blaze of light in the predictions of Isaiah and Malachi, is an evidence of this. The successive dispensations of the covenant of grace to Adam and Noah and Abraham and Moses; the separation of a particular person as the father of the faithful and the progenitor of the Messiah; the selection, first of Jacob, and then of Judah, from the descendants of Abraham the whole economy of Moses, calculated in the highest degree to preserve the memory of the original promise are all manifestations of the wisdom of God. Such also is the institution of sacrifices, as a type of the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ once for all, by which the leading feature of the future Gospel dispensation was perpetually presented to the mind, and an expectation of a real sacrifice maintained.

We may discern a still more remarkable evidence of wisdom in the method by which Gom

SECURES THE INTERESTS OF HOLINESS, AT THE SAME TIME THAT HE PROVIDES FOR THE PARDON

OF SIN, BY THE DEATH OF CHRIST. There ap peared to be an irreconcilable breach between God and man. Whatever pleas mercy might put in, justice and truth seemed absolutely to overthrow them. Though mercy might sue for the pardon of the transgressor, yet holiness op posed to it the interests of the moral govern ment of God. Now, in the mystery of the cross of Christ, these different claims are adjusted. Justice triumphs in the death of the surety, mercy in the pardon of the transgressor. Justice is honoured in the sufferings of the Son of God, and mercy in the application of those sufferings to the offender. God now deals with our sins in a way of infinite severity, and with our persons in a way of infinite compassion. The greatest hatred of sin and the greatest love to the sinner-eternal love and eternal hatred-are manifested at one and the same time. God is just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other, O stupendous display of wisdom! The law and holiness of God as the supreme legislator, are more honoured in the sufferings of the eternal Saviour, than they could have been by the uninterrupted and perpetual obedience of men and angels; and the glory of the divine attributes is

thereby more illustriously exhibited to all intelligent creatures, than if every transgressor had personally endured eternal punishment! *

THE

But the wisdom of God further appears in

VICTORY ACHIEVED OVER SATAN IN THE VERY ACT BY WHICH HE APPEARED TO TRIUMPH

OVER THE SAVIOUR. Never did the powers of darkness seem to obtain such a victory as in the scenes of Gethsemane and Calvary. Till then the prince of darkness and his angels had trembled before the divine and beneficent power of the Son of God. But, in the crucifixion, they' appear to triumph. Satan tempts Judas to betray Christ he succeeds. He provokes the Jews to demand his crucifixion; the conscience of the Roman governor is overpowered, and the innocent Saviour is condemned. Already the hosts of darkness anticipate the final overthrow of the kingdom of the Messiah. The despised Redeemer is scourged and buffetted and mocked and spit upon. His disciples forsake him and fly. He is nailed to the cross. Thieves are his companions in suffering. He is deserted even by his heavenly Father. The crown of thorns, the nail, the spear, the vinegar, appear all to conspire to accomplish the designs of hell. At last the Saviour gives up the ghost. But in the

* See Charnock on the Attributes; Art. Wisdom of God.