The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

¹1. It affects the Soul with the highest admiration. The strongest Spirits cannot comprehend its just greatness: the understanding sinks under the weight of Glory. The Apostle who had seen the light of Heaven, and had such knowledge as never any man before; yet upon considering one part of the Divine Wisdom, breaks forth in astonishment, Oh the depth of the riches of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Decrees, and his ways past finding out! 'Tis fit when we have spent the strength of our minds in the consideration of this excelling object, and are at the end of our subtlety, to supply the defects of our Understandings with Admiration. As the Psalmist expresses himself, Lord, how wonderful are thy thoughts to us-ward! The Angels adore this glorious Mystery with an humble Reverence.² The admiration that is caused by it, is a principal delight of the Mind: 'Tis true, the wonder that proceeds from Ignorance (when the cause of some visible effect is not known) is the imperfection and torment of the spirit, but that which ariseth from the knowledge of those things which are most above our conception and our hope, is the highest advancement of our Minds, and brings the greatest satisfaction to the Soul. Now the contrivance of our Redemption, was infinitely above the •light of Reason,³ and our expectation. When the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, they were as in a dream: The way of accomplishing it was so incredible, that it seemed rather the picture of Fancy, than a real Deliverance. And there is far greater reason that the rescuing of us from the Powers of Hell, and the restoring us to Liberty and Glory by Christ, should raise our wonder.

¹1. It affects the Soul with the highest admiration. The strongest Spirits cannot comprehend its just greatness: the understanding sinks under the weight of Glory. The Apostle who had seen the light of Heaven, and had such knowledg as never any man before; yet upon considering one part of the Divine Wisdom, breaks forth in astonishment, Oh the depth of the riches of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his Decrees, and his waies past finding out! 'Tis fit when we have spent the strength of our minds in the consideration of this excelling object, and are at the end of our subtilty, to supply the defects of our Understandings with Admiration. As the Psalmist expresses himself, Lord, how wonderful are thy thoughts to us-ward! The Angels adore this glorious Mystery with an humble Reverence.