ways, says Job, but how little a portion is heard of him?” Job xxvi, 14. Though all his ways and dispensations are ordered in infinite wisdom, yet we can but stand at the verge of the ocean, and admire its glory and greatness. Little it is that we can comprehend; yet what may be instructive to further our faith and obedience is not hidden from us.

lowing things are evident in this matter:

And the fol

(1.) That he did not overfill their vessels; he administered light as they were able to bear it: though we know not perfectly what their condition was, yet this we know, that as they needed no more light than they had in their respective generations for the discharge of the duty God required of them; so more light would have unfitted them for somewhat or other, that was their incumbent duty.

(2.) He kept them continually dependent upon himself, waiting for their rule and direction from his sovereign pleasure, which, as it tended to his glory, so it was exceedingly suited to their safety to keep them in an humble, waiting frame.

(3.) He so gave out the light and knowledge of himself, as that the great work which he had so accomplished, which lay in the stores of his infinitely wise will, might not be impeded. He gave light enough to believers to enable them to receive the Redeemer, and not so much, as to hinder obdurate sinners from crucifying him.

(4.) He did this work so, that the pre-eminence of a full and ultimate revelation might be reserved for him, in whom all things were to be "gathered unto an head." And

(5.) There was tender care joined to this infinitewisdom. None of his elect in any age were left without that instruction which was needful for them in

their respective circumstances and generations: and this was so dispensed to them, as that they might have fresh consolation and support as their occasions required. Whilst the church of old was under this dispensation, they were still hearkening in hopes to hear new tidings from heaven for their teaching and refreshment. And if any difficulty befel them, they were sure not to want relief in this kind; which appears to have been a procedure equally proper and necessary, before the final hand was set to the work.

And this discovers the woful state of the present Jews. They maintain that Divine revelation is not perfected; and yet, notwithstanding all their miseries, darkness, and distresses, they dare not pretend that they have heard one word from heaven these two thousand years! that is, from the days of Malachi; but (awful state!) they still labor to keep the veil upon their eyes.

§31. Obs. 4. "We may see hence the absolute perfection of the revelation made by Christ and his apostles, as to every end and purpose whatever, for which God ever did or ever will reveal himself to mortals." For as this was the last way and means that God ever designed for that interesting purpose, so the person by whom he accomplished this work makes it indispensably necessary, that it be also absolutely perfect; from which nothing can be taken, and to which nothing must be added, under the penalty of that extermination threatened to all that will not attend to the voice of that prophet.

$32. Obs. 5. "The Lord Jesus Christ who is the great prophet of his church under the New Testament, the only revealer of the will of the Father, as the Son. and wisdom of God, made the worlds and all things contained in them." And herein we have,

An illustrious testimony given to the eternal Godhead and power of the Son of God, for "he who made all things is God," as the apostle elsewhere affirms; and, to the equity of his being made heir, lord, and judge of all. No creature can decline the authority, or wave the tribunal of him that made them all. And a firm basis for faith, hope, patience, and contentment is administered to the saints in all dispensations. He who is their Redeemer, he who bought them with his blood, hath all that interest in all the things wherein they are concerned, that the sovereign right of creation can afford him; besides that grant which is made to him for this very end, that they may be disposed of for his own glory to their advantage, Isaiah iv, 4, 5. From this order of things, that Christ as the eternal Son of God, having made the worlds, hath them and all things in them put under his power as mediator and head of the church; we may see in what subserviency to the interest of the saints of the Most High, the whole creation is placed. And, hence we learn the way of obtaining a sanctified interest in, and a right use of all created things; namely, not to receive them merely on the general account as made by the Son of God, but on the more special account of their being granted him as mediator of the church.

$33. Obs. 6. "From the apostle's design in this whole discourse we may farther learn, that God in infinite wisdom ordered all things in the first creation, so as that the whole might be subservient to the glory of his grace in the new creation by Jesus Christ." By the Son he made the world in the beginning of time, that in the fulness of time he might be the just heir and Lord of all. The Jews have a saying, that, "the world was made for the Messiah;" which is thus far true, that all things were originally made and ordered, so that God

VOL. II.

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might be everlastingly glorified in the work which the Messiah was to accomplish. Hence the apostle John, in the beginning of his gospel, brings both the creations together; the first by the eternal word, absolutely; the other by him as incarnate, that the suitableness and correspondency of all things in them might be evident. All things at first were made by him; that when 'they were lost, ruined, scattered, they might again, in the appointed season, be "gathered together into one head" in him. The apostle declares not only that all things were made by him, but also for him; so made for him, that he might be the head of the body of the church, that is, that he might be the supreme head and original fountain of the new creation, as he had been of the old. And the end and design of God in the whole of this mysterious plan, was, that the Son might have the pre-eminence in all things.

§34. It is not for us to inquire much into the particular reason of this economy; for "who can by searching find out God, who can find out the Almighty unto perfection?" Job xi, 7. It may suffice us, that he disposeth of all things "according to the counsel of his own will," Ephes. i, 12. This, antecedently to the consideration of its effects, we cannot, we may not search into, Deut. xxix, 29. The effects and consequences of his infinitely holy and wise counsel, wherein his glory shines forth to his creatures, we may consider and contemplate, and rejoice in the light that they will afford us into the treasures of these counsels themselves. Now herein we see,

1. That it was the eternal design of God, the whole creation should be put in subjection to the Word incarnate. "God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,

and things in the earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Phil. ii, 9-11. God hath put all things whatever in subjection to him, see 1 Cor. xv, 24; Heb. ii, 8; Rom. xiv, 11. Hence John saw every creature which is in heav en and earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, ascribing "blessing and glory and honor, and power unto the Lamb for ever and ever," Rev. v, 13; that is, avowing their duty and subjection to him. Again,

§35. 2. God designed from eternity that his great and everlasting glory should arise from the new creation and the work thereof. Herein hath he ordered all things, "to the praise of the glory of his grace," Ephes. i, 6. It is true the works of the old creation did set forth the glory of God, Psalm xix, 1; they manifested his eternal power and godhead, Rom. i, 20; but God had not resolved, ultimately, to commit the manifestation of his glory to those works, though very glorious; and therefore did he suffer sin to enter into the world, which utterly stained the beauty of it, and brought it wholly under the curse. But he never suffered any spot or stain to come upon the work of the new creation, Ephes. v, 6; nothing that might in the least defeat, eclipse, or impair the glory that he intended should accrue to himself thereby. God hath so ultimately laid up his glory in the new creation, as that he will not lose any thing of that, which also is due to him from the old: but neither will he receive it from thence, but as it is transferred into a subserviency to the work of the new. Now God ordered all things so, as that this might be effected without force, coaction, or wresting of the creation besides its own order. And is there any thing more natural and proper, than that