ther, through fan&tification of the fpirit unto obedience, and fprinkling of the blood of Jefus Chrift. Another apostle prays in behalf of his hearers that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full affurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement* of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift.

WITH Our fan&tification by the power of divine grace, may also be connected the chriftian's progrefs to perfection as another part of this wisdom. The righteous fhall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands fhall wax ftronger and stronger. That grace of Jehovah which was exercifed in

NOTE.

* The original word which we translate acknowledgment, literally signifies a thorough, perfect, heartfelt knowledge or acquaintance. Such is the translation which is given to the same word in Rom. i. 28. iii. 20. x. 2. 1 Tim ii. 4. Eph. i. 17, and the same translation would, I humbly believe, more fully express the apostles meaning in the present instance. Why does he thus ardently pray that these Colossians might obtain a profound acquaintance with this unsearchable mystery? Probably he intended convincing them that as there is no salvation without an interest in the love of these adorable persons, so a suitable knowledge of the mode of their subsistence, of their offices in our redemption, would much conduce to their spiritųal establisment and consolation.

their election from eternity, and in calling them effectually in time, fecures them infallibly to future glory: His love, of which they are partakers, is unchangeable; the covenant in which they are interested is inviolable, and their union to Jefus the Mediator is indiffoluble and everlasting. I have betrothed thee unto me forever; I give to them eternal life and they shall never perifh, neither is any man able to pluck them out of my hand. This part of the divine wifdom is alfo myfterious.The manner in which the foul, once brought into the covenant, is kept infallibly in the covenant, is cleanfed from ten thousand pollutions, is fupported amidst ten thousand difcouragements, and is enabled finally to rife triumphant over ten thousand oppofitions, is altogether unaccountable. To see a single spark of fire living in the ocean would be myfterious; to see a single foldier maintaining a warfare with a host of adverfaries, each incomparably more artful and powerful than himself, is myfterious; to see a small, infignificant infect attempting to thresh the mountains, and marching victorious over them, would be myfterious; but the believer's progrefs to his Father's kingdom is inconceivably more myfterious. He is weak in himself, he is oppofed by innumerable enemies both within and without; He wrestles not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, with the rulers of the darknefs of this world; with fpiritual wickedness in high places and notwithstanding this fiery conflict,

he rifes more than a conqueror. This part of the divine wisdom, however myfterious, ought freely to be avowed. It is intimately connected with the peace and joy of the spiritual pilgrim; with the glory of the grace and faithfulness and power of a promifing God. The apostle thus addreffes the believing Philippians, Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jefus Chrift.

THIS paffage fuggefts practical instruction, equally interefting to those who minifter, and to those who receive the word of falvation.

1. Ir may be infered, that in divine revelation there are many doctrines myfterious in their nature. Jehovah is a being infinitely above us; his way is in the fea, his path in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known; it is therefore reasonably to be expected, that when HE communicates his will to man there must be fome things hard to be understood; truths which our fi nite capacities are unable to comprehend in their full extent and connection. Who hath known the mind of the Lord? Canft thou by fearching find out God? Canft thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven, what canft thou do? Deeper than hell, what canft thou know? The meafure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea. For what man knoweth the

things of a man fave the fpirit of man which is in him? The child does not always fee the propriety of the conduct of its parents; all the arrangements of the fovereign may not be fatisfactorily obvious to the fubje& : ́ Even fo the things of God knoweth none but the Spirit of God. Muft vain mortals presumptuoutly expect to trace all the movements of HIM who is wONDERFUL IN COUNSEL; WHO MAKETH DARKNESS HIS PAVILION, and fcarcely discovers the fkirts of his glory? It is especially to be expected that in the redemption of man which is the most important, the most fublime of his operations, there will be particular tranfactions utterly above our conceptions. If man was to be restored, he must be restored in a manner worthy of God; in a manner which would reflect glory on all his perfections, and fhew to every fpectator, whether visible or invifible, the purity of his law, and the righteoufness of his government. It is even prefumption in mortals to expect comprehending fully a scheme fo immenfe and elevated, which is defigned to appear the chief of the ways of God, and beyond all his other works to difplay the exceeding riches of his wifdom, and fovereignty and love.There are therefore various doctrines which the holy men who uttered them have represented as unfearchable by us: The Trinity of Perfons in the Divine Effence, the manifeftation of the Son in the likeness of man, the union of two natures infinitely different into one, individual Per

fon, faith that living principle by which the finner is joined to the Saviour, and the refurrection of the body at laft are all, in their turn, pronounced A MYSTERY. Such is the acknowledgment of prophets and apoftles; and therefore if every part of divine revelation appeared perfectly plain, obvious to the understanding at firft view, the bible would be inconfiftent with itfelf; it could no longer be confidered a faithful faying; it might with propriety be rejected as not coming from him whofe ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts than our thoughts.

2. Ir may be infered, that thefe doctrines, however myfterious, fhould be taught without referve by the fpiritual fteward. We Speak the wifdom of God in a mystery. It is readily acknowledged that there are particular truths which ought to be difcuffed with much prudence and caution, left they be abufed by the wanton, or prove ftumbling to the weak. The eternal generation of the Son by the Father; the proceffion of the Spirit from the Father and the Son fhould ever be mentioned with the profoundest reverence as a mystery utterly incomprehenfible; otherwife an impure imagination may be led to conceive of God after the manner of men, or confider the SON and SPIRIT as inferior to the Father. The absolute, eternal election of a certain number to future glory is also a doctrine in the illuftration of which much wisdom is re