Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2024 21:41:10 GMT -5
II. The Wisdom of God
1. As proposing the most proper ends for his conduct, Rom 11:36; Prov 16:4; Isa 43:21.
2. As choosing suitable means, 2 Sam 14:14.
3.As leading him to act by those means in proper circumstances of time and place, Gal 4:4; Eph 1:10; Ezek 16:8; Ezek 28:25-26; Ezek 29:21.
4. As leading to act by a right rule or plan, Eph 1:11; Isa 46:10;Jer 29:11, is called his wisdom.
It appears that God is wise.
1. The Scriptures plainly declare that he is wise, Job 12:13,16; Job 36:4-5; Job 38-39; Job 28:12,22-28; Prov8; Rom 11:33-34; Isa 40:13-14; Dan 2:20; 1 Cor 1:21-25; 1 Cor 3:18; Eph 3:10; 1 Tim 1:17; Jude 25; Rom 16:27.
2. He gives much wisdom to his creatures, 1 Kings 3:12; 1 Kings 4:29; Ezra 7:25; Job 35:10-11;Job 36:22; Job 38:16; Prov 2:6-7;Prov 8:12;Eccles 2:26;Eph 3:10;James 1:5;Isa 28:26;Job 32:8; Matt 16:17; Isa 48:17; Isa 29:24; Jer31:34.
3. His wisdom is extensively and clearly manifested,
1. In his purposes,—in forming so perfectly exact a plan of all that comes to pass in time and eternity,—and of every thing in such perfect correspondence with his principal and subordinate ends, Isa 40:1 14; Isa 46:10; Isa 14:26-27; Eph 1:8-11.
2. In his creation of all things,Prov 8:22-31.—In the amazing variety of creatures, seeds, instincts, members, endowments, vegetative, sensible, or rational,—and of dispositions, quantities, forms, voices, etc. Ps 104:24; Gen 1.—In their beauty, and in their order, with respect to themselves, and in their situations and motions, Eccles 3:11.—In their fitness to answer their respective ends,—and in so connecting things one with another,
in an almost infinity of forms, Hos 2:21-22.
3. In his providence, in 1. His upholding and governing every creature and all its actions and
motions, in exact correspondence to the ends appointed in every particular moment of time, Heb 1:3; Eph 1:11.
2. In making awful and threatening providences an introduction to the most glorious and delightful events. Thus Sarah's long continued barrenness introduced her becoming the mother of multitudes of nations. Jacob's dishonorable exile introduced his receiving of singular manifestations from God; his wrestling and lameness, his reception
of the invaluable blessing, Gen 21; Gen 28; Gen 32.—Horrible wickedness, fearful sorrow and anguish, and lasting debasement, introduced the glorious advancement of Joseph, and the entrance and happiness of Jacob with his children into Egypt, Gen 37-47. The terrible miseries of the Israelites under their Egyptian oppressors, and under Saul, etc. introduced their most glorious deliverances and happiness, Exod 1; Josh 24; 1 Sam 4-31; 2 Sam 1-10; 1 Chron 11-29; 1
Kings 1-10.—Ignorance and wickedness, carried to the uttermost, did, as it were, prepare the world for the incarnation and atonement of Christ, and the honorable spread of his gospel, Rom 1-3; Rom5:20-21; Titus 3:3-5. The persecution and murder of the Son of God, in our nature, by men, were instrumental in promoting the salvation
of men through him, John 11:47-52. Horrible power and progress in impiety and filthiness, have, as it were, introduced distinguished favors from God, and the most singular holiness of life, Rom 5:20 21; Acts 9:22,26; Gal 1:12-24; 1 Cor 15:9-10; 1 Thess 2:1-10; 1 Cor6:10-11.
3. In promoting his own holy and glorious ends amidst all the different, contrary, or wicked ends of his instruments, Isa 10:5 12; Isa 44:28; Isa 45:1-5.—Thus, while the Egyptians hastened the Israelites out of their country, that they might get rid of their plagues, God hastened them out that he might fulfil his promise to
Abraham to a day, if not to a minute, Exod 12:41-42 with Gen 15:13 16. Contrary to the intention of Augustus, the Roman emperor, war or other accidents retarded the enrolment of his subjects in Canaan, till it could bring the virgin Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to bring forth her divine child, that he, herself, and her husband, might
all be enrolled in the public imperial registers of the world, as descendants of David and citizens of Bethlehem, where they resided but a short time, Luke 2; Matt 2; Mic 5:2; Isa 11:1.
4. In his promoting multitudes of ends in one act. Thus the selling of Joseph for a slave, saved the Egyptians and their neighbors from perishing by famine,—corrected Jacob's sinful indulgence of his children,— promoted Joseph's honor,—and drew his father's family into Egypt, Gen 37-47; Ps 105.
5. In promoting ends which are exceedingly remote. Balak's hiring of Balaam to curse the Israelites, and Balaam's
predictions thus occasioned, served to spread the report of the future incarnation of Christ among the eastern nations.—This, about 1500 years after, led the wise men to observe his Star, and come by its direction to worship him at his birth. Their presents supported Him,his mother, and supposed father, while they were exiles in Egypt,
Num 22-24 with Matt 2.
6. In easy counterplotting his most crafty enemies, and making their most violent opposition of his will the very mean of promoting it, Prov 21:30; Ps 33:10; Job 5:12-13; Job 12:16-20; Isa 29:14; 1 Cor 1:20,25,27. Thus the hardness of Pharaoh's heart rendered the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt more honorable and God-like. The alarming invasions of Judea in the days of Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah, issued in the glory and the enrichment of the Jews, 2 Chron 20; Isa 33:3,7; Isa 36; Isa 37.
7. In his exact timing of events. The Israelites were restrained from entering Canaan, till the rebellions despisers of it were all dead,—till the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and they had weakened themselves by their intestine wars, Num 14:26; Gen 15:16; Jud. 1. The incarnation of Christ was delayed, till the need of him to save
men was fully manifest;—till repeated and widespread warnings had raised a sufficient expectation of him;—till the Jews had become wicked enough to persecute and murder him;—and till they had fallen under the power of the Romanswho crucified their slaves, Gal 4:4; Matt 2-27; John 5-19. The church, or her true members, seldom meet with remarkable deliverances till their troubles have come to an extremity, Mic 4:10; Ps 12:5; Deut 32:36; Isa 33:10; Isa 41:17-18; Dan 12:1; Ps 142:4-5; Ps 124; Acts 12:6-14; Rev 11:7-15.
More particularly, God's wisdom appears in his providential government of irrational creatures.
1. In guiding them all to promote ends, which are subservient to the general good of the world, as well as to his own glory, Prov 16:4; Ps 104; Ps 148.
2. In thus guiding them without their own design, and yet agreeably to their diversified instincts.
3. In promoting his government by such means and instruments, as seem to take all the honor of the work, and yet
reserving it all for himself, Rom 11:36; Rev 4:11-13.—It more abundantly appears in his government of mankind.
1. In giving them laws suited to their nature, their condition, their conscience, and their comfort, Rom 7:12,14; 1 Tim 1:8; Ps 19:7-10; Ps 119.
2. In giving them sufficient ability, inclinations, and assistance to obey these laws, unless a curse procured by their disobedience prevent it, Phil 2:12-13; Phil 1:6; Isa 26:12; 2 Thess 1:11.
3. In affording them proper motives and encouragements to obedience suited to their condition, Isa 55:1-7; Jer 3; Hos 14; 1 Cor 15:58; Heb 10-13.
4. In the amazing suitable intimations of his will to them. Christ was long exhibited in promises and types before he appeared in the flesh. He uttered several undervaluing-like words to his mother, whom, he foresaw, the Papists would idolize. "He peculiarly rebuked and recorded the faults of Peter, whom, he foresaw, they would blasphemously avow to be the infallible Head of their church. The doctrine of justification by free grace, through faith in Christ's imputed righteousness, is chiefly delivered in an Epistle to the church at Rome, where, he foresaw, it
would be peculiarly corrupted and denied, John 2:4; Luke 11:27-28;Matt 12:48-49; Matt 14:31; Matt 16:22-23; Matt 26:34-35,69-75;Luke 5:8; John 13:6-10; John 18:19; John 18:11; John 19:26; John 21:20-22; Gal 2:11-14; Rom 1-10.
5. In limiting their sinfulness, and bringing glory to himself, and good to them, out of it; and in making the rage and power of sin contribute to destroy itself, and advance the glory of his free grace, Ps 76:10; Rom 5:20-21.
6. In that manner, the means, the tendency, and even the timing of every change made upon their state, nature, or condition, harmoniously concur to mark his displeasure with sin, and to manifest the exceeding riches of his grace, Rom 5:12-21; 2 Thess 1:6-11; Acts 22:6; 1 Tim 1:11-17; 1 Cor 10; Gal 1:15-16,22-23; Eph 1:3-10; Eph 2:1-10.
But, 4. In nothing doth the wisdom of God appear so much as in our redemption through Christ. It appears in the person of the Redeemer.
1. In choosing him, who was the middle person in the godhead, and the Son of God, to mediate between God and us, and
make us the friends and children of God, that thus the order of mission and operation might correspond with that of the subsistence of the divine nature, John 3:16; Rom 8:16-17; Isa 61:1; Isa 48:16.
2. In so uniting his finite and infinite natures, that they delightfully subsist in one person, without any confusion, composition, or opposition, 1 Tim 3:16; Jer 31:22; Isa 7:14; Isa 9:6; Zech 13:7; John 1:14; Phil 2:6-7.
3. In investing him with mediatorial offices, infinitely well calculated to promote his own glory in the honor of
Christ and our everlasting happiness, Isa 49:1-9; Isa 42:1,8; Isa 61 1 Isa 1:3; Phil 2:6-13; Luke 2:10-14; Eph 3:21; 1 Pet 4:11. 4. In the form and order of his states of abasement and exaltation, infinitely answerable to our guilty, polluted, and wretched condition,—to the covenants and honour of every divine person, Luke 2:10-14; Phil 2:6
11; Luke 24:26; Heb 2:10; Heb 13:20.—It appears in the purchase of our redemption by the obedience and satisfaction of Christ,
1. In reconciling the seemingly discordant perfections of the Deity, by the abasement and death of him, in whom they dwell, Ps 85:10; Matt3:15; Heb 2:10 with Col 2:9.
2. In at once manifesting his greatest hatred of sin, and his greatest love to sinners, Rom 5:6-10; Rom3:24-26; Rom 8:3.
3. In executing his infinite wrath on Christ, from infinite love to him and to us in him, Matt 3:17; Matt 17:5; Isa 53:10; 1 John 4:9-10.
4. In rendering the shame, ignominy, suffering, and death of Christ the grand mean of honor, happiness, and life to him, as Mediator, and to us in him, Phil 2:6-11; Heb 2:8-10; Isa 53:10-12;Rom 5:9-11,15-21.
5. In making men's contempt, abuse, and murder of his Son, the mean of finishing transgression, making an end of sin, bringing in an everlasting righteousness, and destroying the dominion of Satan in the world, Dan 9:24; 1 John 3:5-6,8; 1 Pet 2:24;1 Pet 3:18; Rev 5:9.
6. In thus making every one of his perfections promote its own glory, by the strangest means.—Justice, by punishing the innocent Messiah, and by procuring pardon, peace, and happiness for sinful guilty men,—Mercy, by drawing down
fearful punishment on God's beloved Son, that it might bestow everlasting favors upon the children of Satan,—rebels against God, and heirs of hell.—It appears in the publication of our redemption, in that,
1. All the reports included in it exactly correspond with our necessities, and with the ends for which they were intended and appointed, 1 Tim 1:15.
2. The publication was gradual, as men could bear it, Heb 1:1.
3. The form of it was suited to the infant, or more adult, state of the church, and so was less or more spiritual, Heb 1:1; Heb 10:1; John 1:17; Col 2:17.
4. Imperfect hints relative to the incarnation of the Son of God, and his atonement for sin, were preserved or spread among the heathens, as a mean of facilitating the spread and belief of the gospel, Acts 17:23.
5. God took particular care to have all the leading facts of revelation singularly attested.
6. The more noted declarations of divine truth were remarkably well timed. Those by Moses were published, when the Israelites in the wilderness had the utmost leisure to consider them. The reports of Christ's resurrection were published fifty days after it, when the murderous Jews had time to come to themselves, when the facts were exactly remembered, and when a part of fourteen nations, who attended the feast of Pentecost, were present to hear and spread them, Acts 2.
7. In choosing such instruments and opportunities for this publication, as rendered his own power and goodness in the success of it more obvious, 2 Cor 4:7.—It also appears in the application of our redemption.
1. The persons to whom it is ordinarily applied, are such as we would least expect should have his singular regard; and yet that is made to manifest his glory, 1 Cor1:25-31; 1 Tim 1:13,16.
2. Their own or their neighbor's sinful conduct or misery often occasions the application. Thus Onesimus'
theft and deserting his service, occasioned his conversion to Christ, Philem 10-16.
3. Even the rage of lust and overwhelming trouble are made the means of applying it, Rom 5:20-21; Rom 7:8-13; Isa 33:12 24; 2 Chron 33:11-12; Hos 2:7,14; Hos 5:15; Job 33:14-30.
4. All things, especially such as they most dislike, are made to work together for the good of the elect, and particularly of believers, Rom 8:28; 2 Cor 4:17; 1 Cor 3:22
1. As proposing the most proper ends for his conduct, Rom 11:36; Prov 16:4; Isa 43:21.
2. As choosing suitable means, 2 Sam 14:14.
3.As leading him to act by those means in proper circumstances of time and place, Gal 4:4; Eph 1:10; Ezek 16:8; Ezek 28:25-26; Ezek 29:21.
4. As leading to act by a right rule or plan, Eph 1:11; Isa 46:10;Jer 29:11, is called his wisdom.
It appears that God is wise.
1. The Scriptures plainly declare that he is wise, Job 12:13,16; Job 36:4-5; Job 38-39; Job 28:12,22-28; Prov8; Rom 11:33-34; Isa 40:13-14; Dan 2:20; 1 Cor 1:21-25; 1 Cor 3:18; Eph 3:10; 1 Tim 1:17; Jude 25; Rom 16:27.
2. He gives much wisdom to his creatures, 1 Kings 3:12; 1 Kings 4:29; Ezra 7:25; Job 35:10-11;Job 36:22; Job 38:16; Prov 2:6-7;Prov 8:12;Eccles 2:26;Eph 3:10;James 1:5;Isa 28:26;Job 32:8; Matt 16:17; Isa 48:17; Isa 29:24; Jer31:34.
3. His wisdom is extensively and clearly manifested,
1. In his purposes,—in forming so perfectly exact a plan of all that comes to pass in time and eternity,—and of every thing in such perfect correspondence with his principal and subordinate ends, Isa 40:1 14; Isa 46:10; Isa 14:26-27; Eph 1:8-11.
2. In his creation of all things,Prov 8:22-31.—In the amazing variety of creatures, seeds, instincts, members, endowments, vegetative, sensible, or rational,—and of dispositions, quantities, forms, voices, etc. Ps 104:24; Gen 1.—In their beauty, and in their order, with respect to themselves, and in their situations and motions, Eccles 3:11.—In their fitness to answer their respective ends,—and in so connecting things one with another,
in an almost infinity of forms, Hos 2:21-22.
3. In his providence, in 1. His upholding and governing every creature and all its actions and
motions, in exact correspondence to the ends appointed in every particular moment of time, Heb 1:3; Eph 1:11.
2. In making awful and threatening providences an introduction to the most glorious and delightful events. Thus Sarah's long continued barrenness introduced her becoming the mother of multitudes of nations. Jacob's dishonorable exile introduced his receiving of singular manifestations from God; his wrestling and lameness, his reception
of the invaluable blessing, Gen 21; Gen 28; Gen 32.—Horrible wickedness, fearful sorrow and anguish, and lasting debasement, introduced the glorious advancement of Joseph, and the entrance and happiness of Jacob with his children into Egypt, Gen 37-47. The terrible miseries of the Israelites under their Egyptian oppressors, and under Saul, etc. introduced their most glorious deliverances and happiness, Exod 1; Josh 24; 1 Sam 4-31; 2 Sam 1-10; 1 Chron 11-29; 1
Kings 1-10.—Ignorance and wickedness, carried to the uttermost, did, as it were, prepare the world for the incarnation and atonement of Christ, and the honorable spread of his gospel, Rom 1-3; Rom5:20-21; Titus 3:3-5. The persecution and murder of the Son of God, in our nature, by men, were instrumental in promoting the salvation
of men through him, John 11:47-52. Horrible power and progress in impiety and filthiness, have, as it were, introduced distinguished favors from God, and the most singular holiness of life, Rom 5:20 21; Acts 9:22,26; Gal 1:12-24; 1 Cor 15:9-10; 1 Thess 2:1-10; 1 Cor6:10-11.
3. In promoting his own holy and glorious ends amidst all the different, contrary, or wicked ends of his instruments, Isa 10:5 12; Isa 44:28; Isa 45:1-5.—Thus, while the Egyptians hastened the Israelites out of their country, that they might get rid of their plagues, God hastened them out that he might fulfil his promise to
Abraham to a day, if not to a minute, Exod 12:41-42 with Gen 15:13 16. Contrary to the intention of Augustus, the Roman emperor, war or other accidents retarded the enrolment of his subjects in Canaan, till it could bring the virgin Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to bring forth her divine child, that he, herself, and her husband, might
all be enrolled in the public imperial registers of the world, as descendants of David and citizens of Bethlehem, where they resided but a short time, Luke 2; Matt 2; Mic 5:2; Isa 11:1.
4. In his promoting multitudes of ends in one act. Thus the selling of Joseph for a slave, saved the Egyptians and their neighbors from perishing by famine,—corrected Jacob's sinful indulgence of his children,— promoted Joseph's honor,—and drew his father's family into Egypt, Gen 37-47; Ps 105.
5. In promoting ends which are exceedingly remote. Balak's hiring of Balaam to curse the Israelites, and Balaam's
predictions thus occasioned, served to spread the report of the future incarnation of Christ among the eastern nations.—This, about 1500 years after, led the wise men to observe his Star, and come by its direction to worship him at his birth. Their presents supported Him,his mother, and supposed father, while they were exiles in Egypt,
Num 22-24 with Matt 2.
6. In easy counterplotting his most crafty enemies, and making their most violent opposition of his will the very mean of promoting it, Prov 21:30; Ps 33:10; Job 5:12-13; Job 12:16-20; Isa 29:14; 1 Cor 1:20,25,27. Thus the hardness of Pharaoh's heart rendered the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt more honorable and God-like. The alarming invasions of Judea in the days of Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah, issued in the glory and the enrichment of the Jews, 2 Chron 20; Isa 33:3,7; Isa 36; Isa 37.
7. In his exact timing of events. The Israelites were restrained from entering Canaan, till the rebellions despisers of it were all dead,—till the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and they had weakened themselves by their intestine wars, Num 14:26; Gen 15:16; Jud. 1. The incarnation of Christ was delayed, till the need of him to save
men was fully manifest;—till repeated and widespread warnings had raised a sufficient expectation of him;—till the Jews had become wicked enough to persecute and murder him;—and till they had fallen under the power of the Romanswho crucified their slaves, Gal 4:4; Matt 2-27; John 5-19. The church, or her true members, seldom meet with remarkable deliverances till their troubles have come to an extremity, Mic 4:10; Ps 12:5; Deut 32:36; Isa 33:10; Isa 41:17-18; Dan 12:1; Ps 142:4-5; Ps 124; Acts 12:6-14; Rev 11:7-15.
More particularly, God's wisdom appears in his providential government of irrational creatures.
1. In guiding them all to promote ends, which are subservient to the general good of the world, as well as to his own glory, Prov 16:4; Ps 104; Ps 148.
2. In thus guiding them without their own design, and yet agreeably to their diversified instincts.
3. In promoting his government by such means and instruments, as seem to take all the honor of the work, and yet
reserving it all for himself, Rom 11:36; Rev 4:11-13.—It more abundantly appears in his government of mankind.
1. In giving them laws suited to their nature, their condition, their conscience, and their comfort, Rom 7:12,14; 1 Tim 1:8; Ps 19:7-10; Ps 119.
2. In giving them sufficient ability, inclinations, and assistance to obey these laws, unless a curse procured by their disobedience prevent it, Phil 2:12-13; Phil 1:6; Isa 26:12; 2 Thess 1:11.
3. In affording them proper motives and encouragements to obedience suited to their condition, Isa 55:1-7; Jer 3; Hos 14; 1 Cor 15:58; Heb 10-13.
4. In the amazing suitable intimations of his will to them. Christ was long exhibited in promises and types before he appeared in the flesh. He uttered several undervaluing-like words to his mother, whom, he foresaw, the Papists would idolize. "He peculiarly rebuked and recorded the faults of Peter, whom, he foresaw, they would blasphemously avow to be the infallible Head of their church. The doctrine of justification by free grace, through faith in Christ's imputed righteousness, is chiefly delivered in an Epistle to the church at Rome, where, he foresaw, it
would be peculiarly corrupted and denied, John 2:4; Luke 11:27-28;Matt 12:48-49; Matt 14:31; Matt 16:22-23; Matt 26:34-35,69-75;Luke 5:8; John 13:6-10; John 18:19; John 18:11; John 19:26; John 21:20-22; Gal 2:11-14; Rom 1-10.
5. In limiting their sinfulness, and bringing glory to himself, and good to them, out of it; and in making the rage and power of sin contribute to destroy itself, and advance the glory of his free grace, Ps 76:10; Rom 5:20-21.
6. In that manner, the means, the tendency, and even the timing of every change made upon their state, nature, or condition, harmoniously concur to mark his displeasure with sin, and to manifest the exceeding riches of his grace, Rom 5:12-21; 2 Thess 1:6-11; Acts 22:6; 1 Tim 1:11-17; 1 Cor 10; Gal 1:15-16,22-23; Eph 1:3-10; Eph 2:1-10.
But, 4. In nothing doth the wisdom of God appear so much as in our redemption through Christ. It appears in the person of the Redeemer.
1. In choosing him, who was the middle person in the godhead, and the Son of God, to mediate between God and us, and
make us the friends and children of God, that thus the order of mission and operation might correspond with that of the subsistence of the divine nature, John 3:16; Rom 8:16-17; Isa 61:1; Isa 48:16.
2. In so uniting his finite and infinite natures, that they delightfully subsist in one person, without any confusion, composition, or opposition, 1 Tim 3:16; Jer 31:22; Isa 7:14; Isa 9:6; Zech 13:7; John 1:14; Phil 2:6-7.
3. In investing him with mediatorial offices, infinitely well calculated to promote his own glory in the honor of
Christ and our everlasting happiness, Isa 49:1-9; Isa 42:1,8; Isa 61 1 Isa 1:3; Phil 2:6-13; Luke 2:10-14; Eph 3:21; 1 Pet 4:11. 4. In the form and order of his states of abasement and exaltation, infinitely answerable to our guilty, polluted, and wretched condition,—to the covenants and honour of every divine person, Luke 2:10-14; Phil 2:6
11; Luke 24:26; Heb 2:10; Heb 13:20.—It appears in the purchase of our redemption by the obedience and satisfaction of Christ,
1. In reconciling the seemingly discordant perfections of the Deity, by the abasement and death of him, in whom they dwell, Ps 85:10; Matt3:15; Heb 2:10 with Col 2:9.
2. In at once manifesting his greatest hatred of sin, and his greatest love to sinners, Rom 5:6-10; Rom3:24-26; Rom 8:3.
3. In executing his infinite wrath on Christ, from infinite love to him and to us in him, Matt 3:17; Matt 17:5; Isa 53:10; 1 John 4:9-10.
4. In rendering the shame, ignominy, suffering, and death of Christ the grand mean of honor, happiness, and life to him, as Mediator, and to us in him, Phil 2:6-11; Heb 2:8-10; Isa 53:10-12;Rom 5:9-11,15-21.
5. In making men's contempt, abuse, and murder of his Son, the mean of finishing transgression, making an end of sin, bringing in an everlasting righteousness, and destroying the dominion of Satan in the world, Dan 9:24; 1 John 3:5-6,8; 1 Pet 2:24;1 Pet 3:18; Rev 5:9.
6. In thus making every one of his perfections promote its own glory, by the strangest means.—Justice, by punishing the innocent Messiah, and by procuring pardon, peace, and happiness for sinful guilty men,—Mercy, by drawing down
fearful punishment on God's beloved Son, that it might bestow everlasting favors upon the children of Satan,—rebels against God, and heirs of hell.—It appears in the publication of our redemption, in that,
1. All the reports included in it exactly correspond with our necessities, and with the ends for which they were intended and appointed, 1 Tim 1:15.
2. The publication was gradual, as men could bear it, Heb 1:1.
3. The form of it was suited to the infant, or more adult, state of the church, and so was less or more spiritual, Heb 1:1; Heb 10:1; John 1:17; Col 2:17.
4. Imperfect hints relative to the incarnation of the Son of God, and his atonement for sin, were preserved or spread among the heathens, as a mean of facilitating the spread and belief of the gospel, Acts 17:23.
5. God took particular care to have all the leading facts of revelation singularly attested.
6. The more noted declarations of divine truth were remarkably well timed. Those by Moses were published, when the Israelites in the wilderness had the utmost leisure to consider them. The reports of Christ's resurrection were published fifty days after it, when the murderous Jews had time to come to themselves, when the facts were exactly remembered, and when a part of fourteen nations, who attended the feast of Pentecost, were present to hear and spread them, Acts 2.
7. In choosing such instruments and opportunities for this publication, as rendered his own power and goodness in the success of it more obvious, 2 Cor 4:7.—It also appears in the application of our redemption.
1. The persons to whom it is ordinarily applied, are such as we would least expect should have his singular regard; and yet that is made to manifest his glory, 1 Cor1:25-31; 1 Tim 1:13,16.
2. Their own or their neighbor's sinful conduct or misery often occasions the application. Thus Onesimus'
theft and deserting his service, occasioned his conversion to Christ, Philem 10-16.
3. Even the rage of lust and overwhelming trouble are made the means of applying it, Rom 5:20-21; Rom 7:8-13; Isa 33:12 24; 2 Chron 33:11-12; Hos 2:7,14; Hos 5:15; Job 33:14-30.
4. All things, especially such as they most dislike, are made to work together for the good of the elect, and particularly of believers, Rom 8:28; 2 Cor 4:17; 1 Cor 3:22