unsearchable wisdom and mercy the plan of our redemption was formed: we are ready to acknowledge with reverence, that “great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh.” {29a} 3. Intimately connected with this consideration is the recollection of God’s exceeding love towards us, in that “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” {29b} In our very state of guilt and rebellion it was, that He came into the world; that He did and suffered so much, “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Suppose that man had never transgressed; and that God had sent an angel, to shew him the way to a happier and higher condition, than that in which he was created: this would have been an act of free and undeserved mercy; but that He should have sent His beloved Son, to “suffer for sins, the just for the unjust,” {29c} to be born and to tabernacle in a world of guilt and sorrow; to be exposed to rejection and scorn, to indignity and cruelty; to endure the conflicts of Satan and the bitterest agonies of death; this was indeed an act of love, surpassing the bounds of thought; a mystery of goodness “into which angels desire to look,” but cannot penetrate. Every believing soul must be overpowered by such a contemplation; must be lost in wonder, love, and praise. 4. Nor can we learn the manner or degree, in which our merciful Lord is at this moment bestowing blessings upon His Church, and upon every individual believer. When He ascended up to heaven, His work of mediation was not finished; He then took upon Him the office of interceding for His people in all ages: presenting their prayers, and desires, and all their services, for acceptance at the throne of grace; pleading His merits for them; observing all their necessities and wants; and sending His holy spirit and His holy angels, to minister to their infirmities: not a wounded spirit, but He is still ready to bind up and heal; not a sigh from a contrite heart, but He knows and answers; not a child of ignorance, but He is willing to instruct; not a returning prodigal, but He meets; not a prayer or thanksgiving, not a godly thought or wish, of a sincere worshipper and pious servant, but He accepts and blesses: He is ever with us, though unseen; with us by His providence and grace; “about our bed and about our path;” pouring his benefits upon us, temporal, and spiritual: yea upon all His people, at every moment of time, throughout the whole world. We are lost in this mystery of mercy—we can but believe, and gratefully apply the benefit to our souls.