His funeral was attended by all | The display which God made of the neighboring clergy; and an himself was begun in creation, excellent sermon preached by and has been continued in his Rev. Joel Benedict, D. D. of providence. His providence is Plainfield; from these words, a most wise government of all Your fathers where are they, his works, and perhaps is not and the prophets do they live different from a continued creaforever?" Zech. i. 5. A very tion; for it implies a continued large and attentive concourse of exercise of the same power and people, hung upon the lips of wisdom, which were exerted in the preacher, while he descri- creating. His upholding and bed some of the prominent fea-government of all things, are as tures of the character of the deceased; and evinced, that their hearts affectionately responded to the justice of this delineation. His remains were deposited by the side of a deceased wife, at whose grave he had erected a plain stone, with this inscription," And Jacob sat a pillar upon Rachael's grave." November 9, 1808.

much an effect of the present will of God as creation was; so that in the highest sense it is true, in him "we live, are moved and have our being." He is a God always present, always acting in our existence, and there is no more possibility of our being distant from him, than there is of a most dependent effect being separated from a most absolute

cause.

The providence of God is a vast scheme of divine action in

Plain Thoughts on a Great Sub- upholding and directing his

THE

ject.

works. It is a vast and eternal display of himself to the finite understanding of his creatures. His common providence is the constant exercise of an efficient agency, according to certain laws of existence and action, which we call the established laws of nature. His special providence is a divine agency exert

HE Lord is incomprehensible in his works. Their greatness, their extent, their variety and their goodness will be matter of wonder to his creatures for ever; it is by his works, that God displays his own infinite nature to creatures, thus leading them to an enjoy-ed in a manner, different from ment of himself; and we may determine they will for ever appear wonderful, and be so in the sight of angels as well as of men. All our knowledge of God is through the medium of his works. There is no intimation, that creatures will ever be able to look directly on God, and to see his perfections, either intuitively or without a medium, as he sees, and knows himself.

the known and established laws of nature and divine action; which is designed more fully to display himself, for his own glory and the good of his creatures. As his scheme of counsel and action was most perfect from eternity, and best in all its parts, the distinction between common and special providence, doth not imply any separation or imperfection of counsel in God;

church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." The church here means, the redeemed church saved from among men. By principalities and pow

or that he was disappointed in the laws and events of his common providence. Both common and special acts of providence were equally included in the original plan; and the verbal distinction was introduced, merely to aid weak creatures iners in heavenly places is probaconceiving and describing to bly meant some other orders of each other the deep things of holy and intelligent creatures. God. Among the works of his It appears by revelation, that special providence, we may in displaying himself, the ever number the great and glorious blessed God acts by the Son, the redemption of sinners. Crea- second person of his divine nation was a great display of him- ture. He was the Creator, is the self, and was necessary to pre- | Redeemer, and will be the Judge cede; but redemption is greater. of angels and men. In him all It more gloriously unfolds the the holy creation is united, and rectitude and goodness of God, by him united to the infinite his manner of enjoying himself, godhead. and of leading his creatures to He is the Creator of all things. the same blessed enjoyment, the "For by him were all things unchangeable nature of his law created that are in heaven, and and government, and the insepa- that are in earth, visible and inrable connection between holi-visible, whether they be thrones, ness and happiness. Redemption or dominions, or principalities was designed by God to be the or powers: all things were crehighest display of himself, and ated by him and for him. And the means of introducing into he is before all things, and by the universe the greatest happi-him all things consist," that is, ness of creatures, and the great- are upheld in being. Jesus est declarations of his own glory. Christ in some sense is the head, Therefore, we should not view in whom all created beings are redemption as designed to amend united and brought nigh to God. a defect in the original scheme How he is the head of redeemof divine government; but ed men is very clearly described should rather consider the crea- in the sciptures. There are also tion as preparatory to the work many clear intimations in the of redemption. Redemption word of God, that he is, in some will give more additional glory sense not explained to us, the to God, and happiness to crea-head of the holy creation." By tures, than could have been from him to reconcile all things to creation without it; and there- himself, by him, I say, whether fore this dispensation of grace, they be things in earth or things in may fitly be called the greatest heaven. And ye are complete in and most glorious of God's him, which is the head of all works. It is said, "to the in- principality and power. That tent that now unto the princi- in the dispensation of the fulpalities and powers in heavenly ness of times, he might gather places, might be known by the together in one all things in

by his holy angels to judge the world. The angels desire to look into the things of redemption.Thus it appears that other crea tures besides men feel deeply in

of redeeming grace. “Thy judg ments are as the light that goeth forth." The dispensations of mercy and judgment to the sinners of this world give instruction to the universe. If the heart be perfectly good, whatever increases knowledge will increase holiness; and whatever increas es holiness will increase happi ness. It is in this way that the angels are benefited by the great work of redemption. Thereby they learn the unsearchable riches of divine goodness, and the awful severity of justice.

Christ, both which are in heaven, | God over one sinner that repent. and which are on earth even in eth. Christ will come attended him." The wonderful scheme of divine wisdom in redeeming men, will have a great iufluence on the state and blessedness of all intelligent creatures. Tho' it be men only who are redeem-terested in the opening scheme ed through the blood of Christ, other holy creatures will be greatly benefited, and their most pure happiness and moral glory will arise from this transaction. The greatest glory of God, and the greatest happiness of his creatures will be for ever united. The greatest display of his essential goodness, will make him most glorious, and his holy creatures most blessed; so that angels may be deeply interested, and their increase of holiness and happiness depend on the gospel grace, although they never sinned or The moral character of God needed redemption. The pro-is the principal object of holy per meaning of the word angel is a messenger, and it is figuratively applied in the holy scriptures, as a general name for all the invisible created spirits. It most commonly means spirits of some order different from the souls of men; but sometimes is used for the spirits of just men made perfect in glory. In the xxii. chapter of Rev. one who is called an angel told John, he was of his brethren the prophets.

enjoyment.

The more he is known, the more blessed and glorious heaven will become to its pure inhabitants. Christians in this world do not generally consider how much the gospel display of an infinite God exceeds all others. The most explicit revelation of the moral law, that could have been made to creatures, without the gospel redemption, would have given but little knowledge of divine recti tude and the nature of holiness, compared with what we now have. These subjects, with the general nature of the moral sys

These invisible spirits are used by God as messengers or agents of his providence in the work of redemption. The hea-tem, are made very luminous to venly hosts are described as joy-the understanding of creatures ful spectators of the great events in the kingdom of grace. At the incarnation they sang an hymn of praise. There is joy in the presence of the angels of

both in heaven and on earth, by the redemption of sinners and the manner of its purchase and application. By this we learn what divine goodness is; a de

one, that it might serve as a rule of duty; the other, to display the character of the lawgiver. To have the best conception of the law it must be seen in practice and execution. Thus we know how the lawgiver esteems his own commandment, and will act in executing it. The law of moral virtue never before appeared so dignified and obligatory on creatures, as it did when Christ died on the cross. The whole moral system never did before appear so full of light-so solemn-so certain so fixed in the eternal counsels, and in the very nature of Godhead.

It is eminently by the gospel that creatures learn what good

light in the blessedness of intelligent beings. By this we learn its infinite degree; so great as to forgive sinners and enemies who deserve eternal rejection; and forgive them by the gift of the Son of God, to humble himself to death, even the death of the cross. By this we learn that God doth not punish from any delight in misery, but from love. By this we learn the nature of justice, and that it is the inflexibility of goodness, so inflexible that the Lord would not spare his own Son from suffering.Considering Jesus Christ as a divine person, how gloriously truth, justice and mercy are displayed on the cross! Here, their nature, their certainty, their in-ness is. The great work of refinite fulness are seen beyond all that could be conceived without this display. By looking into these things the angels know more of God than they knew before. Herein his holiness is opened to their understanding. The goodness that can forgive, the manner of purchase, the manner of applying by irresistible grace, against the sinner's self-destroying temper, and the divine patience, are a very wonderful discovery of what God is in himself. His love of righteousness and of mercy are a high example for creatures of the highest order. They see justice and judgment to be the habitation of his throne, and mercy and truth going before him.

By the gospel, through which men are saved, all creatures may learn the determination of God to maintain, in the highest dignity and obligation, the law under which they were created and must for ever exist. There were two reasons for giving the law;

demption is goodness displayed from its infinite source, so as to become an example of its nature to all creatures. This shows that sinners may be subjects of goodness; that there is nothing private and self-interested in its nature; and that general wellbeing is the end which it seeks. In these respects, redemption by such means as infinite wisdom hath chosen, is a new view of goodness and its most excellent nature, which the works of creaation never could give. By the gospel God convinces angels that the awful justice of his nature is the same as his love; and that his holiness could not ordain a law, or his justice appoint a penalty, for the sake of general good, which his Son would not obey, to promote the same end.

Redemption is the highest possible display of divine wisdom, a greater display than the work of creation admits. It displays God turning evil to a

human natures, remain vile and miserable for ever, the sum of glory and blessedness is increas

good account, bringing light out
of darkness; and making in the
universe a greater quantity of
boliness and happiness, thaned.
Iwould have been without sin
and misery. How astonishing
the wisdom which doth this!!!

The admission of sin was connected with the scheme of redemption; and redemption, above all other means, unfolds to finite understanding, the plenitude of eternal Godhead. Thus he is revealed by the execution of his counsels to the understanding of creatures, and admired in the holiness and glory which he will give to his saints. Thus by the admission of sin and by redeeming grace, the nature of holiness will be infinitely better known by creatures, than if moral evil had

It may be remarked of all the effects of sin, so far as we have had opportunity to see their termination, that through the di"rection of infinite wisdom, they turn to the confusion of the kingdom of evil. Though the devices of sin may appear to prosper for a season, we do always see them finally blasted. So innumerable have been the instances of this, that the raised expectation of sinners, in their evil ways, shows a strong blind-never been. ness of mind. How wonderful This subject, when considerwill the wisdom of God appeared in its great extent, shows in the end," when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe!" Then it will be seen, through a divine ordering, that this rebellion hath turned to the greatest glory of God and bless-above angels or other orders of edness of his kingdom. Thus all the hosts of heaven will behold the wisdom and holiness of their Lord.

the credibility of the gospel revelation, and the weakness of several objections made against it by some disbelievers. They have said, it is not credible that men should be a favored race

intelligent creatures.

They have said it is not credible, that the divine nature should become incarnate, and sinners be saved, by such expensive means as the gospel publishes.Such ob objections betray both a want of goodness in the objector, and ignorance of God's counsel and

The government of the Lord is a scheme of wisdom and holiness, in which all the parts from eternity to eternity, are connected. The admission of sin into the system has often ex-motives. It is true the goodcited the wonder of finite minds. ness exercised to sinners is wonWhen the elect angels saw the derful and unmerited ; but in fall of their fellows in glory, and this great work God is not ac· of mankind, doubtless their sur- ting for the good of sinners onprise at the event was great; | ly. He is promoting his own but before this they have receiv-glory, and making himself haped full conviction that the Al-py, in the communication of mighty is holy, wise and good in his grace; this is his design, and the permission; and that altho' his own happiness consists in many, both of the angelic and making an infinite display of his