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HOLINESS AND GOODNESS OF GOD.

from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men, he considereth all their works. In this vast survey, he beholds his children with peculiar love. The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death; to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.e

Would any wish to hide themselves from his all-piercing eye, it is impossible; for in him we live, and move, and have our being. He smiles in heaven; he frowns in hell. The veil of night which hides all things from the eyes of man, hides nothing from his eye. No spot in the universe can be found that is beyond the reach of his arm, or where it should cease to be said, Thou, O God, seest me. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.s

§ 4. This adorable and all-seeing God is holy and amiable in the highest degree. He is glorious in holiness. There is none holy as the Lord. He is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity. Just and true are his ways! He is the faithful God, who keepeth truth for ever.n

"High o'er the earth his mercy reigns,
"And reaches to the utmost sky;
"His truth to endless years remains,
"When lower worlds dissolve and die."

Venerable and lovely in his holiness, he is, if possible, still more lovely in his goodness and mercy. He is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Of great mercy.P A merciful God. There is none good but God. He proclaimed his name Jehovah, Jehovah God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

(d) Ps. xxxiii. 18, 19.
(g) Ps. cxxxix. 7-12.
(k) Hab. i. 13.. (1) Rev. v. 3.

(c) Ps. xxxiii. 13. (f) Acts xvii. 28. () 1 Sam. ii. 2.

(n) Ps. xlvi. 6. (0) 2 Cor. i. 3. p) Numb. xiv. (r) Mark x. 18.

(e) 2 Chron. xvi. 9.
(h) Exod. xv. 11.
(m) Deut. vii. 9.
18. (g) Deut. iv. 31.

GOODNESS AND MERCY OF GOD.

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keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. The fountain of his goodness pours forth many streams. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil." He is a God ready to pardon, "is gracious and full of compassion, is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works."w "He is plenteous in

mercy and truth." x The world might drink at the ocean of

his love, and the ocean still be full. "He giveth grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."y

He is the Father of all the righteous; "their Father in heaven;" "and like as a Father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him, for he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust."a A stronger principle of love than natural affection actuates him, " If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him." Parental love in its strongest form cannot rival his. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee."c Love like this cannot be measured. "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens."d Who can measure the heights of heaven? or stretch a line from the east unto the west? Yet this were an easier task, than to tell the extent of divine love. "As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." This charming excellence is his delight. "He delighteth in mercy;" "and taketh pleasure in those that fear him, and that hope in his mercy."8 To sum up all in a few words, "GOD IS LOVE." h

f

His richest love is the love unfolded in the gospel; love, like an ocean, which has neither shore nor bottom, measure, beginning, nor end. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."i

(s) Exod. xxxiv. 6.
(w) Ps. cxlv. 8, 9.
(a) Ps. ciii. 13, 14.
(e) Ps. ciii. 11, 12.

(t) 2 Pet. iii. 9.
(r) Ps. lxxxvi. 5.
(b) Matt. vii. 11.
() Mic. vii. 18.

(u) Luke vi. 35.
(y) Ps. lxxxiv. 11.
(c) Isa. xlix. 15.
(9) Ps. cxlvii. 11.
(i) John iii. 16.

"God com(v) Neh. ix. 17. (z) Matt. vi. 9. (d) Ps. xxxvi. 5. (h) 1 John iv. 16.

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mendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."k" Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." A pious writer observes,

"When God gave us his Son, he gave us an infinitely greater gift than the world: the Creator is infinitely more glorious than the creature, and the Son of God is the Creator of all things. God can make innumerable worlds by the word of his mouth; he has but one only Son, and he spared not his only Son, but gave him to the death of the cross for us all. God's love to his people is from everlasting to everlasting: but from everlasting to everlasting there is no manifestation of it known, or conceivable by us, that can be compared to this. The light of the sun is always the same, but it shines brightest to us at noon: the cross of Christ was the noon-tide of everlasting love; the meridian splendour of eternal mercy. There were many bright manifestations of the same love before, but they were like the light of the morning, that shines more and more unto the perfect day; and that perfect day was when Christ was on the cross, when darkness covered all the land."

Pursuing his schemes of love and mercy, he appears as "the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Jesus Christ."m He loveth those who love his Son." "It is their Father's good pleasure to give them the kingdom." "And God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city.”

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§ 5. All this love is like himself, eternal. "His mercy endureth for ever;" and "is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him." "The heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; but his salvation shall be for ever."s

He who manifests this love is "the eternal God." "A thousand years in his sight are as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." "He inhabiteth eternity;" and such is that eternity, that, compared with it, one day and a thousand years are alike; they are both so insignificant, that one appears as long as the other.

(4) Rom. v. 7,8.
(0) Luke xii. 32.
(s) Isa. li. 6.

() 1 John iv. 2, 10.
(p) Heb. xi. 16.
(1) Deut. xxxiii. 27.

(m) 1 Pet. v. 10.
(9) Ps. cxxxvi. 1.
(u) Ps. xc. 4.
(w) Isa. lvii. 15.

(2) John xvi. 27. (r) Ps. ciii. 17. (v) 2 Pet. iii. 8.

REVERENCE DUE TO GOD.

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§ 6. What awe, what reverence should these views of God inspire! His works, how glorious! but himself how infinitely majestic! When compared with him, his vast creation is mean, as a speck of floating dust; and sun and stars like momentary sparks of fire, just seen and forgotten. Angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, shine with a glory which the loftiest language scarcely describes. Yet thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, cherubim and seraphim, in prostrate homage bow before him, and veil their faces, and cast their crowns at his feet, and cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who is, and was, and is to come." While such is their homage, how reverent should be yours! You, a mote, a worm, an insect, compared with them; yet they, with all their radiant majesty, insects compared with him. While they in his presence shrink into nothing, and less than nothing, what are you! How great a God is our God! Cherish the deepest reverence for him. Should such a God be treated with irreverence? Should he be mocked in professed devotion, "with solemn sounds on a thoughtless tongue?" Abhor and watch against this common sin, and humble yourself in deep abasement before him, for doubtless it has often polluted your soul.

§ 7. What deep concern for a full assurance of his favour should these views of God excite in your heart! O, could we feel but a thousandth part as much where eternity is concerned, as we do when health or comfort is at stake, how seriously and fervently should we inquire, And is God indeed my God? A single doubt would wring the heart with anguish; and uncertainty almost drive us to distraction. Pursue this blessing. If others are satisfied with a little religion, O imitate not such folly, but seek, in and by Jesus, the full assurance of faith. The power and justice of God are armed with ten thousand terrors against every one that is not his child; the love and goodness of God display ten thousand charms to every one that is. O how dreadful must it be to have him for a foe, whose thunders, lightnings, earthquakes, tempests, and pestilences can sweep millions to the grave in a moment! whose command would extinguish the sun, and crush the universe to nothing! But how inexpressibly desirable is such a friend! A friend, whose knowledge no enemy can elude; whose

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IMPORTANCE OF THE DIVINE FAVOUR.

power none can resist, whose wisdom none can baffle, and whose love none can comprehend. Who bids seed-time and harvest, summer and winter, revolve; who kindled up sun and stars; who rolls the moon and planets through the expanse of heaven, and pours floods of light and warmth from the sun upon this distant earth; who saith to the sea, "Peace, be still," and to the seraph in glory, " Go," and he goeth. While all the inanimate creation obey his voice, while angels bask in his smile, while the treasures of heaven are at his disposal, while nothing exists of which he is not the rightful owner, and while devils are shrinking from his frown, and trembling beneath the chains of his wrath, O what is any thing to thee, compared to God!

You have to meet this infinite God. How will you meet him if not become his friend, his child? How will your soul sustain that awful day? How bear the appalling survey of his infinite majesty? How will you shudder at the guilty past! How tremble at the amazing future! Prepare to meet thy God. Whatever engages you, let God engage your most fervent thoughts. Whatever claims your heart, let God have the

first place there.

Much as earthly friendships and earthly cares may now agitate and engage you, remember they are but the things of a moment, compared with what shall be revealed hereafter. The time is coming when those which appear of most importance to your present comfort, and which may now be contemplated with ardent interest, or inexpressible delight, will seem of no moment, any further than as they advance your preparation for eternal scenes. Keep this in mind, and strive to resign all your dearest interests into the hands of the Allwise; and seek your lasting good and best treasure in his love. He deserves your best affections, and your highest regard. How much should the earnestness generally felt after happiness in the present state, impress upon you the value of immortal blessedness! and how much should the anxiety you perhaps feel to secure the affections of kind and amiable friends here, urge upon you the necessity and importance of possessing the love of the ever-gracious God, and adorable Redeemer, both here and hereafter! Compared with our God and Redeemer, what are our tenderest, best, and dearest friends? what even the kindest and most valued parents to

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