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God will overcome all obstacles and all opposition that may come in its way: the truth of God will guarantee every effort that may be required for its fulfilment and the justice of God, which, by itself, is so terrible to the transgressor, will be put forth to realize every thing that it has engaged to confer, with as much strictness and rectitude, as it would have exhibited in inflicting punishment on the guilty, had no mercy interposed for their salvation...

If then we would hope in the Lord as possessing the attribute of mercy, let us not limit our view to that attribute, but let us regard it as inherent in a God of infinite perfection, and with whom therefore it will have its perfect work. Let us consider well the nature and operation of the attributes with which it is indissolubly linked in the divine character, and the effect which they will have on its manifestations in favour of sinful men, both as to their individual and their combined influence. And let us derive from this comprehensive consideration of that which makes God the sinner's refuge and the sinner's hope, all the encouragement, and confidence, and consolation which the necessities of our spiritual condition as fallen creatures so peremptorily and urgently need.

But, while we hope in the Lord because he is merciful, and while we look to the rest of

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God's attributes as aiding in the exhibition of his mercy and in the accomplishment of its designs, it is necessary for us to take the same extended view of God's character, in order that our hope may not degenerate into presumption, but be preserved within safe and legitimate bounds. If we were to think of the divine power, and justice, and wisdom, and faithfulness, as mere auxiliaries to the Divine mercy, as having no other office than to contribute to its demonstration, as employed for the single purpose of rendering it more ample and more efficient, we should be giving it an undue ascendancy, and thus not only destroying the symmetry, and proportions, and mutual dependance that reign in the character of God, and constitute its supreme virtue and glory, but introduce the most mischievous errors into our faith, and our sentiments, and our practice, in reference to it. It cannot be that his mercy should be exerted at the expense or to the disparagement, in any the least degree, of one excellence which beautifies his nature, or upholds his government, or speaks his praise. His mercy is sovereign and gratuitous; and therefore it can only be displayed, when every other quality that belongs to him is fully maintained, and there is no sacrifice of the honour that is due to each, and of

the consistency which pervades the whole. Whenever his mercy cannot be exercised without refusing the demands of his justice, or without bringing into question the immutability of his faithfulness, or without denying the irresistible energy of his power, or without impeaching the infallibility of his wisdom, or without throwing suspicion on the absolute purity of his naturein these cases his mercy cannot be exercised at all, for the exercise of it would involve some shortcoming in his perfection, which is necessarily unqualified and unlimited. It is only of this attribute that it can be said, "He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy;" of every other attribute, it is requisite that we predicate positive and peremptory operation. He must be holy; he must be wise; he must be powerful; he must be just; he must be true; he must be each and all of these whatever betide his universe; and if we, his apostate creatures, cannot be the objects of his mercy except by some surrender of the homage due to them, or some violation of the harmony that reigns among them, his mercy cannot save, and cannot reach us. But this is our comfort, that choosing to manifest his mercy, we may be quite assured that he will form such arrangements as to effectuate its most liberal purposes, and, at the same time,

to make it entirely compatible with all that is perfect and glorious in his character; and this is our duty, to defer to these arrangements, whatever they may be, as necessary alike for his honour, and for our welfare, and never to think of his mercy, and never to seek for it, and never to expect it, without directing our contemplation to all his divine excellencies, and to regard it only in its combination with these, as the ground of that hope which we are exhorted to repose in God.

Thus shall we be prevented from looking for the blessings of salvation from Him, in a way or to an extent, in which they cannot possibly be granted. Thus shall we be prepared for giving that tribute of humble and rational submission which every scheme that he may reveal for our deliverance or our consolation, deserves from such helpless beings as we are. And thus shall it be, that, relying on God, according to what he has declared himself to be, as not only merciful to sinners, but altogether perfect in his dealings with them, neither will our prayers for compassionate treatment be undutiful, nor will our expectations of receiving it be finally disappointed.

Notwithstanding all the qualifications that we can suppose to be imparted to the mercy of God by the existence of his other attributes, and

notwithstanding the necessity, and the wisdom of keeping these qualifications continually in view, when we rest upon it, still it is presented to us in such a light, and celebrated in such strains, and recommended by such facts and examples, throughout the whole volume of inspiration, that we can scarcely appreciate it too highly or depend upon it too assuredly. The Bible is just a divine record of it-a continued testimony to ita bright and cheering emanation from it. From the beginning to the end of this sacred book; from the account which it gives of the first promise, down to the gracious benediction with which its Canon closes; amidst all the truths which it proclaims, and all the providences which it relates, and all the prospects which it unfolds; at every successive period, and through every successive generation, whose history it sets before us,—God is represented to our faith as speaking, and working, and ruling in our fallen world, and this is his unceasing and unchangeable memorial, that he is merciful, and merciful in all the variety of which that character is susceptible, and according to all the circumstances of those upon whom it is made to operate. We see many a manifestation of his other attributes; but amidst them all we see his mercy held forth to our admiration, and working its way, either in faithful promise or in actual application to the heart of the