02 March 2008

Arraigned by Mortal Worms

Read this today:

How astonishing is it, that a person who is blessed forever, and is infinitely and essentially happy, should endure the greatest sufferings that ever were endured on earth! That a person who is the supreme Lord and judge of the world, should be arraigned, and should stand at the judgment seat of mortal worms, and then be condemned. That a person who is the living God, and the fountain of life, should be put to death. That a person who created the world, and gives life to all his creatures, should be put to death by his own creatures. That a person of infinite majesty and glory, and so the object of the love, praises, and adorations of angels, should be mocked and spit upon by the vilest of men. That a person, infinitely good, and who is love itself, should suffer the greatest cruelty. That a person who is infinitely beloved of the Father, should be put to inexpressible anguish under his own Father's wrath. That he who is King of heaven, who hath heaven for his throne, and the earth for his footstool, should be buried in the prison of the grave. How wonderful is this! And yet this is the way that God's wisdom hath fixed upon, as the way of sinners' salvation . . .

--J. Edwards, 'The Wisdom of God Displayed in the Way of Salvation'

One of the reasons Edwards helps us so much is that he asks and answers questions most of us would never think to consider. He spends a chunk of this sermon, for example, exploring what profit there is to the angels in the redemption of humans, trying to squeeze out as deeply as possible the unsearchable wisdom of God in the manner of redemption. !

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