of heavenly things had been necessary to salvation, it would doubtless have been made. Sufficient is revealed to excite our love and admiration; to exercise our faith and obedience; to demand our gratitude and thankfulness; and to prepare us for a future state of universal knowledge and eternal happiness." "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are" plainly "revealed, belong to us, and to our children for ever."

Though we are not able, however, to comprehend the particular manner of the existence of the Three Persons in the Divine Nature, since the Perfections of God are infinite, and beyond our knowledge: nevertheless, we may distinctly trace all the Perfections of the Godhead, but especially the Mercy of God, in each of the Three Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity, graciously manifested to perfect the great work of Salvation.

The Mercy of God the Father, in the Creation and Preservation; the Mercy of

God the Son, in the Redemption; and the Mercy of God the Holy Ghost in the Sanctification of the world.

SECTION XIX.

Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The exhortation of the Apostle St. Paul, "to examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith; and to prove our own selves:" and the admonition of St. Peter, that " we be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in us;" most forcibly caution us to take heed that we believe aright. In the common affairs of life, the consequences of negligence and indiscretion may be remedied by time and diligence; but in the eternal concerns of salvation, error may be fatal and irrecoverable.

Let us be careful, therefore, lest we err, "not knowing the Scriptures," and so make shipwreck of our faith; rather,

guided by the direction of Christ, let us "search the Scriptures, for they are they that testify of Him." Let us "hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that by patience and comfort of his holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which God hath given us in his Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ." In comformity with this precept, we proceed to compare the testimony of Scripture relative to the Incarnation of Christ, with the obligations of this Creed.

And here also, we are bound to approach this "great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh," with the greatest humility: "not finding our own pleasure, nor doing our own ways, nor speaking our own words;" "not tempting the Lord our God," but speaking that which the word of the Lord hath revealed, by holy men of old, " as they were moved by the Holy Ghost:" "and in these latter times, by His Son Jesus," and His inspired

Apostles. Conforming all our thoughts and words to this sacred and unerring standard of Gospel truth: and following also the footsteps, at a distance, of the pious and truly Christian composers and compilers of our incomparably excellent Liturgy; who, in all that they wrote or sanctioned, concerning the doctrines and faith of their Saviour, shew forth the power of the Spirit of grace on their hearts, directing them to "do all things to the glory of God," and the honour of His name, through Jesus Christ.

SECTION XX.

For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

This is the Faith, which the Scriptures declare to be necessary to salvation; and is justly called "the Right Faith."

"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation," Rom. x. 10.

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The faith, therefore, which we confess with our lips, must have a corresponding influence on our hearts, and be made manifest in our lives and conversation: But it is alone through the power of Divine grace that we can believe aright : it is "the Spirit of truth," who alone can " guide us into all truth." With David, therefore, we must approach the throne of grace; and implore God, in the Name of his beloved Son, to "send us the Comforter;" to "create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us;" that we may contemplate with humility, the holy mystery of the Incarnation; and learn of Him, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

That our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and Man; is the foundation and substance; the beginning and end, of the whole, and of every part of the Christian dispensation.

The eternal promise of God proclaimed it the patriarchs of old saw it at a distance: the predictions of the prophets fore