Christ is a vast volume, a great book, wherein we may see and read the wisdom of God in a mystery. This book is open to us in the gospel, and if the Spirit of faith be allowed, we have no more ado, but to turn over the leaves, and in every page we will see written in capital letters, WISDOM, WISDOM, WISDOM: INFINITE WISDOM. Wisdom in contriving such a salvation of sinners, as should redound to the greatest glory of God. Wisdom in choosing such a person to be the Saviour and Redeemer, even the fittest person of all the three glorious persons of the adorable Trinity, the middle person to be Midsman and Mediator betwixt God and man. Wisdom in furnishing him with all the help and assistance in this work, that the other two glorious persons could give him, while he is sealed by the Father, and anointed by the Spirit; "Him hath God the Father sealed: and the Spirit of the Lord God is upon uniting the most distant extremes, in joining God and man in one person, the infinite and eternal God with a piece of clay. O wisdom, wisdom shines here! Wisdom in punishing the sin, and yet pardoning the sinner: taking vengeance on the crime, and yet shewing mercy on the criminal. This wisdom of God shines in the face of Christ, the Surety of the better testament. Wisdom in bringing the greatest good out of the greatest evil, and all by the most unlikely means; making sin itself, which tends to the greatest dishonour of God, to contribute to his greatest glory; while salvation from it, by Jesus, brings in glory to God in the highest; and while in him also is brought life out of death, and the highest salvation out of the deepest humiliation. Wisdom in counteracting the policy of the old serpent in such a wonderful manner, making the seed of the woman to bruise the head of the serpent; and the babe of Bethlehem to conquer all the armed legions of hell.—But to turn over all the leaves of this book, will be the work of eternity; however, all this wisdom, and infinitely more, is to be seen in Christ.
—Ralph Erskine
