The Communicant's Companion (continued)
3. The choice of the person who should undertake it is marvelous;—the
Son of his love, that in parting with him for us he might commend his lave; —the eternal Wisdom, the eternal Word, that he might effectually accomplish this great design, and might not fail nor be discouraged; a person every way fit, both to do the Redeemer's work, and to wear the Redeemer's crown. It is spoken of as an admirable invention—" I have found a ransom;" and, "I have found David my servant." On earth there was not his like, nor in heaven either.
4. The Redeemer's consent to the undertaking is marvelous.—Considering his own dignity and self-sufficiency, our unworthiness and obnoxiousness, the difficulty of the service, and the ill requitals he foresaw from an ungrateful world, we have reason to admire that he should be so free, so forward to it; and should say, "Lo, I come: here am I, send me." Never was there such a miracle of love and pity; verily it passeth knowledge.
5. The carrying on of his undertaking in his humiliation is marvelous.— His name was wonderful. His appearance in the world, from first to last, was a continued series of wonders; without controversy, great was this mystery of godliness. The bringing of the first begotten into the world was attended with the adorations of wondering angels. His doctrine and miracles, while he was in the world, were admirable; they that heard the one, and saw the other, were beyond measure astonished. But his going out of the world was the greatest wonder of all: it made the earth to shake, the rocks to rend, and the sun to cover his face. Never was there such a martyr, never such a sacrifice, never such a paradox of love as that was. "God forbid that we should glory, save in the cross of Christ," which is so much the wisdom of God and the power of God.