Our apostle here concludes his excellent epistle with. solemn doxology or thanksgiving to God; in which he first describes God, and then ascribes eternal glory to him. He describes him both by his power and by his wisdom.

By his power first, To him that is able to establish you according to my gospel; that is, to establish you, in grace and truth, in faith and holiness, and to keep you from falling into sin and error. Such is our weakness and Satan's power, that unless God confirm and establish us, we shall soon run into sin and danger.

Observe farther, The instrumental means which God makes use of for his people's establishment; and that is, the gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the gospel which Christ and his apostle taught and delivered. This is called. mystery, kept secret since the world began, and now made manifest for the obedience of the faith; that is, that it may be believed and obeyed.

The second attribute in the description of God, is his wisdom: he is called the wise, the only wise God; not to exclude the Son and Holy Ghost, but the wisdom of the creature only. He is only wise originally, his wisdom is of himself: yea, his wisdom is himself: the wisdom of God is not. quality separable from himself, but is his very essence and nature.

He is only wise, because he is incomparably wise; there is none for wisdom can compare with him. He has wisdom in such. degree and eminency, that the very angels are chargeable with folly before him.

In. word, he is only wise, because all wisdom of angels and men is but. ray from his light,. drop from his ocean. And if so, then let the wisdom of God, in all his dealings with us and ours, be admired and adored by us; for all his works of providence are as orderly and perfect as his works of creation, though we perceive it not.

Now unto him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and ever. Amen.

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Old Testament