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"God is beauty and love," says ; and these words are echoed by all whose. spiritual vision is not dimmed by sensual feeling and sceptical thought. What is meant by Divine goodness or benignity? Not good-doing, but good-being — goodness of nature.

I. GOD'S BENIGNITY IS A FACT EVER BEFORE THE EYES OF MAN'S INVESTIGATING INTELLECT. Man's logical pathway to this great idea is by three grand stages.

1. The master disposition of a moral being is ever the essence of his moral character. The varied impulses of the soul have been resolved into two grand dispositions — the good-seeking and the self-seeking. With a change of the presiding disposition there comes a thorough revolution of character.

2. The master disposition of an absolutely competent being is always expressed in the general tendency of his works. God is such a being; He has all wisdom, all power; and we are authorised to look upon the universe as the expression of His heart.

3. The general tendency of the universe is to produce happiness. And this general impression is confirmed by all scientific research, which demonstrates that the organisation of all sentient beings is contrived for happiness; and that the external sphere of every such being contains full provision for its happiness. But how comes it, then, that there is so much suffering in the world?

(1)  Sufferings form a small item compared with enjoyments.

(2)  It subserves benevolent ends.

II. IT IS A FACT EVER BEFORE THE EVE OF MAN'S GENERAL CONSCIOUSNESS. And universal man believes in it with a faith underlying all the phenomena of life. There is —

1. A universally felt responsibility for moral evil.

2. A universally felt appreciation of benignity as the essence of excellence.

3. A universally felt obligation to worship.

4. A universally felt desire for continued existence.

III. IT IS A FACT EVER BEFORE THE EYE OF MAN'S BIBLICAL FAITH. The Scriptures reveal the goodness of God as —

1. Conferring blessings of a transcendent character.

2. Conferring these blessings on those who justly deserved His displeasure.

3. Conferring them by means of the most stupendous sacrifice. "He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all." That God should have bestowed any favour upon sinful creatures and enemies is a wonderful display of goodness; but that He should have made such a sacrifice "passeth knowledge." More, He makes us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. His goodness is His glory. Faith in His goodness —

(1)  Is essential to spiritual union;

(2)  is the necessary condition of spiritual culture;

(3)  is the solving principle of all intellectual difficulties touching His government;

(4)  is the under foundation of all our hope.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

WEB: Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.