God's Glory

Great , and indeed impenetrable , as is the mystery of evil in God's universe , we can at least believe this , however we fail completely to understand it , that evil is somehow over-ruled for God's glory . This does not abate the malignity of evil in itself as utterly contrary to God's nature , or involve God in the least complicity with it . But it is plain that if God , remaining in utter antagonism to evil , can thus over rule it , it is a yet greater perfection of God to do so , and involves a yet greater humiliation of his enemies . Thus they contribute , against their thought and will  , to the exaltation of the kingdom which they seek to overthrow . . This appears most strikingly of all in regard to the design of evil powers in the Saviour's crucifixion .It was said to the tempter in the first oracle of mercy ," He shall bruise thy head , and thou shalt bruise his heel ;"and it was by the bruising of the Saviour's heel , that Satan led most visibly to the downfall of his own kingdom . If he had not conspired to destroy Jesus the world would not have been redeemed . It was , no doubt a special gratification to the malice of the Wicked One when the Prince of Life expired on the cross , amidst the apparent failure of His whole saving plan . But how dearly was all this purchased , for in the very act of dying , the Saviour fulfilled all the prophecies , sealed the everlasting covenant with blood , ransomed the souls that had so long groaned under Satan's dominion , and acquired the dearest claim to His peoples homage , as having poured out His soul unto death !This was the issue of all Satan's machinations , of the treachery of Judas , of the envy of the high priests , of the rage of the people , of the league between Pilate and Herod , to accomplish the Saviour's sacrifice , to lift Him up on the cross that all men might see Him , and to furnish Him with the instrument of His perpetual victory . The cross also prepared the way for the resurrectionn , in which captivity was led captive , as when, in an ancient triumph , the warlike instruments and inventions of the enemy were borne aloft to illustrate the resources of the victor . The same great law of an over-ruling and compensating Providence is seen in the persecutions and sufferings of the Christian Church.