Without an interest in Christ, we shall have no comfort in any attribute of God. To a Christless sinner, all the attributes of God are against him; as, for instance,

(i.) God is wise: that is the worse for a wicked man; for he knows all that wickedness [which] thine own heart is privy to, (Jer. 17:10,) and much more evil by thee than thine own heart knoweth. (1 John 3:20.)

(ii.) God is holy: and therefore he must needs hate those that are filthy, being “of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.” (Hab. 1:13.)

(iii.) God is just: and if the righteousness of Christ do not screen thee, the wrath and vengeance of God must needs break out upon thee for thy guilt.

(iv.) God is almighty: and how shall the potter’s vessel endure the least touch of his hand? How shall the chaff stand before the whirlwind of his wrath? How shall the stubble dwell with everlasting burnings? And such are all sinners out of Christ.

All the thoughts of God must needs be terrible to all those souls that are out of Christ. But the name of Christ is that which makes the name of God a sanctuary and “strong tower:” (Prov. 18:10:) the face of God shines upon us “in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6.) As Moses, when he was hid in the rock, could with delight hear the name of God proclaimed; (Exod. 33:21, 22;) so, how sweet and lovely and comfortable are all the attributes of God to all those that are in the Rock, the Rock Christ Jesus! (1 Cor. 10:4.)

(i.) God is a wise God. “The more is my comfort,” may a believer say: “for he knows how to guide me; (Psalm 73:24;) he knows what I want, and how to supply it.” (Matt. 6:32.)

(ii.) God is a holy God. And that is a comfortable attribute; for in Christ he is our “sanctification.” (1 Cor. 1:30.)

(iii.) God is a merciful and gracious God. So he is in himself; but in Christ Jesus he is most merciful, gracious, and full of compassion to pity and pardon his children: “Even as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” (Psalm 103:13.)

(iv.) He is an almighty God, mighty in power: and thus his “name,” through the Lord Jesus, “is a strong tower: the righteous flee unto it, and find succour;” (Prov. 18:10;) and through Christ a believer can say, “If the Lord be for us, it matters not who are against us.” (Rom. 8:31.)

(v.) Lastly. Even the justice of God through the Lord Jesus Christ becomes an attribute of comfortable consideration: for, because God is just, therefore he will not condemn those for whom Christ hath satisfied. “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus;” (Rom 8:1;) God will not condemn those that are in Christ, but for his sake “will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” (Mal. 3:17.)

(William Taylor, Puritan Sermons, Vol 5, Sermon XV, ‘Christ’s Exaltation’)