(5.) He that wants Christ, hath no abi- lity for service ; lie is as Samson, when his locks Avere cut, — his strength is gone from hinv — he wants a vital principle, — lie can- not walk with God, — he is like a dead mem- ber in the body, that hath neither strength nor motion, John xv. 5., " Without me ye can do nothing." The organs will make no sound, unless you blow in them : so unless Christ by his Spirit breathe in the soul, it cannot make any harmony, or put forth strength to any holy action.
(6.) He that wants Christ, hatl> no con- solation ; Christ is called " the consolation of Israel," Luke ii. 25. A Christlcss soul is a comfortless soul ; how can such an one have comfort when lie comes to die? He is in debt, and hath no surety ; his wounds bleed, and he hath no physician ; lie sees the fire of God's wrath approaching, and liath no screen to keep it off; lie is like a ship in a tempest ; sickness begins to make a tempest in his body, and sin to make a tempest in his conscience, and he hath no where to put in for harbour ; oh the terror and anguish of such a man at the hour of death ! Isa. xiii. 8., " Their face shall be as flames;" — an elegant exjiression. The mean- ing is, such fear and horror shall seize upon sinners in the evil dav, that their counte- nances shall change and be as pale as a
flame. What are all the comforts of the world to a dying sinner ? He looks upon his friends, but they cannot comfort him ; bring his bags of gold and silver, they are as smoke to sore eyes, it grieves him to part with them ; bring him music, what comfort is the harp and viol to a condemned man ? There is in Spain tarantulas, venomous spiders, and those who are stung with them, are almost dead, but are cured with music ; but those that die without Christ, who is the consolation of Israel, are in such liell- ish pangs and agonies, that no music is able to cure them.
(7.) He that wants Christ, hatli no sal- vation. Eph. V. 23., " He is the Saviour of the body ;" he saves none but those who are members of liis body mystical ; a strong scripture against the doctrine of universal redemption ; Christ leaped into the sea of his father's wrath, only to save his spouse from drowning ; " he is the Saviour of the body ;" so that those who die out of Christ, are cut off from all hopes of salvation.
Use 3r/, It reproves them who busy themselves about other things with a ne- glect of Christ : Isa. Iv. 2., " Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which sa- tisfieth not ?" If you get all the world, you are but golden beggars without Christ. The physician finds out noxious diseases, but is ignorant of soul-diseases; and while he gets receipts to cure others, he neglects the receipt of Christ's blood to cure himself. The lawyer while he clears other men's titles to their land, he himself wants a title to Christ. The tradesman is busied in buy- ing and selling, but neglects to trade for the pearl of price ; like Israel, who went uj) and down to gather straw, or like the loadstone, that draws iron to it, but refuseth gold. Those who mind the world, so as to ne- glect Christ, their work is but spider-work. Hah, ii. 13., " Is it not of the Lord of hosts that the jieople shall labour in the fire, and weary themselves for very vanity ?"
1. If Christ be all, then set a high valu- ation upon Jesus Christ, 1 Peter ii. 7., "To you whicli believe, he is preci(uis," If there were a jewel which contained in it the worth of all jewels, would you not prize that.'* Such a jewel is Christ; so precious
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is lie, tliat St. raul counted all tilings " dunfr," tliat lie " might win Clirist," Piiil. iii. 8. O tlijit I could raise the ap- preciation of Jesus Christ ! Prize Christ a- bove your estates, above your relations ; that man doth not deserve Christ at all, who doth not prize Christ above all. Jesus Christ is an incomprehensible blessing ; whatever God can require for satisfaction, or can desire for salvation, is to be found in Christ; O then let him be the highest in our esteem ! No writing shall please me, saith St. Bernard, if I do not read the name of Christ there. The name of Christ is the only music to a Christian's ear, and the blood of Christ is the only cordial to a Christian's heart.