From one wonder let our souls turn to another, for they are now in the midst of wonders : adore, and be for ever astonished at the love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners ; that ever he should consent to leave such a bosom, and the ineffable delights that were there, for such poor worms as we are. O the heights, depths, lengths, and breadths of unmeasurable love ! O see, Rom. v. 6, 7, 8. read, and wonder ; how is the love of Christ commended in ravishing circumstances to poor sinners ! * You would be loth to leave a creature's bosom, a comfortable dwelling, a fair estate for the best friend in the world; your souls are loth to leave their bodies, though they have no such great content there ; but which of you, if ever you found by experience what it is to be in the bo- som of God by divine communion, would be persuaded to leave such a bosom for all the good that is in the world? and yet Jesus Christ who was embraced in that bosom after another manner than ever you were acquainted with, freely left it, and laid down the glory and riches he enjoyed there, for your sakes ; and as the Fa- ther loved him ; even so (believers) hath he loved you, John xvii. 22. What manner of love is this! Who ever loved as Christ loves ? Who ever denied himself for Christ, as Christ denied him- self for us ?
Hence we are informed, That interest in Jesus Christ is the true way to all spiritual preferment in heaven. Do you covet to be in the heart, in the favour and delight of God ? Get interest in Jesus Christ, and you shall presently be there. What old Israel said of the children of his beloved Joseph, Thy children are my children ; the same God saith of all the dear children of Christ, Gen. xlviii. 5, 9- You see among men, all things are carried by interest:
* It is admirable that Christ should not only put himself out of comfort, but also from the enjoyment of that manifested glory and honour he might have retained to himself: for he prayeth here for that glory which he had with the Father from the beginning of the world : he had it in right, but not in possession ; he voluntarily divest* ed himself of that to accomplish our redemption, JZurgess on John xvii. 19.
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persons rise in this world as they are befriended ; preferment goes by favour : So it is in heaven, persons are preferred according to their interest in the beloved, Eph. i. 9. Christ is the great favou- rite in heaven : his image upon your souls, and his name in your prayers, makes both accepted with God.
How worthy is Jesus Christ of all our love and delights ? Yoil see how infinitely the Father delighteth in him, how he ravishes the heart of God ; and shall he not ravish our hearts ? I present you a Christ this day, able to ravish any soul that will but view and consider him. 6 that you did but see this lovely Lord Jesus Christ! Then would you go home sick of love: surely he is a drawing Saviour, John xii. 32. Why do ye lavish away your precious affections upon vanity: None but Christ is worthy of them: when you spend your precious affections upon other ob- jects, what is it but to dig for dross with golden mattocks ? The Lord direct our hearts into the love of Christ. O that our hearts, loves and delights did meet and concentre with the heart of God in this most blessed object ! O let him that left God's bosom for you, be embosomed by you, though yours be nothing to God's ; he that left God's bosom for you, deserves yours.
If Christ be the beloved darling of the Father's soul, think what a grievous and insufferable thing it is to the heart of God, to see his dear Son despised, slighted, and rejected by sinners : verily, there is no such cut to the heart of God in the whole world. Unbelievers trample upon God's darling, tread under foot him that eternally lay in his bosom, Heb. x. 29. Smite the Apple of his eye, and how God will bear this, that parable, Mat. xxi. 37, to 40, will in- form you ; surely he will miserably destroy such wretched sinners. If you would study to do God the greatest despight, there is none like this. What a dismal word is that ; 1 Cor. xvi. 22. " If any " man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Ma- <c ranatha," (i. e.) let the great curse of God lie upon that man till the Lord come. O sinners ! you shall one day know the price of this sin ; you shall feel what it is to despise a Jesus, that is able to compel love from the hardest heart. O that you would slight him no more ! O that this day your hearts might fall in love with him ! I tell you, if you would set your love to sale, none bids so lair for it as Christ.
2. Use of Exportation
1. To saints : If Christ lay eternally in this bosom of love, and yet was content to forsake and leave it for your sakes ; then, (1.) Be you
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ready to forsake and leave all the comforts you have on earth for Christ: famous Galleacius left all for this enjoyment. Moses left all the glory of Egypt : Peter, and the other Apostles left all, Luke xviii. 28. But what have we to leave for Christ in com- parison of what he left for us ? Surely Christ is the highest pat- tern of self-denial in the world. (2.) Let this confirm your faith in prayer : If he, that has such an interest in the heart of God, intercede with the Father for you, then never doubt of audience and acceptance with him ; surely you shall be accepted through the beloved, Eph. i. 6. Christ was never denied any thing that he asked, John xi. 42. the Father hears him always ; though you are not worthy, Christ is, and he ever lives to make interces- sion for you, Heb. vii. 25.
(3.) Let this encourage thy heart, O saint, in a dying hour, and not only make thee patient in death, but in a holy manner im- patient till thou be gone ; for whither is thy soul now going, but to that bosom of love whence Christ came ? John xvii. 24. " Fa- " ther, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with <c me where I am :" and where is he but in that bosom of glory and love where he lay before the world was ? ver. 5. O then let every believer encourage his soul ; comfort ye one another with these words, I am leaving the bosom of a creature, I am going to the bosom of God.
2. To sinners, exhorting them to embrace the bosom-son of God : Poor Wretches ! Whatever you are, or have been ; what- ever guilt or discouragement at present you lie under ; embrace Christ, who is freely offered to you, and you shall be as dear to God as the holiest and most eminent believer in the world : but if you still continue to despise and neglect such a Saviour, sorer wrath is treasured up for you than other sinners, even something worse than dying without mercy, Heb. x. 28. O that these discoveries and overtures of Christ ? lay never come to such a fatal issue with any of your souls, in vhose eyes his glory hath been this day opened !
5% THE -FOUNTAIN- of life. serm. iii»
Opens the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and the Redeemer.