Thirdly, All other mercies derive their sweetness from Christ, and are but insipid things without him. There is a twofold sweetness in things; one natural, another spiritual: Those that are out of Christ can relish the first, believers only relish both. They have the natural sweetness that is in mercy itself, and a sweetness super- natural from Christ and the covenant, the way in which they re- ceive them. Hence it is, that some men taste more spiritual sweet- ness in their daily bread, than others do in the Lord's supper ; and the same mercy, by this means, becomes a feast to soul and body at once.
Fourthly, All mercies have their duration and perpetuity from Christ ; all christless persons hold their mercies upon the greatest contingencies and terms of uncertainty ; if they be continued du- ring this life, that is all : there is not one drop of mercy after death. But the mercies of the saints are continued to eternity ; the end of their mercies on earth, is the beginning of their better mercies in heaven. There is a twofold end of mercies, one per~ fective, another destructive ; the death of the saints perfects and completes their mercies ; the death of the wicked destroys and cuts off their mercies. For these reasons, Christ is called the mercy.
Secondly, In the next place, let us enquire what kind of mercy
SERM. XT. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 205
Christ is ; and we shall find many lovely and transcendent proper- ties to commend him to our souls.
First, He is free and undeserved mercy, called upon that ac- count, The gift of God, John iv. 10. And to shew how free this gift was, God gave him to us when we were enemies, Rom. v. 8. Needs must that mercy be free, which is given, not only to the un- deserving, but to the ill-deserving ; the benevolence of God was the sole, impulsive cause of this gift, John hi. 16.
Secondly, Christ is a full mercy, replenished with all that answers to the wishes, or wants of sinners ; in him alone is found whatever the justice of an angry God requires for satisfaction, or the neces- sities of souls require for their supply. Christ is full of mercy, both extensively, and intensively ; in him are all kinds and sorts of mer- cies; and in him are the highest and most perfect degrees of mercy ; " For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness " dwell," Col. i. 19.
Thirdly, Christ is the seasonable mercy, given by the Father to us in due time, Rom. v. 6. In the fulness of time, Gal. iv. 4. a seasonable mercy in his exhibition to the world in general, and a seasonable mercy in his application to the soul in particular ; the wisdom of God pitched upon the best time for his incarnation, and it takes the very properest for its application. When a poor soul is distressed, lost, at its wits end, and ready to perish, then comes Christ. All God's works are done in season, but none more seasonable than this great work of salvation by Christ.
Fourthly, Christ is the necessary mercy, there is an absolute ne- cessity of Jesus Christ ; hence in scripture he is called the " bread of life," John vi. 41. he is bread to the hungry; he is the " water of life," John vii. 37. as cold water to the thirsty soul. He is a ransom for captives, Mat. xx. 28. a garment to the naked, Rom. xiii. ult. Bread is not so necessary to the hungry, nor water to the thirsty, nor a ransom to the captive, nor a garment to the naked, as Christ is to the soul of a sinner : The breath of our nostrils, the life of our souls is in Jesus Christ.
Fifthly, Christ is a fountain-mercy, and all other mercies flow from him : A believer may say with Christ, " All my springs are " in thee ;" from his merit, and from his spirit, flow our redemp- tion, justification, sanctification, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost, and blessedness in the world to come : " In that day shall there be a " fountain opened," Zech. xiii. 1.
Sixthly, Christ is a satisfying mercy ; he that is full of Christ, can feel the want of nothing. " I desire to know nothing but Jesus kt Christ, and him crucified," 1 Cor. ii. 2. Christ bounds and terminates the vast desires of the soul : He is the very sabbath of the soul. How hungry, empty, and straitened on every side is the
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soul of man in the abundance and fulness of all outward things, till it come to Christ ? the weary motions of a restless soul, like those of a river, cannot be at rest till they pour themselves into Christ, the ocean of blessedness.
Seventhly, Christ is & peculiar mercy, intended for, and applied to a remnant among men ; some would extend redemption as large as the world, but the gospel limits it to those only that believe; and those believers are upon that account called a peculiar people, 1 Pet. ii. 9. The offers of Christ indeed are large and general, but the application of Christ is but to few, Isa. liii. 1. The greater cause have they to whom Christ comes, to lie with their mouths in the dust, astonished and overwhelmed with the sense of so pecu- liar and distinguished a mercy.
Eighthly } Jesus Christ is a suitable mercy, suited in every respect to all our needs and wants, 1 Cor. i. 20. wherein the admirable wisdom of God is illustriously displayed ; " Ye are complete in " him," (saith the apostle) Col. ii. 20. Are we enemies ? He is reconciliation : Are we sold to sin and Satan ? He is redemption : Are we condemned by the law ? He is the Lord our righteous- ness : Hath sin polluted us ? He is a fountain opened for sin, and for uncleanness : Are we lost by departing from God ? He is the way to the Father. Rest is not so suitable to the weary, nor bread to the hungry, as Christ is to the sensible sinner.
Ninthly, Christ is an astonishing and wonderful mercy ; his Name is called wonderful, Isa. ix. 6. and as his name is, so is he ; a won- derful Christ: His Person is a wonder, 1 Tim. hi. 16. " Great is " the mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh.'"
His abasement is wonderful, Phil. ii. 6. His love is a wonderful love ; his redemption full of wonders ; angels desire to look into it. He is, and will be admired by angels and saints to all eter- nity.