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NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES.
BY JOHN C. MILLER, D.D.,
LINCOLN college; honoeaet oason of worcestee; ekctoe of st maetis's, biemixgham.
WOEKS OF THOMAS BROOKS.
COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION.
W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregational Union, Edinburgh.
JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Newlngton Free Church, Edinburgh.
THOMAS J. CEAWFORD, D.D., S.T.P., Professor of Divinity, University, Edinburgh.
D. T. K. DRUMMOND, M.A., Minister of St Thomas's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh.
WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Church History, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., Minister of Broughton Place United Presby- terian Church, Edinburgh.
6fnrral ©Uttor. REV. THOMAS SMITH, M.A., Edinbubgh.
BY THE REV. ALEXANDER BALLOCH GROSART,
THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST. A CABINET OF JEWELS.
EDINBURGH : JAMES NICHOL.
LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO. DUBLIN: G. HERBERT.
PSINTED BY JOHN GEEIO AND SON,
I,-IHE DNSEAECHABLE RICHES OF CHEIST.
Epistle Dedicatoet, . . . . . . 3-6
The words opened, ...... 7-8
The first doctrine. — Tliose that are lowest in their oivn esteem are
highest in God's esteem, proved, . . 8—10
Eighteen properties of an humble soul, . . . 10-26
Five reasons of the point, ..... 26-29
Uses of it, . . . . , . . 29-30
Eight motives to provoke persons to be humble, . . 30-36 Nine directions and helps to keep us humble and low in our own
The dangerous nature of pride held forth in nine propositions :
also, six ways wherein pride shews itself, . . 41—48
The second doctrine. — All saints are not of an equal size and growth
in grace and holiness, . . . 48-49
Twelve things by which souls weak in grace are discovered and
deciphered, ...... 4*9-60
Twelve supports and comforts to uphold weak Christians.
Wherein also you may see how Chx-ist and they are sharers, 60-75
Six duties that lie upon weak saints. And in the opening of them, several weighty questions are propounded and answered, ...... 75-95
The duties of strong saints to the weak shewed in eleven particu- lars, .... . . 95-102
The third doctrine. — That the Lord gives the best gifts to his best he- loved ones, .... 103 What those best gifts are that Christ bestows upon his dearest
ones, shewed in ten particulars, . . . 103-110
The difference between Christ's giving and the world's giving,
shewed in six things, ..... 110-111 The excellency of those gifts that Christ gives above all other
gifts that the world gives, shewed in five things, . . 111-113
Six reasons why God gives the best gifts to his dearest ones, . 113-117 Eight inferences or uses made of this point, . . . 117-122
A word to sinners, ...... 122-124
The fourth doctrine. — That the gifts and graces that God hestotvs upon his people should be improved, employed, and exercised by his people, . . . 124
This point proved and opened, .... 124-125
Twelve reasons why gracious souls should exercise and improve theii' gifts and graces ; in the handling and opening of ■which reasons several other considerable things fall in, . 125—136
Three special ends that the gifts and gi'aces that God has be- stowed upon believers should be exercised and improved to, 136—140
The main use is. To stir up all Christians to make a blessed im- provement of their gifts and gi-aces, . . . 140
Seven considerations or motives to stir saints up to improve their
talents, ....... 141-147
Question : When may a soul be said to be excellent in grace, or to
have highly improved grace ? . . . 147
This question receives ten answers, . . . , . 147-150
The fifth doctrine. — Tliat the Lord Jesus Christ is very rich, . 150
This point is opened and proved by eight arguments, . . 151-155 Four grounds and reasons why the Lord Jesus Christ is held
forth in the word to be so very rich, . . . 155-157 The excellency of the riches of Christ above all other riches in
the -world, held forth in seven particulars, . . 157-lGl
1st Use is, To exhort Christians to labour to be spiritually rich.
Seven considerations or motives to work Christians to this ; in the handling of -which, several weighty questions are answered, ...... 161-172
Question : What means must Christians use that they may grow rich in grace ?
Answered in eight things, ..... 172-179
Seven propositions concerning spiritual riches. The serious minding of them may give to many much satisfaction, and prevent many objections, .... 179-190
Five notes or signs of a person that is spiritually rich, . 190-192
2d Use. Do not join anything with Christ, in the great work
of your redemption and salvation, . . . 192-103
3d Use. If Christ be so rich, then take heed of three things, 193-194
4th Use, If Christ be so rich, oh then open to Christ when he
5th Use, If Christ be so rich, then sit down and wonder at his
condescending love, ..... 194-195
6th Use. If Christ be so rich, then prize Christ above all. Five considerations to work Christians to a high prizing of Christ, ....... 195-198
7th Use. Then trust to Christ, if he be so rich. Trust him with your best treasure. Trust him for power against the remainders of corruption. Trust him to bring you into the land of rest, ... . . . . 198-199
8th Use, If Christ be so rich, then do not leave him, do not
forsake him, do not turn your backs upon him, . . 199-200
9th Use. If Christ be so rich, oh then let Christians strive more and more to clear up their interest in Christ. Six directions herein, ..... 200-202
A word to sinners, ...... 202-208
Kine directions to poor souls that would fain get an interest in
Christ, . ..... 203-207
The sixth doctrine. — That it is the great duty of preachers or ministers to preach Jesus Christ to the jyeople, proved, . Five reasons why ministers must preach Christ to the people, . How Christ is to be preached, shewed in eleven things. (1.) He must be preached plainly, perspicuously, (2.) ... ... faithfully, .
(5.) ... ... zealously, .
(6.) ... ... laboriously,
(7.) ... ... exemplarily,
(8.) ... ... feelingly, experimentally,
(10.) ... ... acceptably, .
(11.) ... ... constantly. They must not lay down
to take up the sword, &c.. Three rules or directions, that such are to observe, as would
preach Christ aright to the people. (1.) They must get a Christ within, ....
(2.) They must mind more, and study more Scripture truths, Scriptui'e mysteries, than human histories. No histories comparable to the histories of the Scriptui-es, hinted in seven things, .... . .
(3.) They should dwell much upon the vanity of human doc- trines, the vanity of which doctrines is discovered in five things, ......
The last doctrine. — Tliat the office of a faithful minister is an honour- able office. Two things are premised for a right understanding of the point,
I. Seven things speak them out to be honourable.