(1.) The several worthy names and titles that are given them in Scripture, speak them out to be honourable, .
(2.) Their work is honourable, . . . .
(3.) They are fellow-labourers with God in the salvation of sin- ners. And what greater honour than to be a co-worker with God ?......
(4.) The honourable account that God hath of them, speaks out their office to be honourable, ....
(5.) They serve an honourable master,
(6.) Their very work and service is honourable,
(7.) Their reward is honourable, . .
II. What honour that is that is due to faithful ministers, shewed
in three things. (1.) Honourable countenance is due to them, . (2.) Honourable maintenance, . . . .
(3.) Honourable obedience, .....
Quest. Hoio must Gliristians honour their faithful ministers.
Shewed in five things. (1.) By hearing them, and giving credit to their messages which
they deliver from the Lord, , . . .
(2.) By standing fast in the doctrine of the Lord delivered by
213 213-214 214-215 215-216 216-217 217-218 218-219
219 the Bible 219-220
227-228 228-229 229-236
(3.) By being followers of them, so far as they are followers of
Christ, . . . . . . _ . 230
(4.) By bearing them upon your hearts, when you are in the
mount, ...... 230-231
(5.) By adhering to them, and abiding with them in all their
trials, &c., ...... 231
The use of all, ...... 231-232
n -A CABINET OF JEWELS. '
Epistle Dedicatory, ...... 235-248
Chapter I. — Eighteen special Maxims, Considerations, Eules, and Directions that are seriously to be minded and observed, in order to the clearing up of a man's interest in Christ : the saving work of God upon his own soul ; and his title to all the glory of another world, ...... 249-306
Chapter II. — Many choice, precious, and infallible evidences of true saving grace, upon which a Christian may safely and securely, comfortably and confidently, rest and adventm-e the weight of his precious and immortal soul, and by which he may certainly know that it shall go well with him for ever : and that he has a real saving interest in Christ, and shall be everlast- ingly happy, when he shall be here no more, &c., . . 306-390
Chapter III. — Sound, saving repentance, repentance unto Hfe ; that evangelical repentance that hath the precious promises of remis- sion of sin and salvation running out unto it. So far as may speak it out to be evidential of the goodness and happiness of a Christian's spiritual and eternal condition, . . . 390-436
Chapter IV. — How far an hypocrite cannot go. What an hypocrite cannot do. What a hypocrite is not. The several rounds in Jacob's ladder that no hypocrite under heaven climb up to, . 430-466
Chapter V. — Some propositions and directions, that so you may see what a sober use and improvement Christians ought to make of their evidences for heaven ; and how, in the use of gracious evi- dences, thej* ought to live above their gracious evidences, and how to exalt and lift up Christ above all their graces, evidences, and performances, ...... 400-505
THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST.
The ' Unsearchable Kiches of Christ ' was originally published in 1655. A second edi- tion followed in 1657 ; a third, ' corrected and amended,' in 1661 ; and a fourth in 1671 — all 4to. Our text is the third edition, and its title-page is given below.* — G.
Held forth in Twenty-two
By Thomas Brooks, Preacher of tlie word in London.
The Third Edition Corrected and Amended.
Ipseimus erit tibi omnia, quiain ipso uuo bono, bonasunt om- nia,-4 !(^. [I pleased the father, that in him should aUfitllne?se dwell. Col. 1. 19. In whom are hid all the treasures ofwisdome and knowledi/e. Chap. 2. 3.
LONDON : Brintod by M.S. for John Hancock at the first Shop in Popes head- Alley, next to Cornhill.
To all tnie Israelites, in whom there is no guile, Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied.
Dear Hearts, my design in appearing once more in print is not to please the captious critic, or the sullen cynic, but to heighten your ' fellowship with the Father and the Son,' 1 John i. 3, 4, and to further you in a closer walking with God, and to ripen you more and more for reigning with God when you shall be here no more.
' Beloved in our Lord,' there are two sad and great evils — oh that there were no more ! — among the saints this day. The strong are very apt, yea, they make little of offending the weak ; and the weak are as apt, and make as little of judging and condemning the strong, Rom. xiv. 1-10. The serious and conscientious perusal of this treatise may, by the blessing of the Lord, contribute much to the preventing of those sad evils. You that are weak may, in this treatise, as in a glass, see' your weakness, your mercies, your graces, your duties, your privileges, and your comforts.' You that are weak in grace, may here find many questions answered and doubts resolved, that tend to the satisfying, quieting, settling, and establishing of your precious souls in peace, joy, and assurance. You that are weak in grace, may here find a staff to support you, a light to direct you, a sword to defend you, and a cordial to strengthen you, &c. And you that are strong in grace, may here see what is your way, what is your work, and what at last shall be your re- ward. Here you will find that which tends to the discovery of spirits, the sweetening of spirits, the uniting of spirits, the healing of spirits, and the making up of breaches, &c.
Here you will find ' meat for strong men,' and ' milk for babes.' Here you will find who is more motion than notion ; more heart than head ; more spirit than flesh ; more inside than outside, &c.
Here you will find ' the unsearchable riches of Christ,' — which of all boxes of precious ointment is the most precious — opened ; and oh how
• Invalidum omne natura querulum, weak spirits are ever quarrelling aud contending. — Seneca. [De Animi Tranquillitate. — G.]
4 THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRTST.
sweet must he be, that is the sweetest of sweets ! In Christ are riches of justification ; in Christ are riches of sanctification, riches of consola- tion, and riclies of glorification. And this following treatise may serve as a key, I say not as a golden one, to open the door, that you may come where these treasures lie. Christ's riches are like the eternal springs of the earth, that cannot dry up, but are and shall be diffused by his Spirit and gospel, until his whole house be filled with them.
The excellency and usefulness of the riches of Christ, and answers to many weighty queries about his unsearchable riches, is more than hinted at in this tract. In this tract much is spoken concerning the nature, properties, and excellencies of humility, which is both the beautifier and preserver of all other gi-aces.