[7.] Seventhly, Such as have made a considerable improvement of their gifts and graces, have hearts as large as their heads; whereas most men's heads have outgrown their hearts, &c.
[8.] Eighthly, Such are always most busied about the highest things, viz., God, Christ, heaven, &c., Philip, iii.; ^ Tim. iv. 8; 2 Cor. iv. 18; Rom. viii. 18.
[9.] Ninthly, Such are always d-doing or receiving good. As Christ went up and down doing good. Mat. iv. 23 ; chap. ix. 35 ; Mark vi. 6.
[10.] Tenthly and lastly, Such will mourn for wicked men's sins as well as their oivn. Oh the tears, the sighs, the groans, that others' sins letch from these men's hearts ! Pambus, in the ecclesiastical history, wept when he saw a harlot dressed with much care and cost, partly to see one take so much pains to go to hell, and partly because he had not been so careful to please God, as she had been to please a wanton lover, Jer. ix. 1, 2; 2 Pet. ii. 7-9.>
I have at this time only given you some short hints, whereby you may know whether you have made any considerable improvement of that grace the Lord hath given you. I do intend, by divine permission, in a convenient time to declare much more of this to the world, I shall follow all what hath been said with my prayers, that it may help on your internal and eternal welfare.
' The unsearchable riches of Christ.' — Eph. iii. 8.
Now, the next observation that we shall begin with is this:
That the Lord Jesus Christ is very rich.
And the second will be this :
That the great business and ivork of the ministry is to hold forth to the people the riches of Christ.
We shall begin with the first point at this time, namely, that the Lord Jesus Christ is very rich.
For the opening of this point, we shall attempt these three things :
I. To demonstrate this to be a truth, that the Lord Jesus is very rich.
XL The grounds why he is thus held forth in the word, to be one full of unsearchable riches.
IIL To shew you the excellency of the riclies of Christ, above all other riches in the world.
IV. And then the use of the point.
I. For the first, that the Lord Jesus Christ is very rich.
[1.] First, Express scHpture speaks out this truth. He is rich in > Socrates : H. E. iv. 28.— U.
EpH. hi. 8.] KICHES OF CHRIST. 1-51
goodness: Rom. ii. 4, 'Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness,' his native gocraness,' &c., that is ready to be employed for thy internal and eternal good, &c.
Again, He is rich in wisdom and knowledge: Col. ii. 3, 'In whom,' peaking of Christ, ' are hid aU the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' Christ was content that his riches should be hid from the world ; there- fore do not thou be angry that thine is no more known to the world. What is thy one mite to Christ's many millions ? &c.^
Again, He is rich in grace: Eph. i. 7, ' By whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his giace.'
Again, He is rich in glory: Eph. i. 18, ' That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheri- tance in the saints.' So in chap, iil 16, ' That he would grant unto you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.' So in Philip, iv. 19, ' But my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ.' The riches of glory are unconceivable riches. Search is made through all the bowels of the earth for something to shadow it by. The riches of this glory is fitter to be believed than to be discoursed of, as some of the very heathens have acknowledged.^
[2.] But, secondly, as express scripture speaks out this truth, that Christ is very rich, so there are eight things more that do with open mouth speak out Christ to he very rich.
(1.) First, You may judge of his riches, by the doiury and portion that his Father hath given him. In Ps. ii. 7, ' Thou art my Son, this day have I begottfen thee ; ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy pos- session.' He is the heir of all things ; all things above and below, in heaven and earth, are his. Heb. i. 2, ' God hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things.' Christ is the richest heir in heaven and earth. Men cry up this man to be a good match and that ; and why so, but because they are great heirs 1 Ah ! but what are all the great heirs of the world to this heir, the Lord Jesus ? Joseph gave portions to all his brethren, but to Ben- jamin a portion five times as good as what he gave the residue. So the Lord scatters portions among the sons of men. He gives brass to some, gold to others ; temporals to some, spirituals to others ; but the great- est portion of all he hath given into the hands of Christ, whom he hath made the heir of all things : Rev. xi. 15, ' And the seventli angel sounded, and there were gTeat voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ ; and ne shall reign for ever and ever.' So in chap. xix. 11, 12, 'And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns.' Mark that ! What are princes' single crowns, and the pope's
1 As man is an epitome of tlie whole world, so is Christ of all wisdom and knowledge &c. , ^
2 JN'ec Christus nee caelum patitur hyperbolem, neither Christ nor heaven can be hyper- bolised. \_A ugustine. — G.]
152 THE UNSEARCHABLE [EPH. III. 8
triple crown, to Christ's many crowns ? Certainly he must be very rich, that hath so many kingdoms and crowns. Wait but a whne, and you shall see these scriptures made good, &c.
(2.) Secondly, You may judge of his riches, hy his keeping open house for the relief and supply of all created creatures, both in heaven and in earth.