There are no such blessings in the world to parishes, cities, and nations, as those souls are, that are rich in grace. Oh they are great blessings to all places where they come ; they are persons that are fit for the highest and no])lest employments. There is not the highest work that is too high for a man that is rich in grace ; nor the hottest work that is too hot for a man rich in grace ; nor the lowest work be- low a man rich in grace. Such a man will not say, I would do it, but that it is below my place, my blood, my parts, my education. May Christ have honour ? may others have good ? If so, I will do it, saith the soul that is rich in grace, whatever comes of it, and bless God for the opportunity : Dan. vi. 3, ' Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him ; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm."" Why was Daniel set upon the throne, but because there was a glorious excellent spirit in him, that fitted him for the highest employment ? So Joseph was a blessing to his master's family, and the people among whom he lived. No such blessings to people and places, as souls rich in grace. So in Neh. vii. 2, ' I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem ;' and why he ? 'for he was a faith- ful man, and feared God above many.' Oh the wisdom, the prudence, the zeal, the courage, the compassion, the patience, the self-denial, that should be in magistrates 1 There is a truth in that old maxim, iniagi- stratus viruni indicat, magistracy will try a man. None fit to rule, but such that are rich in grace ; such a one will be iiater patrioe, father of his country. What a world of good may a man do with worldly riches, in a parish, in a city, in a nation ! but that is nothing to the good that a man may do that is rich in grace. Oh the sins that lie may prevent ! Oh the judgments that he may divert ! Oh the favours and blessings that he may draw down upon the heads and hearts of people ! I presume you forget not what a blessing Moses, Joseph, Job, Nehemiah, Mordecai, and Daniel, proved to the people among whom they lived ; and these were all rich in grace. A man rich in wLsdom, rich in faith, rich in goodness, &c., oh what a blessing may he prove to Ignorant souls, to staggering souls, to wandering souls, to tempted souls, to deserted souls, &c. Look, what the sun is to us, that may a soul rich in grace be to others, &c. 0 friends ! would you be blessings to your families ? would you be blessings to the city, to the nation ? Oh thea
EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. I7l
labour to be rich in grace, and do not think it enough that you have so much grace as will keep you from dropping into hell, and that will bring you to heaven ; but labour to be rich in grace, and then you will prove indeed a blessing to the place and nation where you live.
The Romans, when they did perceive any natural excellency to be in any persons, though they were never so poor and mean, they would take them from their dinners of turnips and water-cresses, to lead the Roman army.^ It is true, that natural and moral endowments will enable men to do much ; but grace will enable men to do ten thousand times more. There is no work too high nor too hard for souls rich in grace ; and therefore, as you would be choice instruments in the Lord's hand, and eminently serviceable in your generations, oh labour to be rich in grace ! It is not he that hath most wit in his head, but he that hath most grace in his heart, that is most fit for generation-work.
[6.] Sixthly, A rich measure of grace will bear out your souls in several cases, therefore labour to be rich in grace.
A rich measure of grace will bear out the soul under great means of grace. When a soul is spiritually rich, this will bear him out under great means. Such a one will be able to look God in the face with joy and comfort ; he can say. It is true, Lord, I have had more means than others, and lo ! I am grown richer than others. Thou hast taken more pains with me than with others, and lo ! I bring forth more fruit than others : my five talents are become ten. But a little grace will not bear men out under much means of grace.^
Again, A great measure of grace will bear the soul out under a great name, as well as under great means. For a man to have a great name to live, and yet to have but a little life, is a stroke of strokes ; to be high in name and little in worth, is a very sad and sore judgment.^ To have a name to be an eminent Christian, and yet to be poor in faith, in love, in wisdom, in knowledge, &c., is the greatest unhappiness in the world. This stroke is upon many in these days. But that which is saddest of all is this, they feel it not, they observe it not. But now he that is rich in grace, hath something within that will bear him out un- der a great name in the world.
Again, a great measure of grace will bear you out under great desires, as well as under a great name. A man that is rich in grace may ask what he pleases ; he is one much in with God, and God will deny him nothing. The best of the best is for this man; he may have anything; he may have everything that heaven affordeth. He is able to improve much, and thei'efore he may ask much, and have it.
It was a sweet saying of one, ' O Lord, I never come to thee but by thee, I never go from thee without thee.'*
Sozomen saith of Apollonius, that he never asked anything of God, but he had it.
And another, speaking of Luther, saith. Hie homo potuit a2:)ud Deum quod voluit, He could have what he would of God. Rich men may
As those that were called among the Romans the Curii [Curiatii ? — G.] and Fahiicii, &c.
■^ The golden name of Cliristians is but as an ornament to swine, saith Salvian. He means such as content themselves with an empty name.
^ Quid tibi prodest nomen, ubi res nun invcnilur ? what will the name avail, where the thing is wanting? saith Augustine. * Ambrose, as before. — G.
172 THE UNSEARCHABLE [EPH. III. 8.
long for this and that, and have it ; they have something that will fetch it, but poor men may not. Oh ! now, who would not labour as for life, to be rich in grace ? Oh ! this will bear you out under great means, and under great names, and under great desires ; therefore, rest not satis- fied with a little grace.
But then, seventhly and lastly,
[7.] Souls rich in grace are the honour of Christ, and the glory of Christianity.