' Sliumma, oue of David's worthies, stood aud dcfoudcd the fluid when all tlie rest fled.
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cernraent to your souls. Nothing can make that man miserable that hath this rich Christ ; nothing can make that man happy that wants this rich Christ. In Pro v. iv. 5-7, ' Get wisdom (that is Christ), get understanding, forget it not. Wisdom is the prmcipal thing, there- fore get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding.' And so in Prov, xvi. ] 6, ' How much better is it to get wisdom than gold ? and to get understanding, rather to be chosen than silver ?' Hadst thou all the power of the Avorld, without an interest in Christ, thou wouldst be but weak, 1 Cor. i. 25-29. Hadst thou all the wit and learning in the world, without an interest in Christ, thou wilt be but a fool. Hadst thou all the honours in the world, yet without an interest in Christ, thou wouldst be but base. Hadst thou all the wealth in the world, yet without an interest in Christ, thou wouldst be but a beggar, Dan. iv. ] 7 ; Luke xvi. 22-26, &c. Oh, therefore, labour for an in- terest in Christ ! Oh, turn the wise merchant at last ! The wise mer- chant in the Gospel jDarts with all to buy the pearl, to get an interest in Christ, Mat. xiii. 45— i7. Oh it is your greatest wisdom, it is of an eternal concernment to your souls, to sell all, to part with all, for an in- terest in the Lord Jesus ! Oh do not deal with your own souls, when Christ is tendered and offered to you, as sometimes simple people do when they go to market ; they might have a good pennyworth, but that they are loath to part with some old piece of gold that has been given them by a father or a friend ; somewhat willing they are to have a good pennyworth, but unwilling they are to part with their gold. It is so with many poor sinners, when the Lord Jesus Christ is presented to their souls as a very glorious pennyworth, somewhat willing they are to have him, but unwilling they are to part with their old good, with some old sweet darling lust. But, sinners, don't you deceive your own souls ; sin and your souls must part, or Christ and your souls can neyer meet. Sin and 3^our souls must be two, or Christ and your souls can never be one. Christ is a most precious commodity ; he is better than rubies, Prov. viii. 11, or the most costly pearls ; and you must part with your old gold, with your shining gold, your old sins, your most shiuing sins, or you must perish for ever. Christ is to be sought and bought with any pains, at any price. We cannot buy this gold too dear. He is a jewel more worth than a* thousand worlds, as all know that have him. Get him, and get all ; miss him and miss all.
Now if ever you would get an interest in Christ, and so by gaining an interest in him, be possessed of all the riches and glory that come by him, then be sure to get your hearts possessed with these nine prin- ciples that follow.
[1.] And the first principle is this. That the great end and design of Christ's coming into the world was the salvation of sinners.
Get this principle rooted in your spirits. ' I came not to call the righteous,' saith he, ' but sinners to repentance,' Mat. ix. 13, Mark ii. 17. And in 1 Tim. i. J5, ' This is a faithful saying, and Avorthy of all accep- tation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' Christ lays aside his royal crown ; he puts off his glorious robe ; he leaves his Father's bosom ; he takes a journey from heaven to earth ; and all to save poor lost sinners. That which Christ had most in his eye, and
204 THE UNSEARCHABLE [EPH. III. 8.
upon his heart, in his coming into the world, was the salvation of sinners. Lay up this truth, feed upon this honey-comb.
[2.] Secondly, Get this principle rooted upon your hearts, viz., That none ever yet obtained an interest in Christ but univorthy creatures.
When you are pressed to get an interest in Christ, you are ready to say, Oh ' I am unworthy,' will Christ ever look after such a one as I am ?
I answer, yes ; for this is a most certain principle, that none ever attained an interest in Christ but unworthy creatures. Was Paul worthy before he had an interest in Christ ? What worthiness was in Matthew when Christ called him from the receipt of custom ? And what worthiness was in Zaccheus when Christ called him down from the sycamore tree, and told him that this day salvation was come to his house ? Was Manasseh or Mary Magdalene worthy before they had an interest in Christ ? Surely no. Though you are unworthy, yet Christ is worthy ; though you have no merit, yet God has mercy ; though there is no salvation for you by the law, yet there is salvation for you by the gospel.
Again, Christ requires no worthiness in any man before he believes ; and he that won't believe before he is worthy will never believe.^ If you look upon God with an evangelical eye, you shall see that he that is most unworthy is most capable of mercy. A real sense of our own unworthiness renders us most fit for divine mercy. This objection, I am unworthy, is an unworthy objection, and speaks out much pride and ignorance of the gospel, and of the freeness and nches of God's grace, &c.
[3.] Thirdly, Let this principle dwell in you, viz., That Christ hath lost none of his affectioois to poor sinners by going to heaven.
Oh how did his bowels work toward sinners when he was on earth ! And certainly they work as strongly towards them now he is in heaven. His love, his heart, his good-will, is as much towards them as ever. Christ is Alpha and Omega ; the phrase is taken from the Greek let- ters, whereof Alpha is the first, and Omega the last, Rev. i. 8. I am before all, and I am after all. * Jesus Christ,* the same yesterday, to- day, and for ever,' Heb. xiii. 8. [Vide Grotius.] Christ is the same before time, in time, and after time. Christ is unchangeable in his essence, in his promises, and in his love to poor sinners.
[4.] Fourthly, Get this principle riveted in your hearts. That h/i is able to save to tlie uttermost all those that come unto Ood by him.
Heb. vii. 25, * He is able to save to the uttermost;'* that is, to all ends and purposes, perfectly and perpetually. He needs none to help him in the great business of redemption ; he is thorough Saviour ; ' he has trod the wine-press alone,' Isa. Ixiii. 3.
[5.] Fifthly, Get this principle riveted in your hearts, That the want of such preparations or qucdijicatioTis that many men lay a great stress upon, shall be no impediment to hinder your souTa
• Such as shall go to prove he doe.s, must make a new gospel, a new Bible. 2 II,- TO (TavTfXif. The original word signifies all manner of perfection.
EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 205
interest in Christ, if you will hut ojyen to Christ, and close with Jesus Christ: