That this respect is an high value and esteem of Christ above all other things. That faith implieth an esteem of Christ is plain by that of the apostle, 1 Peter ii. 7, ' Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.' And that it is a transcendental respect and esteem, so as that all other things are lessened in our opinion of them, and estima- tion of them, and respect unto them in comparison of Christ, appeareth by other scriptures ; as Phil. iii. 8, ' I count aU things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.' He had counted, and did count, as not repenting of his choice ; he could deny his own honour, ease, profit, and estate, his own everything but his own God and his own Christ. So Mat. xiii. 45, 46, 'The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant-man seeking goodlv pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.' The pearl was accounted of great price, if he would sell all things for it. Christ is so dear and precious, that the most excellent things are not dear and precious when they are to be ventured for his sake : Acts xx. 24, ' But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.' No faith but this will allure and draw our hearts to Christ, and no faith but this will keep our hearts to him, there being so many other things either to keep us, or to draw us off from him. Nothing but this trans- cendental respect begets the close adherence to Christ.
Now I will show three things — (1.) That Christ hath deserved this esteem : (2.) That faith only will give it him ; (3.) The notes, or how this esteem of Christ will show itself.
1. That he deserveth it ; and that —
[1.] By what he is in himself, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. This is the chief ground of our respect to the mediator : Acts viii. 37, 38, ' If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest ; and he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So Martha maketh her confession of faith : John xL 27, ' Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God that should come into the world.' So Peter in his own name and the name of his fellow- disciples : John vi. 69, ' We believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' This is the ground of adherence to
138 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
him and dependence upon him, that he whom the christian world hath hitherto called their Saviour is the very Son of God, appointed by God to execute the office of king, priest, and prophet to the church. This giveth us ground to adhere to him, and vanquish all temptations : 1 John v. 5, ' Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.' The most part of the christian "world leap into this opinion, and the name of Christ is prized, but his office is neglected ; there is a fond esteem of his memory, but no real improvement of his grace. Quandoquidem panis Christi Jam pinguis factus est, tractatur in concilns, discepiatuy- in jadiciis, disputatur in scJiolis, laudatur in eclisiis, questiosa res est nomen Christi. But this is the true ground of a christian's esteem, when soundly persuaded that he is the Christ.
[2.] What he hath done for us. Christ requireth not so much at our hands as he himself hath voluntarily performed for our sakes. He ' pleased not himself,' that he might promote the glory of God and our salvation, Eom. xv. 8 ; ' He became poor that we might be rich,' 2 Cor. viii. 9 ; He ' was obedient to the death, even the death of the cross,' that we might have life, Phil. ii. 7 ; ' He was made sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in him,' 2 Cor. v. 21 ; ' He was made a curse for us,' that we might have the blessing; Gal. iii. 13. Doth he require so much of us ? It is grievous to the flesh to be crossed, but he hath suffered greater sorrows and agonies, that we might have eternal life.
[3.] What he still doth for us. He is ' our life,' Gal. ii. 20. You live ujDon and by his life : John xiv. 19, ' Because I live, ye shall live also.' We use him not as an instrument which is laid by when our turn is served, but as an head and root. He is your righteousness, 1 Cor. i. 30, and 2 Cor. v. 21, ' He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' You have the effect of his merit and obedience to plead to God; he is your blessedness for the present : Col. i. 27, ' Christ in you the hope of glory.' All the fatherly goodness of God cometh to you by him ; all your helps, mercies, and hopes are founded in him alone. It is he pre- sents your requests to God, and you take all your mercies out of his hands : 1 Cor. viii. 6, ' To us there is but one (Jod, tlie Father, of whom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.' Your petitions are presented by the hands of him who is the beloved of God.