If any one should ask, now, with them in the Canticles, what is in the Lord Jesus, our beloved, more than in other beloveds, that should make him so desirable, and amiable, and worthy of acceptation? what is he more than others? I ask, What is a king more than a beggar ? Much every way. Alas ! this is nothing ; they were bom alike, must die alike, and after that is the judgment. What is an angel more than a worm? A womi is a creature, and an angel is no more ; he hath made the one to creep in the earth, — made also the other to dwell in heaven. There is still a proportion between these, they agree in something ; but what are all the nothings of the Avorld to the God infinitely l)lessed for evermore? Sliall the dust of the balance, or the drop of the bucket be laid in the scale against him? This is he of whom the sinners in Zion are afraid, and ciy, " Who amongst us shall dwell with the devouring fire, who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" I might now give you a glimpse of his excellency in many of those properties and attributes by which he discovers himself to the faith of poor siiniers; but as
xxiii. 6; 1 John v. 20; Rev. i. 18, iv. 8; Acts xx. 28; 1 John iii. 16; Phil. ii. 6-8 1 Tim. iii. 16; Ileb. ii. 16; 1 John iv. 3; Ilob. x. 5; John xx. 28; John x. I^-M Matt. xvi. 16; Rom. viii. .32; John iii. 16. 18; Col. i. 15; John xvii. 10; Isa. i.\. 6 Col. ii. 9; 1 Cor. viii. 6, ii. 8; Ps. Ixviii. 17.
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CIIRIST. Gl
he that goes into a garden where there are innumerable flowers in great variety, gathers not all he sees, but crops here and there one, and another, 1 shall endeavour to open a door, and give an inlet into the infinite excellency of the graces of the Lord Jesus, as he is " God blessed for evermore," — presenting the reader with one or two in- stances, leaving him to gather for his own use what farther he pleas - eth. Hence, then, observe, —
The endless, bottomless, boundless grace and compassion that is in him who is thus our husband, as he is the God of Zion. It is not the grace of a creature, nor all the grace that can possibly at once dwell in a created nature, that will serve our turn. We are too in- digent to be suited with such a supply. There was a fulness of gxace in the human nature of Christ, — he received not " the Spirit by mea- sure," John iii. 3-i; a fulness like that of light in the sun, or of water in the sea (I speak not in res]:)ect of communication, but sufficiency) ; a fulness incomparably above the measure of angels: yet it was not properly an infinite fulness, — it was a created, and therefore a limited fulness. If it could be conceived as separated from the Deity, surely so many thirsty, guilty souls, as every day drink deep and large draughts of grace and mercy from him, would (if I may so speak) sink him to the very bottom; nay, it could afford no supply at all, but only in a moral way. But when the conduit of his humanity is inseparably united to the infinite, inexhaustible fountain of the Deity, who can look into the depths thereof? If, now, there be gi'ace enough for sinners in an all-sufficient God, it is in Christ; and, indeed, in any other there cannot be enough. The Lord gives this reason for the jDcace and confidence of sinners, Isa. liv. 4, 5, " Thou shalt not be ashamed, neither be thou confounded ; for thou shalt not be put to shame." But how shall this be ? So much sin, and not ashamed ! so much guilt, and not confounded! " Thy Maker," saith he, " is thine husband ; the Lord of hosts is his name ; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel ; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." This is the bottom of all peace, confidence, and consolation, — the grace and mercy of our Maker, of the God of the whole earth. So are kindness and power tempered in him ; he makes us, and mars us, — he is our God and our Goel, our Redeemer. " Look unto me," saith he, " and be ye saved; for I am God, and none else," Isa. xlv. 22, " Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness," verse 24.
And on this ground it is that if all the world should (if I may so say) set themselves to drink free grace, mercy, and pardon, drawing * water continually from the wells of salvation ; if they should set themselves to draw from one single promise, an angel standing by and crying, " Drink, 0 my friends, yea, drmk abundantly, take so ' Cant. V. 1; Isa Iv. 1; Rev. xxii. 17; John vii. 37, 38.
62 OF COMMUNION AVITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
much grace and pardon as sliall be abundantly sufficient for the world of sin which is in every one of you ;" — they would not be able to sink the grace of the promise one hair's breadth. There is enough for millions of worlds, if they were ; because it flows into it from an in- finite, bottomless fountain. " Fear not, 0 worm Jacob, I am God, and not man," is the bottom of sinners' consolation. This is that " head of gold" mentioned. Cant. v. 11, that most precious fountain of grace and mercy. This infiniteness of grace, in respect of its spring and fountain, vnll answer all objections that might hinder our souls from drawing nigh to communion with him, and from a free em- bracing of him. Will not this suit us in all our distresses? What is our finite guilt before it? Show me the sinner that can spread his iniquities to the dimensions (if I may so say) of this grace. Here is mercy enough for the greatest, the oldest, the stubbornest transgres- sor,— "Why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Take heed of them who would rob you of the Deity of Christ. If there were no more grace for me than what can be treasured up in a mere man, I should rejoice [if] my portion might be under rocks and mountains.