our necessities ; and which he will not supply to all who call upon him ]
3. In all his intercourse with his people —
[O, who can conceive the extent of his condescension and grace ? How ready is he, at all times, to " draw nigh to those who draw nigh to him; " to " manifest himself to them, as he docs not unto the world ;" and to impart to them all the consolation and strength which they look for at his hands! "In all the afflictions of his people he is himself afflicted;" and to such a degree is he " touched with the feeling of their infirmities," that every trial of theirs is felt by him as his own. " Whosoever toucheth us, toucheth the apple of his eye." In a word, there is no weakness which he will not succour : no want which he will not supply : nor shall there be any bounds to his communications, except what are fixed by our capacity to receive them ]
With this view of Christ's excellency, it is impos- sible not to connect,
II. The blessedness of those who believe in him —
Between him and his believing people there is the closest union that can be imagined.
1. He stands pre-eminent in their regards —
[So says the Church; "This is my Beloved." It is the Spouse that speaks; and here she claims him as her Divine Husband. Now, conceive a person excelling all others in every endowment, both of body and mind ; conceive of whole nations acknowledging him as the Benefactor of the human race ; and conceive of him as not only thus lauded for former benefits conferred, but as at the very time scattering in rich profusion all manner of blessings upon millions of mankind : I say, con- ceive that you behold such an one surrounded by applauding and adoring multitudes ; and then think how happy that woman must be who can say, " This is my Beloved ;" I have a right in him which no other human being has; all that he is, is mine; and all that he has, is mine. I say, my Brethren, that we cannot conceive of felicity on earth greater than hers. Yet, my Brethren, this is yours, if only you believe in Christ. He is your Beloved ; and you may claim precisely the same interest in him as if there were not another, either in heaven or on earth, to claim it with you. What happiness, then, is there to be compared with yours ; when it is not a mere man, however excellent, but your incarnate God himself, to whom you stand in this near, this glorious relation ?]
2. You also stand hioh in his resjards —