text : and by a just vrew of this we are prepared to consider, secondly, what is expressed.
In perfect correspondence with the foregoing truths, we find in our text two things expressed, viz. that God has treasured up for us ift Christ all the good that we stand in need of: and that He will freely bestow it on every believing soul.
Observe here how God has treasured up for us in Christ all the good that we stand in need of God ** has laid help for us on One that is mighty ^," even on his own dear and only-begotten Son. He has treasured up for us in Christ a fulness suited to the necessities of fallen man", and has constituted him " Head over all things to the Church %" that *' out of his fulness every member of his mystical body may receive*^" such a measure of grace as his peculiar necessities require. This is shadowed forth under the image of a vine, which supplies every one of its branches with the sap and nutriment which alone can enable it to bring forth fruit ^ " Separate from him," every one of us would become dry and fit only for fuel. The Apostle Paul knew no other source of life and strength ; and therefore he said, " The life which I now Kve in the flesh, I live by the faith in the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me^" So in like manner must every soul of man come to Christ for grace to help him in the time of need. " Our fresh springs must be altogether in him^." " Our life is hid with Christ in God : yea, Christ is our very life :" and it is from that circumstance alone that we are warranted to hope, that " when he shall appear we also shall appear with him in glory '\" "He is ascended up on high on purpose that he may fill all things' :" and he does " fill all in alP." The very light which is reflected by the whole planetary system of moon and stars, proceeds from the sun ; and the life of all the vegetable creation is sustained by its reviving
« Ps. Ixxxix. 19. b Col. i. 19. '^ Eph. i. 2i».
<! John i. 16. « John xv. 5. *■ Gal. ii. 20.
? Ps. Ixxxvii. 7. *» Col. iii. 3, 4. * Eph. iv. 10.
1^ Eph. i. 2;J.