unreserved obedience. This was the consideration by which St. Paul enforced his exhortations to libe- rahty when writing to the Corinthian Church : and it will be universally operative, wherever it is under- stood and felt.
In discoursing on this subject we shall not enter in a general way into our fall, and our recovery by Christ, but will,
I. Set forth the grace of Christ as it is here de- lineated—
There are four distinct considerations in the text, every one of them reflecting light upon this point, as so many mirrors uniting their rays in one common focus. These we shall view in their order :
1. The pre-existent state of Christ — [In the text we are told, " He was rich." This idea when applied to our fellow-creatures we can easily understand: but who can comprehend it when applied to Christ? What adequate conception can we form of his glory ox felicity ? He was from all eternity "in the bosom of his Father %" and was "daily his delight ^" He had a communion with the Father in all that he knew% in all that he did^ in all that he en- joyed^. He had a most perfect Oneness with the Father^, possessing in himself all the fulness of the Godhead s, and receiving together with him the adoration of all the angels in heaven'^. Such was the glory which Christ had with the Father before the world was brought into existence'. Nor was he capable of receiving any addition either of honour or of happiness from his creatures ''. He would have been equally great and glorious though no creature had existed either in earth or in heaven to behold him^ ; or though all who trans- gressed against him should perish for ever. Yet such was his love, that in the midst of all his blessedness he thought of us, and undertook our cause, and engaged to become our substi- tute and surety "^.
How infinitely does this "grace" transcend our highest con- ceptions! Indeed we do but " darken counsel by words without knowledge," when we attempt to speak on this mysterious subject.]
a John i. 18. ^ Prov. viii. 30. "^ Matt. xi. 27.
^ John v. 19. e John xvii. 10. f John x. 30.
e Col. ii. 9. ^ Isai. vi. 3. with John xii. 41.
' John xvii. 5. ^ Ps. xvi. 2. ' Job xxii. 2.
"1 Ps. xl. 7, 8.