much of it as if he alone existed upon earth. Nor has he the less of its influence from its being extended to all the millions of mankind. Thus has every believer as much of Christ's gracious influence as his soul can need; having it neither increased by the paucity of those who partake of it, nor dimi- nished by the numbers " The Sun of Righteousness"
is alike sufficient for all
Yet the sun affords us not the same genial warmth in winter, as in the summer months; and at night it is altogether hid from us. In these respects, therefore, this image also fails. But we shall find an illustration more complete, if we consider Christ,]
3. As a Fountain — [Under this character our blessed Lord commends him- self to us: " If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." But especially is he compared with the rock smitten in the wilderness, " from whence gushed rivers of water," for the supply of all the people of Israel ; and which followed them in very abundant streains, through all their journeying in the wilderness'^. Here then we have a more appropriate image: for as He is the only source of grace to every living soul, so may every one have access to him at all times, to obtain a supply fully commensurate with his utmost necessities. And in this does this image pre-eminently display the fulness tliat is in Christ Jesus, and the benefit to be derived from it ; be- cause " every soul that drinks of that living water has within himself a well of water, springing up to everlasting life :" so that, having Christ within him, he can never thirst again, nor want any other source, either of strength or comforf^
Without attempting to give any further illustration of what, after all, can never be adequately comprehended, I will only observe, that the representation is truly scriptural; since we are expressly told, that " it hath pleased the Father that in Christ should all fulness dwell '^," and that all his people are said to " receive, out of his fulness, grace for grace *^."]
Let us then consider, II. Our duty in relation to it —
We are to " be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus ;" that is,
1. We are to apply to him for it with simplicity —
[We should have it as a settled principle in our minds,
that there is no strength in man, nor any other source of
c 1 Cor. X. 4. d John iv, 13, 14. and vii. 37, 38.
« Col. i. 19. <■ John i. 16.