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The Desire op all Nations, ... 12 II. The Kino of kings, 22 III. The Mighty God, CO IV. The Everlasting Father, 75 "V. The Trince of Peace 85 VI. The Elect Precious, , , . , .93 VII. Wonderful, . . , . . . .119 Some Grounds whereon a poor Sinner may expect Mercy through the LIerits of Jesus Christ, 139 BIO divine, of Ch( one of the Es be ev< After ] resided preachi wards : favoura been. sermoni Day oj pestilen scientio of Trie identifie passing sixty ye Ther the pres called C He afte] A Gold BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOK. William Dyer, an eminent English Nonconformist divine, was born in 1636. He was successively minister of Cholsbury and Chesham, Buckinghamshire. He was one of the two thousand ministers who were ejected from the Establishment in the year 1662--a year which shall be ever memorable in the history of nonconformity. After his ejectment he removed to London, where he resided during the time of the plague, meanwhile preaching and assisting in the good work, which after- wards resulted in the nonconforming party beinrr more favourably dealt with by the State than it had previously been. During this year he preached the celebrated sermons called Chrises Voice to London, and the Great Day of God's Wrath,— ivjo powerful discourses on the pestilence then prevailing. Later in life, from con- scientious motives, he became a member of the Society of Friends, with the principles of which he afterwards Identified himself. After living a u 3 of usefulness, and passing through many vicissitudes, he died in 1696 aged sixty years. ' The reputation of Dyer as an author rests chiefly upon the present work, which was first published in 1683 and called Chrlsfs Fammm TitUi hny^dUd -- -'- ^^ ' He afterwards published a sequel to this work, entitled, A Golden Chain for Believers to hang alout their necks, a2 ' 6 mOGUAPlIICAL SKETCH. which has maintained a popularity almost equal to that of tho Famous Titles. IIo also wrote A Cabinet of Jewels; or^ a Glimps^ of Sion's Glory. Tho style and composition of our author resemble those of John Bunyan, although they must be acknow- ledged to bo inferior to those of the author of tho Pilgrim's Progress, being deficient in tho beautiful fiimplicity distinguishing that work; but in intensity and sincerity they are equally excellent. COURTE our age, most in \ world ai old, and of their else thai some of of heave their hea Most 1 house wj that she bemg pui my child! perdition There are eterr temporal] Oh there the earth cannot sa the souls Dear cl endeavou; NOTE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. Courteous Reader,-^ is tho great unhappincss of our ap, that the greatest part of men busy themselves most m that which concerns tlicm least. Look into tho world among rich and poor, Mgh and low, young and old, and sec whether it appear not, by the wholo scopo of their conversations, that they set more by something else than Christ and salvation. So they may have bu't some of the earth in their hands, they care for nothing of heaven in their hearts, though gold can no more fill their hearts than grass their purses. Most men are like that silly woman who, when her house was on fire, so minded tho saving of her gooda that she left her child roasting in the llames; at last, bemg put in remembrance of it, she cries out, O my child, my child! Oh how many men are there that drop into perdition merely for a little wealth ! There are many that are temporally miserable, that are eternally happy; and there are many that are temporally happy, that shall be eternally miserable. Oh there is a great vanity in all worldly excellences; the earth is big in our hope, but little in our hands; it cannot satisfy the sense of men, much less can it satisfy the souls of men. Dear children, according to my talents received, I have endeavoured to set forth the riches, the loveliness, tho 8 NOTE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. preciousness, and excellences which are in Christ, to draw the heart after him, and to be sick of love for him. Oh I Jesus Christ is a fountain of life, light, love, grace, glory, comfort, joy, goodness, always fUU and flowing, yea, overflowing. Paul was so much taken with Christ, that he was ever in his thoughts, always near his heart, and upon his tongue. Oh that our hearts and tongues were thus busied about Christ, and taken up with Christ, and these treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are in him! The design of this piece is not the ostentation of the author, but the edification of the reader; though the author be contemptible, yet the matter is comfortable. I hope none will blow out such a candle upon earth, by the light of which they themselves may see the way to heaven. If God had given in more of himself to me, I should have given more out to thee; but God looks not for what he gives not. If God may have glory, and the church edification, by these labours of mine, I shall have my end. Now, the Tood Lord bring thy heart more and more in love with Christ, who is altogether lovely, that shortly thou mayest enjoy endless felicity in his bosom! This shall be the prayer for thee of him that is thy servant ill Christ, WILLIAM DYER. London, 1665. Christ, to ^e for him. ►ve, grace, d flowing, th Christ, his heart, d tongues ith Christ, ;hat are in ion of the lough the mfortable. earth, by- he way to f to me, I looks not r, and the shall have more and ively, that is bosom! by servant THIS FAMOUS TITLES OF CHRIST. INTRODUCTION. .-He Is altogether loTely."_SoLOHo«'s Song r. W ^iXt:f;iLts s'*' ?>?- »«»' eye as the face of ChrSt anVrt. ' ^ '? * '"'''*'' and drink abundantly! beWdT;!.. •''^"'V^* bespangled with the p^^atf Jets cS^^^^^^ subject-matter of this book is a declvrntS. nf T^ 10 CHRIST S FAMOUS TITLES. king in his glory, the spouse in her beauty: here you may see Christ giving her sweet promises, adorning her with sundry excellences, communicating his love, and commending her graces : here you may also see the Church even ravished with the consideration and contemplation of Christ's love and beauty; his beauty is taking, his love is ravishing, his voice is pleasing, his goodness is drawing, his manifestations are entic- ing; he is the beloved Son, and the Son of love; he is nothing but love to those that are his love. But I shall no longer entertain you with a crumb at the door, but carry you to the chapter out of which my text is taken, and so lead you to the cab- inet where the jewel lieth. Brethren and beloved, you have a glorious descrip- tion of Christ in this chapter, and that from ver. 10 — 16, where the spouse is setting forth the riches, the dignity, the excellency, the beauty, the majesty, the glory, the preciousness, the loveliness of Jesus Christ. " He is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers : his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with beryl : his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold : his counten- ance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars." And thus she sets forth her beloved, and at last winds up all witn this rare expression, " He is altogether - — , — »» This in it — text is a sacred cabinet, which contains 1. 2. T] Chri the I name forth foun( in ev there Chris Is] Jesus as so : INTROL riON. 11 1. The jewel Christ in this word He. J. The price of the jewel, Altogether lovely. Ihe observation, or doctrine, is this, That Jesns Christ IS infinitely and superlatively lovely. He 3 the most amazing and delightful object. The very name of Jesus Christ is as ^^recious ointment poS ioith It IS said that the letters of his name were n?l ^Tv "P?^ Jg«a*i»«' i^eart. Jesus Christ is Lrl T Jr^' ^f"^' ''^^^ "«*^"°^ ^^^ ^o better Chrk KC^l '' ^l*«g«*^»«r lovely." That Jesus Christ IS thus transcendently lovely, will appear- /'i/'^^. By titles. ^^ Secondly, By types. Thirdly, By resemblances. T 1- 11 ^*='^^^%' ^y demonstrations. I shall speak only to the first of these. Our Lord Jesus hath seven famous and lovely titles, which are as so many jewels of his crown :^ ' I. The Desire of all Kations. 11. The King of kings. III. The Mighty God! ly. The Everlasting Father. V. The Prince of Peace. VI. The Elect Precious. VII. Wonderful. 12 CHRIST'S FAMOUS TITLES. I. THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS. This title occur s m II aggai ii. 7 __ " And the Desire of all Nations shall come." But you shall say, How is Christ the Desire of all nations ?' Do not all the nations abhor him, and say, We will not have this man to rule over us ? " The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers took council together, against the Lord, and against his anointed," Psal. 11. 2. The kings of the earth are afraid lest Christ's government should un-king them; the rulers are jealous lest it will depose them from their dignities; even the reformers, that have adventured all to set it up, are jealous, lest it will encroach upon their power and privileges: kings are afraid of it, and think themselves but half kings where Christ doth set up his power and discipline : lawyers are afraid of it, lest It should take away their gain, and the laws of Christ should overtop the laws of the land : the people are afraid of it, lest it should compel them to subjection to the law and way which their souls abhor. Oh how long hath the world rebelled against Jesus Christ and his government! But tell me, Have the people gained anything by resisting Christ, his Gospel and government; by hating his servants, and by scorning his holy ways? or doth it make the crown sit more securely on the heads of kings? I shall leave you to judge of this. I shall show you, in five particulars, that though Jesus Christ be not actively desired by all nations, yet he is rightly styled, The Desire of all Nations. ) THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS. 13 ONS. "And the it you shall 3? Do not ill not have f the earth il together, ited," Psal. 3st Christ's rulers are V dignities; all to set upon their , and think loth set up d of it, lest s of Christ people are subjection bhor. Oh nst Jesus ything by imentj by oly ways? ely on the je of this. id though II nations, Nations, First, Because he is most desirable in himself, and all things that are desirable are in him. Beauty is in Christ, bounty is in Christ, riches and honour are in Christ, Prov. viii. 18. Jesus Christ is the treasure hid in the Gospel, the pearl of great price : he ia the sun in the firma- ment of the scripture, whom to know is everlasting life : he is a spring full of the water of life, a hive of sweetness, a magazine of riches, a river of pleasures, wherein you may bathe your souls to all eternity. Oh ! he is fulness and sweetness. " The chiefest among ten thousand," Sol. Song v. 10. He is more precious than rubies; and all things thou canst desire are not to be compared to him, Prov. iii. 15. Alas ! what are all the crowns and kingdoms of the world, all the thrones and sceptres of kings, to Christ? I say, what are the treasures of the east, the gold of the west, the spices of the south, and the pearls of the north to him ? These, or whatsoever thou dost imagine, are not to be compared to the blessed Jesus ! Beloved, the glories and excellences of Christ excel all others. As all waters meet in the sea, and as all the lights meet in the sun, so all the perfections and excellences of all the saints and angels meet in Christ. Nay, Christ hath not only the holiness of angels, the loveliness of saints, and the treasure of heaven, but also the fulness of the Godhead; the riches of the Deity are in him, Col. ii. 9. " For it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell"— fulness of grace, fulness of knowledge, fulness of love, fulness of glory. He is lovely to the Father, lovely to the angels, lovely to the saints, and lovely to the soul. And therefore lie may well be called the Desire of all Nations, for all desirable things are in him, B • u Christ's famous titles. Secondly, Jesus Christ is called the Desire of all Nations, because his desire is after all nations, though he hath no need of them; he hath thousands °of angels before him, and ten thousand daily minister unto him : yet such infinite love doth he bear to the sons of men, in whom there is no loveliness, that he himself saith, "My delights are with the sons of men," Prov. viii. 31. That our Lord Jesus had a stron<- desire to convert and save the nations will appear by three things : — ^ 1. By what he did before he came into the world. 2. By what he did when he was in the world. • 3. By what he doth now when he is out of the world. First, Our Lord Jesus had a gi-eat desire after the poor nations before he came into the world, or else he would never have left his crown, his royal court, his Father's bosom, his glorious robes, to come into this worid to be spit upon by men, and to be mur- dered by men; nay, he did not only become a laugh- ing-stock to men, but a gazing-stock to angels. Now, beloved, do ye not think that Jesus Christ had a great desire after the nations' good, that he would leave all his glory, and greatness, and pomp, and riches, to come intx.- this worid, to be poor, to bo hungry, to be weary, to be tempted, to be betrayed, to be sold ? '' \x.^^\ ^?V ^^y perhaps say, that Christ little thought his own countrymen would have shed his blood, and that one of his own family would betray Why, do you think he did not know it ? Yea he knew it before he came into the worid. that thf^ J^ws would crucify him, and that Judas would betray him John VI. 64. He knew from the beginning who THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS. 15 Ire of all s, though isands of minister ar to tho I, that he of men," a strong 11 appear le world, orld. it of the after the 1, or else al com-t, 5me into be mur- a laiigh- i. Now, it had a e would tnp, and r, to be etrayed, St little ?hed his i betray Yea, he he Jews ray him, ng who t they were that believed not, and who should betray him. Christ knew it before he came from heaven whatcoai-se entertainment he should have upon earth. Now, ])ut all this together, and tell me, had not Jesus Christ a desire after us, before he came to us, that he would uncrown himself to crown us; and put off his robes to put on our rags; and come out of heaven to keep us out of hell ? He fasted forty days that he might feast us to all eternity ! He came from heaven to earth that he might send us from earth to heaven. The Son of God became the Son of man, that we, the sons of men, might become the sons of God; and all this he did to save the nations. Secondly, He had a longing desire after the na- tions when he was in the world. Oh ! Christ would fain have saved the nations, and healed them, and enlightened them: therefore he sends forth his apostles. Matt, xxviii. 19, and bids theni " Go and teach all nations :" the people were in his eyes, and upon his heart; and so, in Matt. xxii. 3, Christ sends forth his sei-vants, once, twice, thrice, as if he would take no denial; but they would not come. Nay, our Lord Jesus Christ did not only send others to poor souls to beseech them, to entreat them to come in, to repent and to beheve in him, that their souls might be saved, but he went himself and desired them ; nay, that is not all, he even cried to them, and said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink," John vii. 37. Oh how earnest was Jesus Christ with poor souls to come to him ! " Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," Matt, xi. 28. So in Luke xiv. 23, "Go to the highways, and compel them to come in, that my house may be fulh" 16 CHRIST S FASIOUS TITLES. From this you see what vehement desires Jesus Christ had after the nations and souls of men, that he might ever make them happy, when he was in the world; and he hath the same desire still. How often would Jesus Christ have healed the Jews, that poor nation, as he himself speaketh in Matt, xxiii. o7: "How often would I have gathered thy chil- dren together as a hen gathereth her young ones, and ye would not!" Nay, when he hath done all this, he doth not leave them, but weeps over them : his eyes were wet, because their eyes were dry. So this is clear, from what Christ did when he was in the world, that he desired much the healing and converting of the nations. Thirdly, He 1 ath a great desire after the nations, now he is out of the world. Though he be gone to heaven, and entered into glory, and there sitteth at the right hand of the Father, yet his desires are as much after poor souls as ever. This will appear by two things : — Istf In his forbearance and long-suffering. Oh how long hath Christ borne with the sinful nations, and yet he bears with them still, notwith- standing they have broken his laws, and despised his Gospel, and contemned his ordinances, and shed his saints' blood, grieved his Spirit, and abused his mercies: this and much more have they done, and yet he spared them that he might be gracious to them Isa. XXX. 18, "Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you!" Now, do you think that Jesus Christ would take all this at the nations' hands, but that he is unwill- ing to destroy them, and most willing to save them ? es Jesus len, that as in the I. How )ws, that tt. xxiii. fchy chil- tig ones, done all sr them : hy. So I was in ing and nations, gone to tteth at 3 are as pear by B sinful otwith- lespised id shed sed his and yet ) them, it, that will he i!" Id take imwill- ;o save THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS. 2dhj His love appears, not only by his bei with them, but by his proffers to them 17 Lirinsr n.nnf^?^'^' liow doth God staud day after clay, himsllf f ''J^'""^ ^"^^ year after year, profforin^g mself, his Son, his mercy, his love, his grace, and his glory, to poor souls ! ' o ^ ""^ Many have the space of repentance who have not the grace of repentance. natLns '' " ^ ^''^* ^"'""^ after the 3%, Jesus Christ is called the Desire of all Na- tions because it is He only that can make any per- son, family, or nation, truly desirable O beloved what is the reason that the Lord of hosts prefers his people before all the sons of men ? dn 1 1 u ./''If''" .^' ^'^^^^ ^'^"^nant before all the world beside, Exod. xix. 5, « You shall be a pecu! Jiar treasure unto me above all people:" "the right- eous IS more excellent than his neighbour," Prov.'xii. ^0. 1 hough his neighbour be a prince, a king, an emperor, or a pope, yet if he be more righteous he ^ inore excellent than he; they are but base born. Believers be those worthies of whom the world was not worthy, Heb. xi. 38. « Ye are a chosen genera^ L Tn'i K^^^' r'- ^' ^^lie^ers are not only dili- gent Christians, but excellent Christians Now, what is the reason that the saints are thus excellent above all others ? Is it for their birth teeedmg, learmng, riches, greatness, or honour? thl'lJ.' ^^'' ^^7^^^^ t^^«J,= l>«t if you would know the reason It is because Christ is formed in them and married to them; they have the new name, the new nature, the new heart, and the new spirit. Oh ! B 2 18 CURISTS FAMOUS TITLES. this is the reason; if there were anything beside Christ that would make any nation, or family, or person, truly desirable, it must be either birth, or greatness, or learning, or riches, or beauty, or wis- dom, or strengUi. Now, all these do not make any one desirable; for if they did, then those that si't upon the nations would be the most desirable per- sons under heaven, because they have the most of these. But for this, see Dan. iv. 17: And settcst over them the basest of men; Rev. xvii. 15, "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sit- teth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues;" so that none of these can do it, b it Christ only. Rev. v. 10. He hath made us unto our God kings and priests. Oh ! Christ hath made every believer a king; it is Christ's beauty that makes us beautiful ; it is his riches that makes us rich; it is his righteousness that makes us righteous; he only makes us truly honourable and desirable. Well may Christ be called the Desire of all Nations; it is he that can make a nation desirable. Uhly, Jesus Christ is called the Desire of all Na- tions, because all nations stand in need of him : nay, not only all nations, but all persons, young and old, rich and poor, high and low. He that will be saved must have a Saviour to save him, or else he can never be saved. The apostle tells us. Acts iv. 12, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none othev name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved." And Christ saith, John xiv. 6, " I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man Cometh unto the Father but by me;" so that not only all nations, but ail persons stand in need of him. \ ? beside niily, or jirth, or or wia- luke any that sit ble per- most of I settest ), "The lore sit- ^ny, and t Christ priests. ig;_ it is t is his iousnesa IS truly irist be bat can all Ka- m : nay, md old, le saved n never N'either le other eby we , 6, "I 10 raan lat not leed of I THE DEPIRE OF ALL NATIONS. 19 % I •^ You may go to heaven without health, without wealth, without honour, without pleasure, without friends, without learning, but you can never go to heaven without Christ. What will you do if you begin to die naturally before you begin to live spiritually; if the taber- nacle of nature be takeji down before the tem])lo of God be raised up; if your paradise be laid waste be- fore the tree of life be set up in it; if you give up the ghost before you receive the Holy Ghost ; if the sun of your life be set within you before the Sun of Ptighteousness shines upon you; if the body be fit to be turned into the earth before the soul be fit to bo taken to heaven ; if the second birth have no place iu you the second death shall have power over you? Though the nations need nothing more than Christ, yet they slight nothing more than Christ. Tell me how you will live when you die, that are dead whilst you live 1 Oh ! is it not sad that the nations should resist Christ, his Gospel and government, as they do 1 Indeed, if men might be their own judges, then Christ had no enemies; we are all his friends. If the Jews might so have been tlieir own judges, it was not the Son of God whom they crucified, but an enemy to Cajsar. It was not Paul, a saint, they persecuted, but one that they found to be a pestilent fellow. Some men will say now, they do not pei-se- cute the saints of God, but seditious lunatics : but God will shortly take oil the veil of hypocrisy from their faces. Oh! gi'ieve for them that cannot grieve for them- selves. And thus you see that all nations stand in need of Christ, who is the Desire of all Nations. ^ Christ's famous titles. ^.«!t r r r f™ "''-"''- =- "iJHj, too amv lor him. Isa xYi-i « o « rp, -e ;;ii"/'s",;!,': ^j; ,/»- -«> -y ^Mnt withi„ tlio soul ' ■"•" ''° ''"<=°">«s tlio desire of death/' So tint \f "t""-''^"™^ "»'« «'« suffer for 1^7 ^' """^^ ^"^"' «^^^^ ^i^". ^nJ It r o'ttt'on ' V^Tr »*■ '*' -d «» conclude, you for tL r n V 1^ ^""^ ""^ >^^"' ^e* n^e beseech l-ven of tTenlfheTk IhJ?-^-"^ <=™-5 *« ; iic ia d, ii„ii„ ^^ ciurivness, joy i^ )o.sii'e of all t' in any ono , and count ^, 9, "The y soul have writ within setteth up .0 desire of their souls iliall be at heir lives, unto the to Jesus ilf in their him, end lUj prove conclude, le Desire le are in J beseech d's sake, 1 he not love, if )r, if not pi 'ze, if ioL\ the i> "WltOiT en bow. ms, the joy in THE I ESIRE OP ALL VATlOiiS. 31 sadness, riches in poverty, llf, in death : it is he that can resolve all your doubts, secure you n danger, save your souls, and bring you to^dorv 22 Christ's famous titles. II. THE KING OF KINGS. man. IVw-dt %tt^ "™aled his secrets to a wo- tilings- First Th^iZ ^'''f g"/" ««"iksforthrce a woman TM,wZ %Vl . ''''*'''=™« » man.and not a Barbarian If d InJ^" 7':^ ^«^««'>». and not tilings beC I die /'LrEli''f '■« . *<> T '^'''' Christ's reigninT n'X ^1, -"r ,.*'"»"^'y. angel hath sworn by WmLt ? " '^ '""'''"«• ^''^ time should be no iLg?;' tV ^6 m'' ",?''"* jtmnstberrgS^rtr^^^^^^^^ word of God's mtipnip r 1 ■„ , ^ '"''° '^'''^P *''« I Hour of temptation ' ^"'^ ^'" "^^^^ '^"^ ^ *>>« f KrI:"' T^d fir "''■ "^^'"^ ^''"^* "' K«o OP 1 and-on hi; ^^i^h^^-n^iVw^tterK^^^-'r^^^^^^ ^ I: 5. I THE KING OF KINGS. 23 jIi is given ? of kings. s before he Secondly^ irist in the ed himself a clay idle. 3 to a wo- r when he s for three ason, and i,and not 1, and not iee three Secondly^ ^S- Tlie ^, " That • will not -No; he hat lives >?— No; ) longer. ■ come," ceep the i in the IlNG OF vesture f' KINGS "•r^ AND Lord of lords." Here is a title now, K rxo of KINGS. Beloved, Jesus Christ is a threefold Kin^^ Jiing. Thirdhj, His Father's King. The first he rules over-the second, he rules in— the third, he rules for. First, Christ is his enemies' King, that is, he is King over his enemies. Christ is a kiug abive all kings and over all kings, and therefore the scrii)tu,e vf ?^ nl^?^ ^^ ^t-""^^ ^^y°" ^^^^^^^ it i^ 1 Tim. VI. 15. Christ IS a King above all kings, for if he were not a King above all kings, he coirid not be a King over all kings. Now, that he is a King above feaith God the Father there, "I will make my first- born higher than the kings of the earth." Now, who IS the hi-st-born ? Why, it is Jesus Christ ; as he is elsewhere called, "the first-born of every creature." "Now," saith God, «I will make my first-bom higher than the kings of the earth,"-higher in glorv higher m power, higher in majesty. So in R^ev. i of fi. ''ti "'1 f "''"'^ "*^^^ ^^'"^^^ «f the kings of the earth. Alas ! alas ! what are all the micrlitV men, the great, the honourable men of the earth to Jesus Christ ? they are but like a little bubble in the water; for if all the nations, in comparison to God, be but as the drop of the bucket, or tlie dust of the balance as the prophet speaks in Isa. xl. 15, oh, how little then, must be the kings of the earth! JNay, Umst Jesus is not only above the kin^rs of the earth, and higher than kings, but he is hfgher than the angels; yea, he is the head of angels; and tnerexore ail the angels in heaven are commanded to worship him; he is the head of all angels, Col. ii. 10. He IS the head of uU principality and powers," 24 Christ's famous titles. which includes angels. And in Heb. i. 6 • « Let all the angels of God worship him." God wil have the angds worship Christ as well as men. ' Oh! Christ IS a King, before whom angels veil their Irrwnr ' ''^ '^"^^ ^' *^^ ^'^^ '^ -^ ^o- Again, as he i.- a King above all kin^^s so he U » ^nZ'' H '"ff *°^ -^^^^ Christ i^'a^'ni^er^ sal King. He is the King over all kingdoms, over all nations, over all governments, over all poC overall people, Dan. vii. 14: "There wa gfven to 1. rn, saith the text, " dominion, and poweT and gloiy, and a kingdom, that all people, and mtions ?Ms "'fnX'nr *" "■:™- ''""• ^0-' -"- "- c ri t. << A n' ^^'? "'"'^ V '•''^'"•'y ">«"* °f^^»^ ;„. I- J- P^^'P'*'' '"''' 'Jl °^*'™«. and languages and kingdoms were to serve him;" so that tou see Christ IS not only King of saints, but Kin.J^of na! tions too; and therefore you find, in Psal. ■"!«!? is a text ofteii read, but little observed, " Ask of me " for th t S""-:;' "^"^ ^^''f" givetheethe Mtt'n lTj,f '"'"'"t^"<'«..and the uttermost parts of the foH:is*;o^s::S;n':°' "" "**^™-'P»tB of the earth As the Lord Jesus Christ hath all the kingdoms of the earth given to him, so likewise he hath all powergiven to him, or else what would he do with a. kingdom! In Matt, xxviii. 18, "All pow^ is ' given unto me in heaven and in earth." Oh UhL s a tex that should revive the hearts of .saints.' K s he that binds kings in chains, and princes in fetters of iron, as in Psalm cxlix. It is he th.,t, ™ff„= „„ «>eil^ t° "i i"™?'' ^^' •■« ^"proves kings for their sakes, and breaks mighty kings in piecfs for THE KING OF KINGS. 25 the saints' sake, Psal. cv. 13. And therefore it is he that overrules kings, and overcomes the kings of the earth that make war with the saints. In Eev. xvii. 14, the ten kings made war with the Lamb, bnt the Lamb prevailed ; and why 1 because he was King of kings and Lord of lords. Thus we see that Jesus Christ is his enemies' King, that is, he is a Kin^ above their kings and over their kings. '^ Secondly, As Jesus Christ is his ^enemies' King, so he is his saints' King : I will give you two scrip- tures to prove it, though I need not, yet I will, be- cause of making of things very clear as I go on : Rev. XV. 3. There Jesus Christ is called the saints' King: "Thou king of saints," So also in Matt. xxi. .§: "Tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold thy king c ;.meth." So tliat by these two scriptures you see Jesus Christ is King of saints. Now, beloved, I be- seech you here to give heed: Jesus Christ is King of the bad, and of the good; but as for the wickedj^'he rules over them by his power and might; but the saints, he rules in them by his S[)irit and giace. Now to this the scri])ture witnesseth, that Jesus Clirist rules in the saints, and is the King of the saints- and therefore it tells them. Col. i. 27, " Christ is in you the hope of glory;" and elsewhei-e, " Know ye not that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates." Mark here, Christ must be in you, " Christ in you the hope of glory." So in Psal. xxiv. 7, " Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye ever- lasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in." Here Christ is called the King of Glory ; and the psalmist calls upon men to open their hearts that the King of Gloiy may come in. So in Ptev. iii. 20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in 26 Christ's famous titles. and sup with him, and he with me." Oh! this is Christ s spiritual kingdom, and here he rules in the hearts of his people; here he rules over their con- sciences, over their wills, over their affections, over their judgments and understandings, and nibody hath anything to do here but Christ. It is Christ that rules over the consciences and iud<^ments of men; and therefore he is called the Kin^oTsaints It is true other kings may bear rule over the estates of men; but as for the soul, that only belongs to Christ; and therefore believers are said to be all glorious within. "The King's daughter," which is the Church, m Psal. xlv. 13. The King of Glory rules there and dwells there. You know God dwells m the highest heavens, and in the humble hearts. Christ IS not only the King of nations, but Kin<. of saints : the one he rules over, the other he rules in! Thirdly, Je^uB Christ is his Father's King too. and so his Fa her calls him. God calls Chrift his King m Psal. n. 6: "Yet have T set my King "pon my holy hill of Zion." Well may he^ be ouf King, when he is God's King. But you may say! How IS Christ the Father's King ? Because he rulS for his Father There is a twofold kingdom of God committed to Jesus Christ. LA spiritual kingdom, by which he rules in the hearts of his people, and so he is King of saints fi «• • P''jyj^^^*i^\ kingdom, by which he rules the affurs of this world, and so he is King of nations. JVow, beloved the scripture saith, " That the Father liath put all things in Christ's hands," John iii 35 And the apostle tells us, God hath put all things under his feet. The Father judgetli no man. bSt hath committed all judgment to the Son; and he hath appointed lum over his own house. Now, as Oh! this is e rules in the er their con- Efections, over and nobody- It is Christ judgments of ing of saints, er the estates ly belongs to lid to be all er," which is ing of Glory w God dwells imble hearts. s, but King *r he rules in. s King too, Is Christ his k my King y he be our ou may say, a-use he rules jdom of God rules in the 'f saints, ch he rules J of nations. ; the Father ohn iii. 35. ' all things o man, but on; and he Kow, as THE KING OF KINGS. 27 Clirist hath all, so he doth all, and rules all for his Father; and therefore the Father calls him His ser- vant— Isa. xli. 2, "Behold my servant;" and in the other text, « my King," because he rules for his iather, and doth his Father's will : so that, beloved, in these three respects Christ is a King. Now, I shall lay down some things whei-ein the Lord Jesus doth infinitely excel all other kings of the earth. First, Jesus is a King that, in a spiritual sense, makes all his srbjects kings. He hath a crown of glory for every subject. Oh, what a glorious King is this ! Now, that Clirist makes all his subjects kings, see Eev. v. 10; saith the Church there, "Who ha'th made us unto our God kings and priests." Oh ' it is better to be a member of Christ than the head of a nation. Oh, how infinitely happy are all Christ's subjects ! They are all kings, all heirs, all fovourites, all sons: all true believere are so; the believer is the only happy man. Alas ! where is there such a kin^ to be found, that makes all his subjects kincrgl There are many kings that undo their subjects, but Christ makes his subjects kings: many kiiigs make their subjects beggars, but Christ makes his subjects kings : many kings put their subjects to death, but Christ died that his subjects might live. They (rive their subjects titles, but Christ gives all his subjects grace and glory. In a word, this is the greatest nobility, to be the servant of the great God; he is nobly descended who IS born from above. Oh, how many lords hath that man who hath not Christ for his Lord ! Every sin is his lord, and every lust lords it over him. Now. where Jesus Christ comes to be king, he makes theni kings to his Father, and kings over their lusts. Now, beloved, here is the blessedness and happiness of our 28 Christ's famous titles. ing, he makes us all kings, and gives all crowns of K glory, Secondly, Jesus Christ is a most just and righteous King ; he reigns in righteousness, he brings peace by righteousness, he makes us righteous, and there- lore he IS called " The Lord our righteousness," Jer. xxui. 0. Other kings often deal unjustly, they bear the sword to execute wrath upon well-doers, and strengthen the hands of evil-doers; justify the wicked and condemn the godly; and break oaths, and fal- sify covenants; and many times they oppress their subjects, and wrong their people; and therefore the scripture saith, " When the wicked bear rule, the people mourn," Prov. xxix. 2, "When the righteousis in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." But Jesus Christ IS a righteous King, so he rules in righteousness; and thou Shalt have nothing but righteous dealing from him: look at this text of scripture, which iLfinitely speaks out Christ's righteous dealing with poor souls in Eev. XV. 3: "Just and true are thy ways" Mark who is just and true here. It is the Kini of saints, " Just and true are thy ways, thou Kin«? of saints." Justice and truth well becometh the Kino- ol saints. In Prov. iii. 17 it is said, " Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; speaking of wisdom, which is meant of Christ. Oh, what a golden King is here ! what a glorious King is here I He is just and true, and all his ways are pleasantness, and all his paths are peace. Oh ! this is the excellency of Christ, he op- presseth nobody, he wrongs nobody, therefore he is called just and true. He infinitelv excels all ih^ Jkiugs ot the earth in righteousness : he is a righteous ilmg, and deals for nothing but righteousness THE KING OF KINGS. 2'J 11 crowns of d righteous rings peace and there- sness," Jer. '", they bear -doers, and the wicked IS, and fal- press their . therefore ar rule, the :'ighteoiisis the wicked isus Christ isness; and aling from iulinitely poor souls, \\y ways." e King of I King of the King Her ways paths are meant of ! what a e, and all paths are cit, he op- ore he is Is all the righteous ess. ever ThMj, Christ is a King that liveth day, they be dead and gone. Wliat is become of all those great and mighty kings we read of? Wlfy they have gone like a tale, like a dream. But it is eveVri? '"""^'''^ '' ^^"^^^= *^^ L-^^ - ^Jng fo Z}U §"•' ^""^ ^^'^^ ^"^^ *h^^-^f«^-e the apJstIo calls him King immortal, eternal, 1 Tim. 17 Christ IS there called a King immortal, becaue he lives for ever. So in HeK vii. 25, speakin' of Christ, who "ever lives," saith he, " to nmke inler cession for us." Now, beloved, h'ere is the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, he lives for ever: other kb^! pnnces, and states, do not know ill their "ubiects nay, they know very fe^vof them; the poor ,& aj-e unknown to them; they are not aequainted wit all the wrongs and wants, and miseries, that their Oh,. tT TT' ^"l""^''' ^<'"' >^ «'« exee leney of S^ '. ^'"'* " i""*'^' knowledge of all his Lh- jects; he knows them all by name; he knows all their thoughts, all their wants, all their ways a their conditions. Now, this is a gi-eat h J2es that we have a king that knows uslo well " ' whafaoever.^T. T'^fT' •''" y"'"- ^""^itie, wnatsoever! The Lord Jesus knows all tliv suffer- Sttri 'Z^-^f/T,r^" Oh i it is a swS Youi kIU^^ God shall supply all your need." Jtoui limgwiU supply all your need: he kuoweth c2 30 CnmST's FAMOUS TITLES. all your straits, all your fears; and he will supply KiZ""'"' "^^^«- Oh ! here is the excellency of th^ Fijmj Jesus Christ is a King that sits upon his fathers tiirone; at this very time he sits upon his leathers throne. But, beloved, this is not all: Olirist doth not only sit there himself, but he hath promised, that all men who overcome shall sit down with him upon his throne: "To him that over- cometh will I grant to sit upon m^ throne," Rev. 111. 2i M-Avk that Christ promises all his subjects, that they shall sit upon the throne with him ' Now I wonder where there is any king but Christ who will sulier his subjects to sit ui)on his throne with Inm. Alas! this would be treason for a man to desire it. I remember, among other things I have read of, a king, who passing over a water, his crown tell Irom ins head into the water, and one of his poor servants, out of love to him, leapt in and fetched it up, and for his greater ease put it on his head, that he might get the better out; and for this the poor man had his head cut off. So high, and mi4ty and lofty was this prince. But the Lord Jesus is not so: he is no such proud King; he did not only uncrown himself to crown us, and wear the crown of thorns, that we might wear the crown of glory but he consents and gives leave to his subjects to sit upon the throne with him: "To him that overcometh will 1 grant to sit with me upon my throne." Oh what a glorious King is this, that every one of his poor subjects shall sit upon the throne with him' bo in Rev. xxi. 7, " He that overcometh shall inherit all things." A man would think this very thing would draw the whole world after Christ Oh how should this draw the affections of men to be in % TUE KING OF KING3. 31 will supply incy of this ta upon his ts upon his f^ not all : ut he l\ath ill sit clown that over- one," Rev. is subjects, im ! Now Jhrist who brone with a n)a,n to igs I have his crown of his poor fetched it head, that 3 the poor d mighty, 1 Jesus is 1 not only 3 crown of glory, but io sit upon /ercometh ne." Oh, one of his vith him! leth shall this very rist. Oh, a to be in love with those great proffers, and privileges, and honours that Christ bestoweth ui)on his poor follow- ers! He doth not only make them kings, but ho grants them to sit upon his throne with hiju; thou wouldst say it were an honour indeed, O true be- liever, couldst thou look into heaven, and see Christ sit upon his throne ! But this honour hath all his saints ; yea, much more, he maketh them all kin^rs and grants to them to sit upon the throne wilh him. Sixt/ibj, Jesus Christ is a King that loves all his subjects, an,ld be so inh, Ztto for^ irS/r TZnT wm'uot wS «::*' t/d m? '°''^'' *''^'"' y^* I Ood 05 r-1 ■ r - ™''y "^ ^°'^ cease *" bp live a'^ease toV «'""''' ^^'^''^ "^ ^°»° <=ease to as cease to lovej no, no, he cannot forget them. THE KINO OF KINGS. ke Iiim who aint to love im so much. , and being ause I lovo loulcl grieve ich beloved. " He loves e all:" this 3 people: it lis subjects ating lovt , d branched his special 'e, is only ik rac what me it, and love — it is ng love — ting love, love is not life: he is Christ is 33 protecting brget her 3mpassion a woman er infant, er womb? m; yet I sase to be cease to jet them. 1 jpaoyion, or Daniel m the lions' rl«.n? t^- i i oiget the three children in the fZaeo Jc^nni.^ Peter ifT""' "'' ^"T^' '" t'"^ while's bely;^ 1 eter in the prison, did ho forget them 1 'vZ wicked say indeed, The Lord doth forgot "The led » 7^ ' „ "' "'<'y "'■e m'lch mistaken Tl,o,-„ are three or four texts of Scripture, wS. I si all offer to your serious consideration, that do worlr verse " mfll T ' " ,**!." T'"" » I" *''« t''"ome, wiith God, I am resolved to execute my judst, his help is at the nearest. Man's extremity IS God's opportunity. Wlnni Mordecai is tliorou^hly hunibled, the rude Ilaman shall be hanged. ° Fourthli/, Christ loves his ])eopIe with a most cor- dial love; he loves them with all his heart: nay, they are the dearly beloved of his soul, as he himself calls them, Jer. xii. 7 : " I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies." Christ's to his peoidc is not a lip-love, from the teeth love outwardly; l)ut a real love, from the heart inwardly. Christ loves his people as his Father loves him • and how IS that, can you tell ? No, all the men on earth, nor angels in heaven cannot declare the love that the Father bears to Christ; and yet as God loves Christ, so doth Christ love his j)eo])le. You have a full text for this; they are Chiist's own words: "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you," John xv. 9. Oh how infinitely doth the Father love the Son, and how infinitely doth the Son love his jieople ! Why, he loves tJiem as the Father loves him. O Lord, what love IS this ! That the Saviour should love the sin- ner: that Christ should love the miserable sinner: and thus it is. Believers are like letters of gold' eiigraven on the very heart of Christ. Oh the breadth' tjie length, the depth, and height, of the love of ^■iuist, saith the apostle, it passeth knowledge! Eph. 111. 19. As if there were both want of words and THE KINO OF KINU.. 35 Why so, O be overpast, ite my judg- nmrselves for mail's heart tliy miseries 4 ai-o at the 's extremity 5 tliorouglily etl. a most cor- t : nay, they limsclf calls irly beloved ." Christ's ! teeth love 't inwardly. 's him ; and be men on re the love 'et as God ^])le. You i)-ist's own e, so have nitely doth infinitely , he loves iOrd, what ve the sin- >le sinner: rs of gold, le breadth, he love of edge! Eph. kvords and want in words, to set forth the love of Christ for certainly it must bu very great. Alas! others 'lovo the samts; but h'.w do they lovo them? why not with a cordial lose: they do not lovo them for their good, but for their goods: it is more for the moncT in their purses than for the grace in their h.-arts: they love the saints as the Samaritans did the Jews • just as men do with their sun dials, never look on them but when the sun shines : why so ? The world never looks upon the saints but in the time of pros- perity. When the Jews flourished and were in their glory Oh what great friends were .he Samaritans to them! But when the poor Jews were under afflic- tion, then they had no worse enemies than they : but Christ IS not so, he loves thee when thou art poor as well as when thou art rich; as well when thou art m thy rags as when thou art in thy robes; when thou art in adversity as well as when thou art in prosperity. Christ loves his saints as well upon a galows as though it were in a palace; for whom he loves he loves unto the end. Heb. xiii. 5. He IS faithful who hath said, " I will never leave thee nor forsake thee;" never leave thee in any condition or any place. Oh what a love is this ! And there- tore a rush for what the world can do, or for the world s love; it is like a Venice glass, soon broken; It smiles now, and quickly frowns; it cries " Ho- sanna'l to-day, and to-morrow " Crucify liirn! " but Christ s love is from the very heart. Fifthhj, Jesus Christ loves his subjects with a love of benevolence, John iii. 16: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who- soever beheveth in him should not nerish. but ha^e everlasting life;" and, saith Paul, ^" He' loved me and gave himself for me," Gal. ii. 20. The Father 3G llr h ( CIIRIST^S FAMOUS TITLES. gives the Son, and the Son gives himself, "who loved me, and gave himself for me:" all that Christ did and suffered it is for me; all that Christ hath is niine O soul! Christ's love is thine to pity thee ; Ch.-ist s mercy is thine to save tliee ; Christ's graces are thine to beautify thee; and his glory is thfne to crown thee : Christ's power is thine to protect thee. He that IS sure of God's love to him, is sure of God's power for him. Christ's wisdom is thine to counsel thee; his angels are thine to guard thee; his Spirit is t line to comfort thee; and his word is thine to teach tliee J here are four attributes of God which are of groat support to Christiaus-his fxithfulness, his mightiness, his goodness, and his wisdom. And therefore it is vour duty to live upon pro- niises while providenc ,eems to run cross; Christ's love to you is free love. All that he hath given you is free: his grace is free, his love is free, his salvation ns free, and himself is free. And a grain of grace in tlie heart isbetterthan a chain of gold about the neck. Now, beloved, all that Christ hath bestowed upon you IS free, aiKl tlierefore it is a love of benevoleAce. ^ixuup, Christ loves his subjects with a love of compassion, sympathizing with them in all their sor- r. Nvs and sufferings; truly this is a great comfort in- deed: In all tlieir afliictioiis he was afflicted," Tsa. 1X111. J. feo saith the apostle, HeK iv. 15 "We have not an high ])riest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;" that is, Ave have an high jmest th^it is touched with the feeling of our infirmities; one that doth weep in our tears, aiid sigh in our sighs, and sorrow in our sorrows, and suffer in our sufferings; and tlierefore saith Christ, " Saul ban], why persecutcst thou mo ? " Oh what a sweet love IS this ! a love of compassion and sympathizing ; mself, "who 1 that Christ 'hrist hath is pity thee ; lirist's graces Y is thine to protect thee, sure of God's le to counsel ; his Spirit is bine to teach which are of ifulness, his n. e upon pro- ;)ss; Christ's \\ given you bis salvation 1 of grace in ut the neck, towed upon )cnevolence, ii a love of ill their sor- comfort in- licted," Isa. . 15, "We be touched is, we have elingofour rs, and sigh , and suffer ■ist, "Saul, hat a sweet nipathiziug M THE KING OF KINGS. 37 were bear a share witif thc^^' ^"''* ^^^^^ ^' ^^ i?i5iFtB-?m '''■■■' speaking there of Christ "Tlf/K."' ^f';,"'"' "' delight?!, thv beant •' ' A !, ^'^^ '*''■>" S'^tly hi. Church hV&is Iv. '• 'tT '^'''"«' ^»"^ one. Oh howinfimtolvdo h ri. '-^ ^'"7.'' '"'^ ''"^ Certainly Christ bj' f a g -eat ov tt" ol'""1' ' and hence it is you read '^01 ri«f *",'", *^l"»'el'; t;e gohlen candlLick ^tKH^flS^'f ' '""!!'« lilies, and his deliglit is wit tl, ^"T^ "'« Although poor belCr bl t iu"«,o '"?,■" eye, yet they are doves in cEt ''"i^orid's very precious in his esteem A, ^.';- ''"'y »'•« loathing of wicked men'rf '. 1'^ ' "'"y •>« "'O beloved%f God he Ir u ■' ^f '''"y ''"■'' ''«»% shall greatly^deliglltifrS. '" ""^'"- ^'^ '^"^ la.S5ol a,tlt'rT ''%'""P''' ^"«' - ever never'diernever waS''"! °7:; " f "^ '"^'^ «■«* a fountain ever flowing , f'^ '' ^^'T^^ '"^'o *« "ke he loves fi^rn eteSZr™'^^'^"P' ^'''""» they are believers Now k ^Jh •" '"'""'y' '^''^ to be beloved ? " He C'e t^ " " ^reat favour John xiii. 1 ■ not for i ? *"" ""^ *° *« ond," X 38 CHRIST S FAMOUS TITLES. ! I l( Siiith God, " with an everlasting lovo." Oli ! tliis is a lovo that shall bed and board with thee, that shall lie down and rise up with thee, that shall go to thy death-bed with thee, to the grave with thee, and to heaven with thee: the saints shall put off the jewel of faith when they die, but not the jewel of love; for that shall remain with them to eter- nity. God loves his saints with an everlasting love. Ninthly, Christ loves his peoj^le with an univer- sal love; his love is universal to all his saints. Oh! there is not one saint but Christ infinitely loves; he loved jwor Lazarus as well as rich Abraham, and despised Job as well as honourable David. He loves the poorest saints as well as the richest, he loves them all alike: God is no respecter of per- sons. Oh ! where is there such a King now as Christ? They love their nobles, but Christ loves all his subjects. Christ's love extends to all his saints : his love is like the beams of the sun, which reacheth always east, west, north, and south; so doth Christ's love. Tenthly, His love is a correcting love. " Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth," Heb. xii. 6. Eleventhly, Christ's love is a directing love; he hath promised to guide and direct his peoj^le in the way wherein they ought to walk. Oh ! put all these particulars together, and you must needs confess that Jesus Christ loves his sub- jects infinitely; as it was said of Lazarus, when Christ wept for him, they made this construction of it— Oh how he loves him ! Oh how doth Christ love you who are his people ! he loves you infinitely, even bcyoud measure. l\ow, for the Lord's sake, consider of it, and let this draw forth your love to him. oil ! tliis thee, that it shall go with thee, all put off b the jewel 3m to eter- isting love, an luiiver- lints. Oh! Itely loves ; raham, and avid. He richest, he ber of per- ig now as Inist loves to all his sun, which south ; so "Whom 'geth every g love; he ople in the p, and you :3s his sub- rus, when nstruction oth Christ infinitely, ard's sake, 3ve to him. m f i THE KIXO OP KLVGS. 30 "He is altogether lovely" Sirs' CJirisf i/.? ^? \'*^' ^'^^' o^" ^>J«ol. O .ncocd, a„,I ,„y l,|„„j i, ^ .Jly ,?«*,/«„,»'Pf John vi. 55. Christ's red bWd W,, T f' ^'"■"'*' our rod guiJt; .carlet-red shir; 'e t" "'™^ become milk-wliite saints, • nil. ^ ^ S™oo come swimmi„./t,. ?,J • ' ""• Preaous mercies Wed love at eit vcn 1^''"?°"'' """'■ t-'Ia'ist d.-op» of love vea H,;. '''■"!'? °' '''""'l ^™™ lovely: he wl^'mo^lo I „ ""^ f^ "T '"- then he .hewed .„o«t love toT ' ''"'''"'''' of my di.c::,rr •: tw y StSriijri /"^ ^r allCW,^^^ tlul wilUnpeirif *" ^'"•"' ;"-ei-nenta,Kl strong: Xei&L-pt-;-- ~" To /inn '^;"\^'^'"^.«^^ ^^ fi^ath, to the grave to~fire ^1 ■ f li; 40 Christ's famous titles. First Sickness. This is the first comparison which doth set forth tflie strength of the believer's love; this Ts set down in two places of the Son^/ of Solomon, chap, ii 5, " Stay me with flagons, com- fort me with apples, for I am sick of love." And m chap. V. 8 " Tell ye him whom my soul loveth, that I am sick of love." She is overwhelmed, she isoverconie and even ravished with his love and beauty Oh I thirst, I faint, I pant, I long for him. Oh! the Church is veiy sick, and ready to swoon ; never was Ahab so sick for a vineyard, never was Sisem so desirous for milk, nor Samson for water, nor Eachel for a child, nor Amnon for his sister Tamar, as poor broken-hearted sinners are for Christ. When Christ gets into the heart, he draws all the affections to him. I remember the speech of a gracious woman, " I have born," said she, nine children, with as much pain as other women, and yet I could with all my heart bear them over again; yea, bear them, and bear them all the daj^ of my life, that I might be sure of a part n f f T. ^ ' ^'"""^ infinitely do believers love cxix 97, O how love I thy law ! » He makes a n^'S' ^^".; i* ^T' '''^^' ^'^^^^* vehemency he loves Gods Word. So the spouse here, she^does no? only love him, but she is sick of love, ready to die IZ rT ?-''^ '' f '^''^"^'' ^«* "^*o death, but unto life ; it IS a sickness that still bringeth blessed- ness and happiness with it : a sickness that shall souls""" ^ ^^"^ '" *^'^ ^^'^* Physician of Secondly. The nevt +hirj"' V'l^'^r-i-- -^ at the strength of her love to Christ is by death. This you have m Song viii. 6. She there says « her 4 THE KING OF KINGS. 41 omparison believer's le Song of ^ons, com- ^e." And 111 loveth, ilmed, she love and - long for ready to vineyard, r Samson mnon for inners are heart, he mber the om," said as other )ear them m all the )f a part ^ers love e. Psalm makes a he loves does not dy to die eath, but 1 blessed- hat shall sician of spressetli y death. ays " her 4 I; 'r.t!::i'.-i-::.tv" ?* ^d, y«u know death of knS'-'iJ.nl, '""S of t^^n-ora, "nd tl,e ten-or 01 Kin^. It subdues all sorts of people Wh n„,I man awell that was too strong for death 2 If ^engch could have resisted it, "then S ™fon had bSd;:.^ td^ts •r;^;'';'°f "'^'S^- onff^PPrl if +1 "*'"*. .^^Cfped It: could beauty have alas ! none of these were hardy eno„°h for .Ltlf,; " %";of dS^r'^'" i -"•'-l!^ Oh! mth : ook mtn vn 1 '^ *'""' y"" "™* ™««t l.art with Zw I'v r ■'' "^ " """8 y°" ■>»"" i; " it is strongTs dith " ^Oh T^ T^ "•''"* '"^'^ Nay, believers' Wo tini • ? ''"^st^ng « death! but strongJr tLnl tlf r " ""* *°"S ^' ^'«''*' appear A ll • , ' *^ ■'"""' scriptures make it deS '"I .m "■'.''JTf *" ^'''"'^* i^ s^trongerthan leath „„V?vP '""*''' '"'"' ^'"''. "that neither rowers nor twL"" ""^f- "»'■ principalities, nor hei^ht%r f F I"'*''™'' "•"• things to come nor ab ft^TpS ''u™; ""^fr ^'■'^»*'"-«'' «'-»"« is in 7,, "P'^^to "8 from the love of God which tt^Hlit'r' '* r^'''" -' itTann^t'h fri nf. n>ay take aw:;*o,* i^rret it'"Z"*!%t"«'' '' our InvAQ . 1.1 1 : ' ^^ ^^ cannot take away rrt,vJMLe" ?o y -^^l' •'T "» «™v the stroy theirtve mT''' >"'' th^y eouW never de- 42 Christ's famous titles. shall die for my Saviour but once, and iio more lives to lay down ! Oh, I could die an hundred times for him ! Oh ! love is a thing that outlives all enemies all persecutions, all dangers, nay, death Itself. In Rev. xii. 1 1, saith the text. " They loved not their lives unto the death." And so saith Job, IJiough thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee •" as if he had said, O Lord, though thou take away my posterity, my greatness, my health, my goodness my children, yea, my life itself, thou shalt never take away my love: though thou slay me. yet will I trust in thee, Job xiii. 15. So that love IS not only as strong as death, but stronger than death ; for love is the conqueror at the last. Thirdly, Another thing wherebv she expresseth the strength of her love, and hei- strong affection for Ciirist is the grove. Her " love is cruel as the grave. The grave is the bed of darkness, which is always craving, and never satisfied, but devours all that comes. Christ tells us, in John iv. 14 " Who- soever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst."— What ! thirst no more ? Ko more after the world and worldly things, but more and more after Christ and heaven. He that drinks of the water that I shall give him shall thirst no more. No more after those low poor thin 'ove I were it ten ed, it was he us; it is he e that chang- ; was he that i-'s wrath for for us, and us: it is ho r his crown. s for us, to t this Christ itelv ! And and suffered love, so he ;o love him Christ will must weisli ance of our ibove all. s application ling in order 3 uses of it. ition. Zdlyy s us with an Why, then, people, i comfort ye, THE KINO OF KINGS. 47 comfort ye my people, saith your God " Tsa vl 1 . andsaith Christ, John xiv 1 "Tprn.f , ^' be troubled." Christ would ,^f \"«* ^'""^ ^^^'^^'^ «amts troubled; and ^^:^^r^^ ^^ "Rejoice evermore !"~Alas' low p„/ • • ' when men villify .«, ^ ^: :^^^ ::^^ abuse us, imd persecute us, how c/m we rei'oit^ J but hark what Christ saith,' Matt, v 11^/b ' s d are ye, when men sliall revile von .mV ,.n . vou and ^t.^-.i^ oil ^^^'^« yo", and persecute goeth^in the L, 1^, '^J^^^^'^Z shall revile y„u, and persecute voi. " Oh ff Z matter of blesseducs,,' and theSl-e b^not «s? down You know what was said of old "T„ «' ! world ye shall have tribulation : bit le of «od c^.eer; I have overcome the world," John xvi^33 «.s;rb • ?r r", *'" '^t "'"* *"» "-'">-; tl W, ?!,; f?^^ "'"""'' '"«•'' *''»" ''"St thy bad «CttTy-s;rsj-tir he : * Z'haVt'Tl""""' ""t^ "'^ ""''- i^'" «° .' the cup of affliction comes the cup of salvation tl sweet„,,s of the crown which sha^ll 1, twed' w U iTon tL "f !?'""« by a place where a cross iay on the ground, he caused it to be reared ^n „Jl"t' ft,. ""<'^'- yo"-- g-^eatest trouble lie vo," t,.-dtv=. truaaures, paiieuce for sorrow: the sewl „f sorrow on earth, shall reap a golden cron of 1n„ • heaven; they that sow hoLsft 'XZd-ti'J ^ 48 CIIIIIST S FAMOUS TITLES. 11 .,f]. • ! ' ""'^f- cxlum a prison for Christ, l,ur„i !' ft ri,, 7 -..«".« for Christ, fo„,ki„^ „„ ,•.,.'"(. ,^';''^^'^ tluit deny l,im in tlR.ir work, • Co, ' "' """•''" in n,en.^„onths, an,.T.'!;:; it' nXii'v^ ' L -1 " "'y ""* "'<"■<' f"'- Christ? Ol, ,o-v,> n.e Christ, and take the worI,l who « I u f i" fliimo m yoiir son » ? For tli!:;;"i^f;''.^ the Father gives loved, his lo^-ing-kindness througli Christ E IS It not better swimming in the works of repentance than burning in the firi Be- water- f-worka 50 Christ's famous titles. of vengeance? one of them you must; there ia no coming to the fair haven of glory without sailing through the narrow strait of repentance : and there, say what you will, unless you believe in your Saviour, your souls will bo miserable for ever ; and therefore consider of what I have said, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. Love Christ more than ever, more than all, and above all ; then you shall be happy for evermore. Seventhly, Jesus Christ makes all his subjects, his subjects do not make him, " By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth," Col. i. 16. By whom? By Jesus Christ, "by him were all things created;" " He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not," John i. 10. "All things were made by him, and without him was nothing made," John i. 3. There was not any thing made without Christ, and all things were made by Christ. Beloved, Jesus Christ creates his subjects; in him we live, move, and have our being; he gives us a threefold being; our first being in a state of nature, our second being in a state of grace, and our third being in a state of glory. This is the seventh thing wherein Jesus Christ excels all other kings — he makes his subjects which none else can do. Eighthly, Christ is the richest of all kings. He is rich in love, he is rich in knowledge, rich in goodness, rich in wisdom, rich in grace, rich in glory. He is as rich as the Father himself: the riches of the Deity are in him ; "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," Col. ii. 9. Alas ! what are T)rinces' sino"le crowns, or the pope's triple crown, to Christ's many crowns? Christ hath not one, or two, or three crowns, but many crowns THE KING OP KINGS. 51 fc; there is no without sailing ice : and there, ilieve in your for ever ; and said, and the things. Love all, and above more. 1 his subjects, y him were all md that are in T Jesus Christ, He was in the • him, and the "All things m was nothing uy thing made nade by Christ, ibjects; in him he gives us a state of nature, , and our third e seventh thing ther kings — he ;an do. all kings. He w^ledge, I'ich in grace, rich in Br himself: the lim dwelleth all !ol. ii. 9. Alas ! he pope's triple >hrist hath not ; many crowns | the souls^and consdences of .?fl?rn f Z'"^' ^r- ^^^' ^2' "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns.'' Christ IS richer than any kiug, nay, richer than a 1 the kings m the world; "for he is heir of a thmgs, in Heb. i. 2. He is the greatest heir 1 heaven and on earth. sur?of%T"M T^T\f "^^ '""'^"S ^ ''^ ^^^ *rea- ITi J' T^ ;^^ ^^*"^^^' ^^"^^1 was so much cried up through the world for a fixmous treasury he fell a groping of it, to find whither it had arj bottom; and being asked the reason of it, said lie h^^fr^* .^''*'';! *"^""'^ ^^^ff--« from 'yours a this his hath no bottom as yours hath;" alluding ^ the mines of the Indies. But, alas ! ;hat is Ih? pioud Spaniards treasure to Christ's, and what are us mines to Christ's mines! what are all tl^ i7fu ^f .^l.^««^«nds, and crowrs, and the sceptres , 7 ,t^^^^"^'« «f *^^^ earth to Christ's! "The whole Turkish empire," said Lutlier, "is but a pait of the world indeed; but it is no more than a bone, a crust that God throws to dogs. Oh ' Christ's riches are so many, they cannot be numbered: they are so precious, they cannot be valued ; so great, they cannot be measured. Oh the infinite riches of our King ! Christ is a mine of gold whTch we must dig till we find heaven. ^ ' i^m^/./^ Christ excels all other kings in this; lie IS a King whose power is absoh^te over all nations and people, and kindreds, and tongues. : ^ '^ I f \ ^''^:- '''' "^^''^^ ^^" i^ the world is sufficient to be a law, but the will of our King is sumcient. ^ Tenthl^, Jesus Christ is a King who rules over men, over the wills and 52 CHRIST'S FAMOUS TITLES. 1 1 ! 1 hearts of men: otlier kings may rule over the estates and bodies of men, but not over tkeir con- sciences. Now this is Christ's glory, which he will give to no other: Christ, by his power, is able to subdue the wills of men, and the hearts of men, though ever so stubborn and stout before. All^ the power of the world cannot do this : if all the kings, and princes, and emperors of the world were put together, they would not be able to subdue the heart of one poor man; they may beat his body, afflict his body; torment his body; but as for his heart, all the kings and potentates in the world, nay, all the angels in heaven, cannot subdue the heart of a poor sinner; and this is the glory of Christ, that he can do this. Heart-work is God's work. The great heart-maker must be the great heart-breaker; none can do it but he. Eleventhly, Christ is a King that hath no need of any instruments : he makes use of them some- times; but he needs not any. Alas ! what can the kings of the earth do without instruments? how can they govern their kingdoms without instru- ments? tliey must have this instrument here, and the other there, or else farewell crown and kingdom quickly. But Jesus Christ hath no need of any; he can do anything by his own power. By himself he destroyed Pharaoh and his great host in the Red Sea, Exod. xiv. By himself he overthrew Jericho, that great city, Josh. vi. By himself he smote the great army of a thousand thousand men; the greatest army that ever we read of, 2 Chron xiv. By himself he overthrew Ammon and Moab, and Mount Scir, who warred against Judah. See what he hath done by weak means : he smote the kings about Sodom, even by Abraham and his THE KING OF KINGS. 53 poor family, Gen. xxiii. He overthrew tliaf rr,i^\.^. army of the Midianites by GiZ^Zf^lS^I woman 'hp . ^. ^^1^' '""' g'^"* Si/em Ta IvTti^ ''<'j*™y«d a garrison of the Philistines by Jonathan and his armoiu-bearer, 1 Sam xiv 4 See what he did contrary to means. WhV contrary to means he delivered the three ehiU en from burning being in the fire, Dan. iii. Contrary to means he dehvered Jonah from drowning ntli? the den of lions Contrary to means he kept tlie 1 might shew you vhat he hath done bv contrary means, but I pass that: so that you see "our kZ hath no need of instruments, Ind thereforf hf wonderfully excels all others. anSS'/ ' '^' '' " ^'"S ^'l'" ^"' overcome ana subdue a^- -u. enemies: yea, all our enemies thvow'^"'n'"' ""'^ ^.^"'P'"^'' >»« ^"> utterlyTve;. tliiow. Our enemies are very many and very mighty: high in power, and high in pride and 2 n T^- .yS^yr^^ ^P^-k in C'lvid^ words in 2 &am. ui. 39. "I am this day weak thm.rri, anointed king." How David! wlak to-'d^Zd jet made a king to-day? Yes, saith he, "tlie sons voifrTnt-' *"? ^^'^^•'y -"^•" ^•'y ''«"--« deet kings m disguise; but poor helrts, you are weak, though you are kings elect: the sons of Zermah are too hard for you. But, Jesus Christ is a King of kings, a King above all things, and over c ? — - — ".?.,.v r,.i^n ixii nv lias puc ail Jiia enemies under his feet, 1 Cor. xv. 25. &rk "He must reign, he must of necessity, God hath spoken ff4 Christ's famous titles. I .1 it till he has put all enemies under his feet— rot only some, but all. Oh ! this is good news to saints, excellent news. What king can do this but Christ? What king can put all his enemies under his feet? WhM earthly king can subdue all his enemies? Alas! they cannot subdue their own; for the most flourishing kings that we read of have fallen before their enemies for want of strength : Richard III. cried out in his distress, "A kingdom for a hors!e, a kingdom for a horse;" and yet all this could not save his life. But Jesus Christ can subdue all his enemies : he hath all power in heaven and in earth given to him, Matt, xxviii. 18. So that if he speaks the word, all his enemies are overthrown, even m a moment. „ , i ■ • Thirteenthly, Christ surpasses all other kings m this: he is a King that gives his subjects the rich- est and the best gifts of any other king whatsoever: in John X. 27, 28. "My sheep," saith he, "hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me : and I give to them eternal life." The wise God, that he may invite and encourage poor sinners to a holiness of life, sets before their eyes the recom- pence of reward; that if the equity of his precepts do not prevail, the excellency of his promises may : he would fain catch men with a golden bait. Abra- ham's servant gave jewels of silver, and jewels of gold to Rebekah, that he might win her heart over to Isaac, Gen. xxiv. 23. Oh the jewels, the excel- lent jewels, that Christ gives to poor souls to wm their hearts to him ! Christ gives us richly all things to enjoy ; what can we desire more ? Alas ! the men of the earth give but poorly and penuriously ; but Christ gives richly and freely. No man in the world gives so freely as Christ: Christ gives fre- THE KING OP KINGS. 55 quently; every day, every hour lie scattereth jewels to poor souls. The great king of Persia gave two of his courtiers, to the one a golden cup, to the other a kiss, and he that had the cup complained to the king that his fellow's kiss was better than his golden cup. Christ doth not put off with a cup of gold, but he gives us the ' he gives best gifts to his beloved ones : he ower is certainly given to Christ, it would be a cordial to revive vou in the worst times, and saddest of trials. He who IS our Saviour, he who is our head, our brother, our fnend, is King of kings. This doctrine of Christ's wfnf /!r'-^r '' Vr7 '"^^^^ '*«^*""« *« *he mem- bers of Christ: and I beseech you, let those consider«. s^L n ^^^^\b^^-;-d l^^fo- yo", bear up your spirits. 1 have shewed vou with wh«f on e».f;il i-^-« Whilst loves his subjects; he is King of kincrg and can do anything without instruments; he*' needs ill' 58 Christ's famous titles. none to help liira to do his work. He can, if he please, enable the most despicable creatures to do his work: therefore let these considerations make impression upon your souls. If a man should tell you, your brother or sister, beyond the seas, were advanced to great honours, as Joseph, when he heard that his father was alive, "Go," saith he "tell my father of all my glory and greatness in Egypt, for he will rejoice at it." Now I have told you a relation of Christ's kingly power; and there- fore let this quiet your spirits: "Be still," saith the Lord, "and know that I am God," in Psal. xlvi. 10. It is enough for you to know that I am God, and therefore be still, consider what I am. Use 2d. By way of exhortation, I have one word to say to the saints, and another to sinners. First, To saints. If it be so, that Christ is King of kings, and King above all kings, and over all kings; Oh then, you who are the people of God, you who are near and dear to him, upon whom and in whom Christ is formed and stamped ; oh that you would give all the glory, and praise, and honour, to Christ, and study to advance his glory. He hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light, to shew forth his praise. Oh ! this should be our great endeavour. Oh that you would endeavour in your places to advance Christ! Secondly, A word or two to such as are none of the subjects of Christ. Let me exhort you who are not yet subjects of Christ, to believe in him, embrace him, receive him, to lay hold upon him, to I be one with him, or else you will one day cry out as that king did in distress, "Oh! a kingdom for a horse,"— a kingdom for a Christ. — Oh ! thou wouldst give ten thousand worlds, if thou hadst them to THE KINO OP KINGS. 59 give, for a part m Christ. Alas! sinner, what is the reason that Christ hath no more in thy esteem? Thou wilt part with Christ rather than part with thy swearing, and drunkenness, and filthiness. Oh this IS sad ! there in no other name under heaven whereby we can be saved. He is tlie Desire of all nations, and we can never be happy without him : and therefore, for the Lord's sake, as you love vou^ own souls lay hold on him, that he may be the baviour of your souls, the joy of your hearts, and your all in all : for the Lord's sake, consider of it. you that yet stand out against Christ. Oh that I could but tempt you to Christ! Oh that I could prevail with you to love Cl^rist, and to have stron- desires after him ! Alas ! if you do not believe and part with all your iniquities, you must part with Christ at last ; and what a sad parting will that be to part with God, and Christ, and heaven ! When thou wilt come to know what thou hast lost by hugging thy dariing corruptions, oh what a sad condition will it be ! Therefore I beseech you. tiiink of It in time, and believe in your Saviour tHat your souls may be saved in the day of Christ. * Mi I itl 'it .is m 60 CHRIST S FAMOUS TITLES. III. THE MIGHTY GOD. One of Christ's titles is, The Mighty God : Isa. ix. G. Beloved, I liave shewn, from the second title, that Christ is u King, a King above all kings, and a King over all kings, and the King of kings, and that his laws are most equal, liis subjects most happy; having no otlier tax laid upon tlieni than love and fear. But now tliis title holdeth him forth, not only as a great King, but as a great God, before whom all kings and kingdoms arc but as little drops, or as small dust, Isa. xl. 15. From this title. The Mighty God, I shall lay down the proposition, That Jesus Christ is true and perfect God. That is the point I shall insist on. There are two sorts of people in the world who deny this doctrine, — who deny the deity of Jesus Christ; and who say the second Person of the Trinity is not God. First, The unbelieving Jews. If Christ had come as the Jews dreamed, as a great monarch, treading upon nothing but crowns and sceptres, and the necks of kings, and had all the potentates of the earth to attend his train ; I say, had Christ come in this worldly glory, and pomp, and power, then it may be the Jews would have believed on him; may be then he should have been their God. But now, beloved, because Christ came poorly and meanly, and "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form, of a serv.ant," Phil. ii. 7; he took none of his gallantry, none of his bravery upon him, THE MIGHTY COD. 61 TY God: Isa. n the second ove all kings, "iiiig of kings, subjicta most m them than holdcth him i a great God, is arc but as 1. 15. From lay down the le and perfect on. le world who city of Jesus erson of the rist had come irch, treading ;res, and the ntates of the hrist come in ower, then it on him; may i. But now, and meanly, ad took upon . 7; he took ry upon him, Jets Si^ht dT^'lSV-''P"'««T;" ^'--f-- t'-o .nook us^a thi;i;",it^r""' ''!'J\ '^'''" '^'"■■'^' -y they, you wo.Si;:'t™Xd'S':''/''';''- •"■' «.e heathens say, they wo Id n„M ' "' '"•"" °^ God. O blessed h^L *T * '"^'"'^■'- "> ™eh a and despised by thetn ;.•"•" "' ">"" '•^P'oaohed earnest 'pooHy anj ",tfl""S "■?,''''' '""^'»"«« "'»» They X dSpfao the d ath":^ i; '7 "T ''"'■ surely feel the Vath of the L,l *'il, ^^'f «'"'" away their eari fin,., i ■ ^, ' *'"^y '^''O turn Chrfst wiif turn X ^Jreafs ^''^^'f ™''^ ™-' cries then. ^ "'"'' '^'""' ''earing tlieir Chf< iltTre'lf^l^'l-;!™-^ "- I>-'^ »f nation who sarthatC;irt-T''^'" "'"^^ '" ""^ that every sak,f 1 L'' i?."* * "<"•'= "an, and fi-rtherrtLrLy l:^ T"^ ?°J '^^ Christ;' and liigh blasph/n,^^' They «,. t" w n^''?' "''J' «»'' ''' his first eoming, ClS w 1 ''I ""' "^I" <^''"«t "' second coming -thCTth^t J ] . T° *'""» "' '"'■'* God revealed from -I,! " !!'" ?'*y *'«' '™tl> of the wrath of God r'^d't "'f"' ^'"'" ^^^^ «>em. O ye blasplim ? 'le :," tH" "?""'«' God: the Father '^saith he^Vood n" " T' speaks truth, God or you? Let r„. v. T"' '"'"' every man a liar Tint it • t, ^ '™<'' ""'• more clear proofs Fvi ' '"' ^ '*"" S'™ y"" forth that Jesus ChriSrh '"'''>"'"" ^''""''^ '' "Looking for that Ue e? h ^ ^^ "Slf^l «"<'• appearing of the m-eat r^,! j „ ""^ ;,'lorious Christ,"'!it„st ll Mark Pb T- ^f™" ^''''' called God, but 4e ^ God "'' o ""^ ?"' ""'^ fha<- no»v,p r^-. , f^*^*^ ^oo. O saints h^ aFso'come ^r .T.^™ *° "■'.ko "^ righteouT" " -li — -^«x^w ua rignreous, wi 1 heaven to make us g&ous. Not 62 CnniSTS FAMOUS TITLES. only so, but Christ is also called Mighty God ; nay, not only Mighty God, but again, "God blessed for ever." Christ is God blessed for ever, Rom. ix. 5 ; not only blessed for ever, but the true God, 1 John iv. 20. Jesus Christ is there called the true God, not only the true God, but a God for ever and ever. Heb. 1. 8. Unto the Son he said, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." The Father calls the Son God himself, and therefore well may \vc. Thus you see the doctrine fully proved, that Jesus Clirist is the true and perfect God ; but beloved, because the Deity of Christ is so much questioned at this day, and this being one of the serious and chiefest points in divinity, 1 shall give you some consider- ations, or demonstrations, or arguments, to fortify you against this great error. Jesus Christ is true and perfect God because he is, for time, co-eternal; for nature, co-essential; for dignity, co-equal with his Father. (First,) For time, co-eternal, John xvii. 5: "O Father, glorify thou me with thyself, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." You see here, Christ was before the world was; and therefore Christ is called the Everlasting Father, Isa. ix. 6. So in Eev. i. 8. Christ there, speaking of himself, saith, " I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the cudiug, which was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty." Mark, Christ is the same before time, in time, and after time; which was, and is, and is to come. Now, beloved, none can be eternal but God : but Christ is eternal, and therefore he is God, and co-eternal with his Father. {Secondly,) He is, for nature, co-essential : " I " There are three that bear record in heaven, the THE MIGHTY GOD. 63 Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost : and those three are one, 1 John v. 7. When Philip desires to eee the Father, " 8hew us the Father, and it sufficeth ua, John XIV. 8 saith Christ, "He that liath seen nie hath seen the Father," 9th and 10th verses. How so? For "I am in the Father, and the Father in me. So that you know Christ is more than mere man : he is one with tlie Father. Oh ! he is Iheanthropos, God-man. If yon make the Son mere man, you must make the Father so too. V.iV &A ' '.f' ^'"' '''S"ity, co-eciual with the Father Phil u. C: "Wlio, being in the form of God thought It not robbery to be equal" with the Fathel^ Christ thought U no 'liminution of hig Fathers glory to be equal vvUh hi, Father in glory i\nd you shall further l,u that all the hSnour which belongs to God, the ]^Oh:r nath commanded us to give to the Son. - xhat all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father: lor he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father," John v. 23. Therefore it is clear to every eye that Christ is, for dignity, co-equal ^vlth the Father; for the Father hath commai?ded us to give the same honour to Christ which is due to him: so that it is no blasphemy at all to equal Chnst with God ; for in him are the riches of the Deity and the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily m him Col. 11. 9. This is the first argument. He IS lor time co-eternal, for nature co-essential, for dignity co-equal with the Fatlicr. Secondl^^ I shall lay down this argument to prove tho Deity of Jesus Christ. Consider the work ot creation; surely he that made heaven and P«rf,b must needs be a God; you will yield to this? so saith the Lord himself. " The gods that have not made ■*» ' wwritirtwiimiimaiii Gi Christ's famous titles. tho heavens and the earth, even tlicy shall perish Irom the earth, and from under these heavens," Jer X. 11; but now, beloved, Jesus CJirist made the heavens and the earth, and all things therein, and therefore he is God : "All things were made by liim, John 1. 3; mark, this is by Christ, "All thino^ were made by him, and withou't him was nothint^ made that was made." " By liim were all thino-g created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visi- ble and invisible;" "all things were created by him, and tor him," Col. i. 16. "He was in the world] and the world was made by him, and the world knew Inm not," John i. 10. Now, beloved, had Ciirist been less than God, he could not have made heaven and earth, and therefore he is God of glory the great God that now sits upon the throne ■ for he created the heavens and the earth, and all things therem. ^ Tliirdly, That Christ is the true and perfect God appears if you consider the words and miracles which he did in the days of his flesh ; here is another unanswerable argument to prove the Godhead of Jesus Christ. The winds and the seas obey him, the devils came out of the possessed, the blind re- ceived their sight, the lame walked, the deaf heard, the dumb spake, lepers were cleansed, the dead were raised, the sick were healed. Oh! who could do tins but God, as you may see ! JMatt. xxi. 5. But you may say, the apv^stles did great miracles, and yet were not gods. Why, it is true they did great miracles; but in whose name did they do them? VVas it in their own names, and by their own power? No, beloved, they themselves confess the eontrary, Acts iv. 10. Tiiey tell you it is not in tiieir own power, but in the name and power of THE MIGHTY GOD. G5 Jesus Chnst So that this is a strong ammient to Ills name, and by Ins power is i iseinlea (Ii„l *1„ '. " ,""ou' <..nii&t, and worship winst, and tlierefore the saints have prayed "Lord Jesus, reeeive my spirit," .us Stephen dicf So tha you see worship is due to Christ both ft^m an es Iw",; "t therefore ho must 'needs be GVd ="'' yM '-i' ,"'*' ""' "'■''■" I"-omises of the coming of Christ under the Old Testamm.t w """"S ^vas man fallen, but CI ri./ l'"! i,.^" *»'f -d of the woman shall bniise' the';e«"i;e,I 'S le prophets foretold of the Mesiiah_S. F 2 * All 66 Christ's famous titles. Jeremiah, Hosea, Daniel, Malachi, and tlie rest of them, how falsely he should be accused, and how basely he should be used, and this will be enou-li to condemn the unbelieving Jews, and make them speechless in the great day of account. I might give you the sayings of the same prophets, but you may find them yourselves; search tlie Old Testa- ment and you shall find them all speak more or less of Jesus Christ. Thus I have clearly proved! by express scripture and undeniable arguments, that Jesus Christ is true and perfect God Use 1. The first use shall be for information. If It be so that Jesus is true and perfect God, then, though this be a strange truth to some, yet it is a sound truth; though the mystery be d^/p, yet the man, suffered by man, and for man. "Without oontroversy, great is the mystery of godliness." ^T^.Wlr' "^^^^ --^«t?d in the The schoolmen compare the incarnation of Jesus Christ to a garnient made by three sisters, and one 1 in .y had a hand in the garment of Christ's flesh, but the second Person wore it: he was God mani' iested in flesh; and this is a great mystery. And truly It IS a gmit mystery for happiness to^become a curse; for him that made the angels to become lower than the angels, Heb. ii.; for the CreatorT become a creature; for him that had the riches of all m himself to become poor. Oh » it is a frrpnt mystery, that he whom the heaven of heavens^can- not contain, his glory should be wrapt in the rags of flesh; that the great God should tike upon hhn a piece of earth; .hat he who hangs the earth upon THE MIGHTY GOD. 67 tt X'n 2ld S'r ™J-t-y; that he who rules me stars should suck the breasts; that lie wlin mntr Oh^ "'""* *°"'<' "^^ cntle in a .;owelsofh\„.UerXtt:?ht"beSed i* : the bosom of his Father, '^'herefore^^ S I ! apostle, "without controversy s^TL\ . " of godliness; God maniflS gXfle h •>TodC son became man's son tliit wo Z , ^ might become God's so";s ^'°"' ^'^^ ^ «^"« to.1%. Is Jesus Christ true and perfect God ? My second inference is this Thit Tp«n. ; • God: he is honey in tho'niJuth beS^ y' u ZZ^ joy m the heart, and music iu'the ear. "Let 111 tlie r money pensh with them, who esteem all the 5:1' Ch •:•""'? ""'* "- clay's tcTt^Vih t^ted'wih nl^'ne^^t^SS^^-"-,'- ^™ «,ehappie., Christ^ c„':i;fo^j"it%r"sl:rr We.^n etlet &: clefr'thf S^^,^ ^/«W%, If Christ members are the then Christ' be a true and God. perfect greatest and hap- !; t 68 cijrist's famous titles. piest; if Christ is God Almighty's only Son, be- lievers are God Almighty's only daughters. You read of God's daughters in Ps. xlv. Christ is the King, believers are the queen; Christ is the Bride- groom, believers are the bride; Christ is the Lamb believers are his wife, Rev. xxi. 9. The angels in glory are in a very glorious state, and, let me tell you, believers m Christ are higher than angels: they are servants, we are members; they are the friends of the Bridegroom, we are the bride; they have their personal glory, we have the same glory, for sub- stance, with Jesus Christ, John xvii. 22. "The glory which thou hast given me," saith Christ, " I have given them." Believers are nearer the throne than angels; and this doth wonderfully speak out that we are higher than the angels. O beloved, how are believers advanced! how high are we become, poor dust and ashes, to be above angels ! and this IS the greatest hajjpiness, which we get by Christ s assuming our nature for the salvation of our souls. Again, Christ's members are not only the greatest, but the happiest : our renewed condition is as good in Christ as it was bad in Adam. Oh ' we were no more cursed out of Christ than we were blessed in Christ; Christ is as full of life as Adam was full of death; Christ is as full of sweetness to us as Adam was of bitterness to us. Truly, soul if thou say Christ is thine, I will speak next, and siv, boul, thou hast that which is more worth than "a iing s ransom ; that which is more worth than all that which the devil promised Christ, when he shewed him all the kingdoms of the world. Oh the happiness of poor believers! "There is no con- demnation to them that are in Chri?^ ~ viii. 1. Therefore they are happy. ID JuVUUi. IS a :>nly Son, 1)g- ghters. You Christ is the is the Bride- is the Lamb, 'he angels in I, let me tell angels: they ■e the friends ey have their 3ry, for sub- . 22. "The 1 Christ, "I r the throne ly speak out beloved, ligh are we bove angels! ih we get by v^ation of our lot only the condition is m. Oh! we an we were ife as Adam sweetness to ruly, soul, if !xt, and say, orth than a rth than all t, when he Id. Oh the is no con- THE MIGHTY GOD. fid LVUUi. FmrlUy Christ Jesus in trae and perfect GcA Will to mankind was veiv crroof TK.^f t "'' »°^ m. m,ght be ,,artaker8 of the divine nat" re C] st man „l„.l ^ '^"'""S; as you know when a did Jesus suffer for poor believers ! lie vii^ ha^eS „" r{'- ^ v?™''^ ^ <""""•* ''•>" do toward vou aa Christ did once toward Jerusalem' wl en h» came near the city he wept oyer it Tra 7 ,i^* . per your state is a weeing state; you^ state wrath »n't'" ''"*''' y°" '^ "l^" to all tht V?i^I "".*''« vengeance, all the curses JaZ j-oHiseivesf 1 he Lord of heaven pity vou I Difl J-us Christ come from h^yen to ^IZ^ f^^' 70 Christ's famous titles. If w not you com,> out of your sin to come to Christ? '^ ,' "T" *™'" '''^ ^•■'*«'-'« bosom, and leave «!S turone, and crown, and all his glory to comp to .poor ost world, and to die ani Ser Ce f!^ poor lost sinners? ana what! sinners, will tl,i,s meko no .mi,ress,on upon you? Let me tell yon, (S of Christ to save poor sinners. if you will nt-t credit me, look into the scripture, and^thei. surdy you will believe it. " This is u faithful sayinff " saHh «.e apostle, "and won !,y of all tu ceptationf S Jesu Christ came mto the world to save sii:„eri " I Tim i Oh ist hmiguiion the cross, and wept ui.on th, si-of« ^nd d,td upon the cross, to save sinners; aii the which bi !m3t with was for the sake of poor sifi- ners. Or. .,,t ),arh suffered all this woo and mise^ for thee , Hud wilt not thou leave thy swearing, and Uiy diuukenness, and thy wickedness f,r Christ? Oh the s«d, sad day that is coming on thee 1 how canst thou answer this before God Almighty thZ .esus Christ, the King of kings, shot" c\™^' utt* the world and abase himself s°o much as to be"n a mean state, and yet this should nothing affect yon^ Oh! who will pityyou when you are condemned when you are howling and roaring in hell that would no pity yourselves? Oh ! for the Lorf's sake, consider that God should come and tak^ our nature, and that he should take our rags, that we might wear his robes; and what! will yiu rather remain in your sins and die, than come i/Z^,}! may Dut^on"!' ''"*, ""T""" ^«Sar's rags,'that yo7. may put on his lovely robes. I have read of THE MIGHTY GOD. 71 3me to Christ? 5om, and leave ry, to come to uffer here for ivill thi.s make 11 3 on, ( 'hrist id and ^'eason e gnat design you will not i thei.' surely Siiying," saith on, that .Tesus ers/' 1 Tim. i. f^ive sinner;-. i)on the cross, ners; aii the Lnd sufferings of poor sin- and misery wearing, and J f>r Christ? n thee ! how mighty, that d come unto as to be in a ? affect you ? condemned, n hell, that the Lord's nd take our , ags, that we L you rather ho Ohviaf fa« gs, that you tve read of but if they stood onrH, ^ •."""'"™ '!"'"•*<''•' but hanging, dtwi„"an^^„ ""!'■*• ""P™* ""*''"'« l«or creature one dTam nf r^' . ^T' "I'"'" *'»^ much deltht i?tl !: ""'"""'^^ you sI'ouW take as day of mere/irvfU grSe" th'eTv'v"' f' ment will find you sneJchlet tJ, 1^ " ■'"''S- resist the judg^e^nt thllTe ^'blreto^etT'^ can never resist the iudgmont th ,t l,r ' ^ ^ " you: there is no sHmJilTh.f A ■ '^y'' "P°" standing in Chr^,t ' il'^'^S "^"fofe Christ but by because°tieyfeUo S^"'" ''T "° -'■»"'' hfis bZf K '''■ ''^T^'' J-«- -i""^ men 'tl int U'.st^th^rSt^t-.^-P^ovet'^-^o'^ 72 Christ's famous titles.^ fincling amendment, the sorer he strikes when he comes to judgment. O sinnei-s, tliough tlie patience of God be lasting, it is not everlasting; if, by the warning voice of God, you are not alarmed, you shall be consumed; the longer God is fetching about his hand, the heavier will be the blow when it comes : " I gave her sjmce to repent of her forni- cation; but she repented not;" what follows? " behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation," Rev. ii. 21, 22. The day that begins in mercy may end in judgment. God is silent so long as our sins will let him be quiet; but know, that God hath vials of wrath filled with indignation, for vessels of wrath fitted for destruction : if God's mercy do not draw you to repentance, God's judgments will drive you to destruction ; the sea of damnation shall not be sweetened with a drop of compassion. () sinners, either seek out a Saviour to deliver you from the wrath of God, or else find out a shoulder to bear you up under the wrath of God. Oh that you would consider your ways ! Hath not God said that no swearer, no drunkard, nor adulterer shall enter into the kingdom of heaven? And such are some of you; God knows it, and your own con- sciences know it; and yet you flatter yourselves, and speak peace to yourselves, when God speaks not a word of peace to you. Oh! think of this before the bottomless pit hath shut her mouv-'a upon you: oh! do no longer forget God and your own salvation. " How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation !" Heb. ii. 3. If you neglect the great salvation, you cannot escape the great damna- tion. Secondly, Believei-s, let me beseech you to stiirid THE MIGHTY GOD. ikos wlien he tliough tlie verlasting; if, not alarmed, od is fetchinjr le blow -when '. of her fomi- hat follows ? nd them that tribulation," [U mercy may ig as our sins lat God hath for vessels of Tiercy do not its will drive ion shall not ipassion. () deliver you it a shoulder Dd. Oh that not God said ulterer shall Lnd such are ur own con- r yourselves, God speaks hink of this mouvui upon id your own ve neglect so neglect the jreat damna- you to sturid 73 ^te S.!iff ^\*'^f '1'''^' >"" ^'^'^' '-^^ready. ±Je thou faithful unto death, and I ^viIl mve thee a crown of ife," Rev. ii 10. He hath a crown or runners, but a curse for run-aways. As you \oZ lor happiness as long as God hath a being in heaven so God looketh for holiness as long as you have a being on earth. "As many as walk a/cordinTto this rule, peace be on them," Gal. vi. 10. To tJeid m any other path on earth is but to mistake vour way to heaven. Whilst you are on this side of eternity you must hold the sceptre of grace in vour hands, ti 1 God set the crown ^>f glory ui'on yo r heads : this is the sparkling diamond tha is set a the apostle s crown. " I have fo.ight a good fi 'l t 1 have finished xny course, I have^ept ^he fait ,'' 2 lim. IV. 7. "O believer! it will be your haDpi- ness, your glory, your honour, another ij, if X day you are found faithful. Oh ! do not turn \.r backs upon the truths of God, as too many iifour t2 alT^ilta^i ?:f 'r ^""^' ^^-^"^ one^^hgr unto all, till at last they have come from all religion unto none That man's beginning was in hypocWsv whose end IS in apostasy. "indillLrence in lEion IS the next step to apostasy from religion. Oh 'do not make him a stone of stumbling that God hath made a stone for building. If the° golden cLnof bhall bind you; If you abuse your liberty in one world, you shall lose your liberty in another ; if you had made as much conscience in your libertv «^ yo^ have had liberty for your conscie'nc" iltdtS well, ihat soul was never related to Christ fliit was never devoted to Christ; there is no obtunt^ the pnze of happmess without running the race of hohness. Oh ! for the Lord's sake, do not vou t^gia 74 CHRIST'S FAMOUS TITLES. of God, 4 td:rdta^^rofcoff'^'':l- '^ ""-' ^^""l pu will „„ ,„., '^^j'^i/v " r;''"'" "^ P"'"' "'"' faint „oC' 'i ha ? i"'^,r^<'";'^^'>''ll i-eap if wo Iguuti„s, "They w ,;™l2' f h'"' "'r"^"S "^ not to the truth shall ,,„, • u V'^"' ^ho adhere God." ' ''" ""'""' "^erit the kiugdom of ES. '»• Do not put c backward; be id to the Father 3cl, to tlie Word the day of God, It' of God, and IS not be weary Iiall reap if we h the saying of in who adhere he kiu«jdoin of TUE EVEHLASTIN'G FATIIKR. 75 IV. THE EVERLASTING FATHER. Man is the excellency of the creature, tlie saint IS the excellency of the man; grace is the excellency of the saint, glory is the excellency of grace. I now proceed to the fourth title, and that is, Everlasting Father, Isa. ix. 6. Belovoil, we have shewn you from the third title, Mighty God, that Jesiis Christ is true and perfect God, a mighty God, niighty with God, mighty as God, the great and mighty God; but now this fourth title holdeth him foi-th to be a Father; not only a Father, but an Everlasting Father— the Everla.sang Father. The proposition which I shall lay down from the title itj this, That God in Christ is a believer's Everlasting Father. That I may clear up this point I shall lay down these truths. First, That God, in Christ the Everlasting Father, begot himself in us, and us in him; he is both the Aut: ' and Finisher of our faith, Heb. xii. 2, and of all our joy, of all our peace, of all our life, of all our ^ ivation : he ia a Father ever begetting and bringitig fortl himself in us. His light is in us, hia love is in ut s nature is in us, his wisdom is in us, his power and !^ ength is in us: "Of his fulness we havo all received grace for grace," John i. 16. We believers that were in time i)ast, we are in time present, in time to come : we that were, we that _.e, vt e vjiat SiUiix oc hereaitt-i, r.nall receive his ful- ness. And therefore he is called, The Everlasting Father. He is the sun, we are the beams; he is 7G Christ's famous inLKn, redemption 1,„ l„.th gWon ILtjf^T '"' ^."^ '" f?rcater fi.vom- to b« c.nvo>-t . "'' ,'' '" » l-.«; better to have no wriun titter'''' ' ^''^ lieing; it • , onlv tli« ,„„.,' 1 . ™ ""^ " new -rite u,K,„ tL'm^tirof :,:'Zi ''T- "■'■ T" 'Jim saiuts are called god"y C^r 'l ^n'!' "'■■^^■ fro-.„ Christ; spiritual from theTi,a?'';„d?:"*'='f froD. heaven, because their convc^.Jtfo'^.r"'^ because their Hp.,,I ;„ *i ' "»»* creation is there, heaven. So the ticL h ' m"1 V""-^ "« ^eirs of devils; and th cltjfch ''' '''^"''* ^'■'"" "'« ings from the woi"? 1 1 !f "i'"*"''' "'"' "'"''d- great differencUl m/ ^r ■'"'' ^'•"™ ■'"'• Oh the the saint and t eVar/'oftr*" •*'?'' ™'»- "^ ""godly he called doTvLl ." ■ ""'t'^ ' '^ ''« ravening wolves who b J^ ' r""' *''"™^' and of the innocent h,,f ti "? .^°'' ™* the blood t-ures,U^^XMil s;:rUSoft^^^^^ of glory: and Jienpp if ic ./,^^'^^^**ne kingdom gloried more inTei^namc'nr-"!'? «"".'' """' J"^™ .ame emperor, and We Xu^te^^^^^^ » *-'• to be a member of Christ tb»n VVk ^ ?•**''' ''°"°""" throne— a greater h„n™, tt '"' " ^'"S npon a ones than oliTof the C d?s tw" "^ C"'™*'^ "ttle good he..rt is bett^Zn :Ct""e!tt»''tt^' ? iiohness IS better than on f WO rrfi "t,,x.. , in>v^ara Without honour i.^traS tS™: TUE EVEnLASTlXa FATHER. 77 Clirist; piety without pmsperity is better tlmn prosperity without piety; goodness witliout great- ness is Ijetter than grcatnosH without goodness Ihivdly, God in Christ is a Father who is tender towards his poor chihh-cn. Wiien wo were full of blood then he was full of bowels. Christ is more t^'iider of his body mystical than he was of his bodv natura ; he suffered his body natural to be hun«^rv to be tlm^ty, to be weary, to hang upon the cross! to bleed upon tbe cross, to sutler upon the cross, to be pierced and bored with nails upon the cross. Oh » he went through the furnace to keep us out of the flames. But now mark for his bodv mystical : oh how tender is he ! He loves them, he pities them ho sniiles upon them, he carries th.-m in his bosom! and dandles them on his krees. Oh ! they are the beauties of his eyes, the joy of his heart : he cannot endure to see them wronged, to see them injured and abused; every blow they get goes to his very heart, -- feaul,baiil, why persecutist thou me?" Acts ix 4 You see how tender Christ is of his body mystical! This IS our Jonah, who threw himself into the sea ot Ins Fathers wrath, to save us from perdition, and he hath opened the gates of heaven to let us into salvation. Fmrthly God in Christ is a Father that layeth np for his children : he gives them in possession, but riiore in reversion; a little in hand and a great deal in hope (1.) He gives them something in hand- he layeth out for us; he gives us the air to breathe m and the earth to tread upon; he gives us the sun, the moon, and the stars, wind, water, and fire- li '", Ti; ~ ■" "•'"•'= "I "ie »cu, ixie oeasts ot the he fowls of the air. Poor man liveth ^- natiiral life is preserved he earth, death G 2 by Hi 76 Christ's famous titles. 11' IIj ji Z ST: Z\Z: i'""'"'" '■'■'•' ''y ">« y the death of live by death. Jod hath made fch us all tilings f, he doth not s; not only all (2.) God in his children, fc is thy good- at fear thee !" it: "Oh how ist^laid up!" ice is laid up 'hat, only for for all them see another t is written, leither have eive. Why, or ear heard, b of man to at God hath )eloved, God richest por- ! theirs; life '' are theirs, iieirs, Christ theirs, and 2, 23. God tit of grace, ?lory: they ar his cross and defend :oin Satan, from am, from the world, from the curse, and from tlie second death, which is hell: "He that over- conieth shall not be hurt by the second death," Rev. 11. 11. A believer may feel the stroke of death, but he shall never feel the sting of death : the first death may bring liis body to corrn])tion, but the second death shall never bring his soul to perdition : thou.di he may live a life that is dying, he shall die a death that is living; he that is housed in Christ shall never be housed in hell. God protects his children from all wrongs and injuries. "He suffers no man to do^theni wrong; yea, he rej.rnves kings for their sake. Is. cv. 14. Pray mark the phrase well; if kings will lay on saints the hands of violence, God will lay on kings the hands of vengeance: ho reproves kings for their sakes: if kings will wronrr the poor saints for Chi-ist's sjike, Christ will nnjrovS kings for the saints' sake : so saith the Word of God Ihey that be gods before nu-n l)e but men before God. If men will throw saints into prison for their piety, God will throw them into hell for their o"q '^V'nJ'- , ^'""^ ^^^'^* *^^^ proj^het saith in Isa. xxx. oJ, 'iophet is ordained of old; yea, for the kin-^ It IS prepared;" and if so be the prophet should speak so downright, as though hell was chiefly prepared for great men;-oh, hell is prepared for great men as well as mean!— upon those on whom God bestows great mercies, if they abound in «'reat \uces, God will inflict great punishment. How shall they be able to lift up their heads before Chnst who do lift up their heads against him?— 'The kings of the earth stood up, and the ruiei-s were frflibpvpfl fr»f»ofl>r^« ^ — :«~x ^i. _ t i , oganist his Christ," Acts. iv. 26. Christ will pass a sentence upon every sentence that is past. He 80 CHRIST S FAMOUS TITLES. i >' that saitli, "Come, ye blessed," will also say, "Go, ye cursed." Sixthly, God in Christ is a Father that teacheth his children, and instructs his children: "Thy children shall be taught of the Lord," Isa. liv. 13. All God's children shall be taught of God; and what doth he teach them? Why, among other things, he teacheth his children those six lessons: (1.) He teacheth them to deny themselves. A true believer will lay down his lusts at the command of Christ, and his life for the sake of Christ. (2.) Christ teacheth them contentment. Here is another divine lesson which Christ teaches his children. A believer will be contented to boar the wrath of man for him who bore the wrath of God for him. (3.) The vanity of the creature. He teacheth us that all things below are vanity and vexation of spirit. (4) The sinfulness of sin. (o.) The deceitfulness of the heart. (6.) The right knowledge of him , elf. O Christians, have you learned these lessons? Then let all your actions be Christ-like, and walk as you have him for an example. He lived to teach us how to live, and he died to teach us how to die. He that will not follow the example of Christ's life shall never be saved by the merits of his death. As he is the root on which a saint grows, so he is the rule by which a saint squares : if he be not thy Jacob's staff to guide thee to heaven, he will never be thy Jacob's ladder to mount thee up to heaven. We should be as will- ing to be ruled by Christ as we are willing to be saved by Christ. God made one Son like to all, that he might make all his sons like to one. If the ,„,. ..i ,_.iiiiov v^c uui }uiu puri/iuii, inou art deaa. Seventhly, God in Christ is a Father that stamps U ... THE EVERLASTING FATHER. 81 Tipon all Ins children the lovely image of Jesus Christ. As was said of Constantine's children they resemble their father to the life: so we may say of believers,,-they resemble Christ to the life Irod will suffer no man to wear the livery of Christ upon him who hath not the likeness of Christ within him. " VVe all, with open foce behoW- in^ as m a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to dorv even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor iii 18 Oh what a rare jewel is gi-ace ! The Lord of grace calls it gloiy. Mark, " from glory to glory ;" thtt is from one degree of grace to another. ^Grace is glory militant, and glory is grace triumr)hant; grace is ^lory begun, and glory is grace made perfect; gi^ace degree of grace; grace is the seed, glory is the di.unond in the ring; grace is the glorious infant^ spring glory IS the han-est. The soul of man is «ie cabinet, the grace of God is the jewel; Christ will throw away the cabinet where he finds not the jewel. He tliat restored us in his image will restore us to his image. * EighMy, God in Christ is a Father that never dies; other flithers be dead and gone; our father Abraham is dead, cur father Isaac is dead, our kther Jacob IS dead, and othei-s be dead and gone. Oh! but God in Christ is a Father th.t lives for e^er, that loves for ever, that reigns for ever. He IS the Father of eternity, in eternity, from eternity, to eternitr Prr^xr v\\\ xr„ _ -i . , ^* J V- ----- TJii. ji,, -.vuH uiways, is aiwavs. and he cannot but be always, Rev. i. 8. Christ is the same before time, in time, and after time. 82 CHRIST S FAMOUS TITLES. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Heb. xiii. 8. " Of him, and for him, and to him, and by him, are all things," Rom. xi. 36. Ninthly, God in Christ is a Fatlier that correct- eth his children; all whom God loves he chastenetli, though he loves not to chastise. God had one Son without sin, but no son without sorrow : he had one Son without corruption, but no son without cor- rection : *' For whom the Lord loves he chastiseth, and scourgeth every son wliom he receiveth," Heb. xii. 6. "As many as I love I rebuke and chasten," Rev. iii. 19, Afflictions are blessings to us M'hea we bless God for the afflictions. Christ tells us, "He that will be his disciple must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow him/' Matt, xvi, 24-. There is a fourfold self, that must be denied for Jesus Christ, or else you cannot be called his dis- ciple, A sinful self;— a natural self;— a self- righteousness ;— and self-gain, or lucre. Sinful self IS to be destroyed, and natural self is to be denied ; we cannot enjoy ourselves till we deny ourselves. God is as far from beating his children for nothing as he is from beating his children to nothing. Is it so that God in Christ is the believer's Ever- lastin- Father ? Oh then, what is so sweet a good as Christ ! and what is so great an evil as sin ! Oh love Christ more, and hate sin more ! Christ bring- eth life with him; a life of grace, a life of comfort, a life of glory; but sin bringeth death with it, death of body, death of soul, death here, and death here- after. Oh, the blood of Christ speaketh better things than the blood of Abel ! Abel's blood crieth for vengeance, but Christ's blood cripfli fn^^ mov^,r tt^ IS the pearl of great price, for which the rich merchant sold all that he had, and bought it, and THE EVERLASTING FATHER. 83 to-day, and for him, and ra. xi. 36. that con^ect- 3 cliastenetJi, hud one Son : he had one vithout cor- e chastiseth, iveth," Heb. nd chasten," to us M'hen •ist tells us, eiiy himself, iitt. xvi. 24. s denied for lied his dis- !lf;— a self- Sinful self ) be denied; y oufselves. for nothing ihing. ever's Ever- veet a good as sin ! Oh >hrist bring- of comfort, ith it, death death here- )etter things i crieth for in ovAfT TTrk ■•*••• -J' -»--»-■" 3h the rich ight it, and found more joy m this pearl than ever he had with all that he po.sses^ed Oh, therefore, let me beseech you that are has children, to love him and to serve him! He is your Everlasting Father; therefore do his will on earth, as the angels do in heaven. You cannot complain of him for want of mercy : so good hath he been to you, as he hath not been wanting to you in anything; and will you be wanting to him m everything ? A son honoureth his fathe'r, and a servant his master: -If then I be a Father, where is mine honour ? and if a Master, where is my fear /" Mai. 1. G. As a father, so will he be reverenced for his goodness. Oh what is that little he desireth ot you, to that which he deserveth from vou ' If honour be not due to him, let it not be bestowed; if It be duo to him, let it not be denied; if God do grea things for his children, he will^ot accept small things from his children. Do but s^e the outcry that God makes against his children: Give ear O heavens, and be astonished, O earth ! What IS he matter? 'M have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me? Isa nbir;nf n?"'"''' .*^^ ''^^^'*^^"' *^^^ greater the obligation. Christ is related to them as a lord to his servants, as a father to his children, as a prince to his subjects, as a head to his members : where ^tet T. •' "'^'''*' ^^''' '^' provocation is gieatest. It is a more pleasant tiling to see rebels rebels What mother can endure to see those lips t...at drew her breasts suck her blood? O children you are more known to God than others, and therel ::::: •';'^' "--,'' 'i^^icucKnowiedge lnm tnan others, much splendour from thi bur •ning of a caudle as from the shining of tl] e suu §f^^'^ }l 84 nor so bucket Christ's famous titles. much moisture from from the as dissolving the droj^ping of the of a cloud: "To whom much is given, of them much shall be re- quired." God doth not expect much where little is bestowed, nor accept little where much is received. "Hear ye the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, you only have I known above all the fami- lies of the earth," Amos iii. 1, 2. God hath exalted you above all others, and therefore you must do more for God than others. It was a great blemish in Hezekiah that his returnings were not answer- able to his receivings. O believers, let me beseech you to do much, to love much, to give much, to pray much, seeing you have received much. God in Clirist is your Father, your ]!)ving Father, your everlasting Father, and you are his children; therefore fear not, it shall go well with you here and hereafter: " Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," Luke xii. 32. " No good thing be will withhold from them that walk uprightly," Ps. Ixxxiv. IL He gives grace and glory unto you ; grace is the silver link that draws the golden link of glory after it. I ! 'S THE PRINCE OF PEACE. 85 V. THE PRINCE OF PEACEL Wherever Christ is a priest for redemption, he is a prince for dominion ; wherever he is a saviour, there he is a ruler; where he is a fountain of hap- pmess, there he is a fountain of holiness; where ]io is a redeemer, there he is a refiner ; wherever he takes a burden from oflf the creature's back, there he lays a yoke upon the creature's neck. "Tlie Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, tlie Lord IS our King, he will save us," Lsa. xxxiii. 22. I i)roceed to the fifth title of Jesus Christ, which IS Prince of Peace; as in lsa. ix. G. It is the hap- piness of the Church of God, that although they cannot give peace, yet they may get peace; though they cannot settle it on earth, yet they may seek it from heaven: peace is the well-being of all other enjoyments ; all other mercies suck their livelihood at the breasts of i)eace : it is the mother of all pros- perity; as the life of old Jacob was wrai)t up in the life of the lad Benjamin, so is all happiness wrai)t up in peace; it is the felicity of iAie saints on earth, and the glory of the angels in heaven. When the old Hebrews wished any happiness to any one, they only used this expression, " Peace be unto you." From this title of Christ I shall lay down two propositions. I. That Zion's King is a peaceable King. J.L That the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is the cause and foundation of a believer's 66 CHRIST S FAMOUS TITLES, peace. These two points lie full in the words; but I shall only speak of the latter, viz., That Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is the cause and foundation of a believer's peace. In the prosecution of it I shall shew you four things,— (1.) He is the peace- bringer. (2.) Tlie peace-maker. (3.) The peace-giver. And, (4.) He is the Prince of Peace, or the peaceable prince. First, Jesna Christ is the Peace-bringer. He brought in everlasting peace by righteousness, and not by a sword, "Peace on earth, and good will towards men," Luke ii. 14. Why was the Bread of Life hungry, but that he might feed the hun^^rv with the bread of life ? Why was Eest itself weaV but to give the weary rest? Why was the Prince of Peace in trouble, but that the troubled might have peace? None but the Image of God could restore us to God's Image; none but the Beloved of God could make us beloved to God; none but the natural Son could make us sons; none but the wisdom of God could make. us wise; none but the Prince of Peace could bring the God of peace and tlie peace of God to poor sinners ; and therefore he IS called our peace, Eph. ii. 14. Oh what is so sweet a good as Christ, and what so great an evil as sin' the former brings us to joy and peace, the latter brings us to woe and misery. Secondly, He is the Peace-maker as well as the Peace-briuger. He is the Peace-maker between God and men; sin is the great make-bar between God and the soul; sin is the wall of separation between God and us, and the Prince of Peace makes peace between God and us. He paid all the debts, axia took up ail the controversies, and blotted out THE PRIN'CE OF PEACE. 87 words; but That Jesus cause and 6V you four (2.) The nd, (4.) He prince, inger. He usnoss, and good will the Bread :he hungry :self weary, the Prince bled might God could Beloved of ne but the le but the ne but the peace and lerefore he is so sweet ivil as sin! the latter i^ell as the L" between r between separation ace makes the debts, lotted out the hand-writing, and hath broken down the par- tition-wall, and made up the great breach between God a ' ! (I man. " God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself," 2 Cor. v. 19. Mark, it is in Christ, as likewise elsewhere : " Ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh '■■-• the blood of Christ," Eph. ii. 13. O sinners! Chr^^o is our Peace-maker: the Prince of Peace makes peace between God and usj he reconciles God to men and men to God; so that though God might be justly displeased with us, yet in his Son he is well pleased with us; he is more pleased with a believer for Christ's sake, than he was displeased with him for sin's sake. Thirdly, Jesus Christ is the Peace-giver: alas! poor sinners, we have no peace with angels, no peace with conscience, nor one with another, till the Prince of Peace give it to us : " Peace I leave with you, peace I give unto you," saith our Lord unto his disciples, John xiv. 27. Oh ! he gives peace with God. " We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Rom. v. 1. Christ giveth that peace to us which the world cannot take from us; worldly trouble cannot overcome heavenly peace. Fourthly, He is a Prince of Peace or the peaceable prince, so he is styled not only Peace but the Prince of Peace. Indeed, beloved, he is all Peace to a believer. " Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace," speaking of Christ, Pro v. iii. 1 7. Mark, all her paths are peace. Now, what are these paths? I shall name six to you. 1. The path of repentance. 2. Of faith. 3. Of truth. L Of self-denial. 5. Of obedience. 6. Of holiness. (1.) These are several paths of peace, and j)eaceabie paths. Oh ! there is no peace to be found but in the paths of '' 51 Ul 1-! 88 cnniST's FAMOUS titlei peace: as all his works be .ip-eat and marvcllo,,, so a 1 Ins «rays are peace and pl«.«ant„o,,s 2 Ulh Go«j,e,s a Gospel „f peace: it is a great mtrey to e oy he Gospel of peace, but a greater morc^ to onj.iythe pCTce of the Gosnel rn H;. '^'^'^y ." Poace. " l!le shall cntc^ X pia^l ^1^^^^ I' Here the joys of heaven are call^cl See Ti t„fe sons of peace, and the peaceable sons of truth 4TlI the no r T I '"•"^%' ,y™, I have fully proved fount'^^in^ i' , ^T^ *^'"""* '' ">« "'"•^e and :ountam of a believer's peace. rr^es. Now, for the ap|,lication of the point I Bha reduce .t to four heads. 1. For info,™ "L, f;„t r'"'"""^*"'"- ^- ^°'- ""l-ortation. 4^ am.olation. F^r.t, By way of inforn.ation Hero fbtndation of "if "^' "^ J-«» Christ the Z^a or t^tirl L"'";' P"^""®' tl"™ ^e have no n^ht or title to peace but by the Prince of Peace " W« J,r "° I**"? ^ith God," saith the apostle "Zl Sith P..,l ?"' t'"?'/"'' ^^ ^'''o ^^--^ afer off wlZ1^:Z"'"i'ir^^ \y ""• Wood of Christ all in f W 5 ''i;'^ '" ,*'"> '«''°™<'; «" that it is peac? ?l^ through him, that we have our peact. , ...hnstless man is a peaceless man • he hath no pace with God, no peaJe with aSs no peace with conscience; till w^ be Christ's friej, we are our own foes. It is true a wicked man rn?J Set'lT*".'''"'^^'''''"* «"•» speaks noHloUf &Zh- / ' """.""^y 'P"^^ P'='"'« to himself till he falleth into everlasting flames: God is his enemv tne aevil is hio fo^ "r.^do i. 4. u- ■>■> enemy, "^" ^^"^ *"S®is liiite him, all creatures cry TIIK PRINCE OF PEACE. 89 for vongeance upon him. "There ia no poace to he Wi(;ked, Tsa. Ivii. 21, saith my God: no, not a word, not a dram of peace to a person who is out . '^ Christ; therefore ccusider in what need vo stand < the Pnnce eace with Gofl may come boldly to God, Heb. iv. ^ n. Kq that hath peace with God hath comniun and fellowship with God : " Truly our fellowshij . ith the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ,'" JoJm 1. 3. He that is at peace with God is a son of God • peace is of all others the most sweet. Oh ! it is wine 'o comfort us and bread to nourish us; it makes a man to live coaifortably and die cheerfully If Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace, be the cause and foundation of all our peace, then he that wants the Prince of Peace wants all good things; he is the most miserable man in the world that is without Christ; he wants reconciliation with God, an in- terest in Christ ; he wants the sealing and comforting ot the Spirit; he wants justification, sanctification, and adoption; he wants pardon of sin, and freedom tiom the dominion of sin; he wants that favour which is better than life; that joy which is un- speakable and full of glory; and that faith, a dram ot which IS more worth than a king's ransom: he wants those riches which perish not; thop.e evi- dences for heaven that fail not; that 'love which h2 MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) Kibu 2B 3.2 3.6 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 M -APPLIED I M/1GE Inc 1653 East Main Street Rochester, New York 14609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288- 5989 -fax 90 CHillST'S FAMOUS TITLES. ft. P. dies not; that kingdom which shakes not. O be- loved ! how many tilings doth that poor soul want which wanteth Christ! He is "wretched, and miserable and poor, and blind, and naked," Rev. 111. 17. Christ IS a pearl; whosoever hath him can nc^er be poor, and whosoever wants him can never be rich Did but men see all in this pearl of great price, then they would sell all for it. If Jesus Christ be the cause and foundation of our peace, then it is our greatest concernment to got into favour with the Prince of Peace. Many seek the ruler's favour saith the Scriptures, but seek ye the favour of this prince. Poor souls, without him there is no mercv Z l?""^' i"?./'T' "? ^^"'^' "« ^^^^^«' no crown,' no eternal life: for this is eternal life, "to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent," John xvii. 3. Thlf'^i ?^ ""T of examination and self-denial. I he trial of ourselves is the ready way to the know- kdge of ourselves. O Christians, would you see vour Crod i then cast your eyes upward. Would you see yourselves? then cast your eyes inward. Contem- l)lation IS a glass to see your God in. It is of greater concern to know the state of our hearts than to know the estate of the kingdom. And therefore I beseech you examine yourselves, that you may know yourselves, that you may know whose you are while you live and whither you will go when vou die, and what will become of you to all eternity: Oh brin^ yourselves to the trial, and try yourselves, and see whether you are m the faith, and the faith in you' ^aith IS such a grace that a man cannot be saved w ithout It, and not a man can perish that hath it. Oh see whether vou b^ in fb*' nor-r'-'" -.«.. ^l-x i , ., es not. O be- •oor soul want vretched, and naked," Eev. hath him can him can never pearl of great f Jesus Christ ace, then it is favour witli 'uler's favour, ■avour of tliis 5 is no mercy, 3n, no crown, e, "to know OJirist whom 1 self-denial, to the know- you see your ould you see d. Conteni- is of greater arts than to therefore, I u may know 3u are while you die, and Oh bring ves, and see aith in you ! 3t be saved hath it. Oh hat leadeth TDE PRIKCE OP PEAC2. 91 thi-onea or grace to n,le on ; whether vou are C LlThoX:^^Jo™sfre'„t;/r'"-^''/'' i3 the beaten path to perfection 'Lfr^"""'"'' Set: ti^^i z ri if ^- IF'^ hve most downward die mo t „ .warf- a ,h ^f om«lves m gmce will certainly Irb. is to fll?f a h/f !.^: tLte h';:::;reu t^:-- -^^^ iilsXTttf r/ "^"',!'"°'^ *° oC.y"eL ^ Prince of P«i ',w '""^^ y"" i"^'" ^itl' the peace and th/' "* ^m" """^ ""^ "'« *"'« »"« of peace, and the peaceable sons of trnth • fl.»t „„,. »ay be righteous before God and holy befo.^"j°" that yon may gloriously shine in glm-y and that yo may have peace with God and with^an"els tl wth your own consciences and with onTanotW ±'nnce of Peace be your love and )„v,f , and dearest „our io- "n ' , , " , ' ?"""■ "''*'^^' ki«« n,o i •» " r,J°J «"" }""r duiight / Will vou t..s the bon, will you make your "peace with ^he II I 92 curist's famous titles. God of Peace, and give up your souls and lives to he niled by him ? These things I exhort you to do, and God expects them at your hand. But that this exhortation may stay with you, I shall back it with some pressing considerations. First, Consider God's goodness and Lood will towards men God has given you rich means, that you may make and secure your peace with him lie hath given you the law and the Gospel. He hath generously given time and opportunity. Mer- cies and afflictions: mercies to draw you, and „/M- i.- J 1 . "*v..v.iw, i;u uiaw you, ana afflictions to drive you. He hath given you preacli- ers, both inward ana outward; by outwanl preachers, I mean the ministers of Christ, wjio beseech you and entreat you, for Christ's sake, to be reconciled to God, and n;ake your peace with him : by inward preachers, 1 mean your own con- science that judgeth you, and checketh you, and reproveth you for your sins and abominations. He iiath given you precepts and promises: precepts commanding you to do, and promises assuring you of a glorious reward for your doing. The Spirit and convictions: "My Spirit shall not always strive with man, Gen. vi. 3. Oh ! how long will you stand out against God? What hav % to .av against this? Plow can you answer ' . when vou aiid 1 shall appear before God's judg. lent-seat ? -Have you anything to say against this? Oh! sad wil be your end unless you make your peace with God : and therefore-seeing God has given these things ^o you, that you may make and secure your peace with him-he that liveth in sin without re- pentance shall die in sin without forgiveness. ibecondlv. God iiivitp^^ 'snri ^ f^ •i'' -^^ ij.viWvjix duu. \vuui;ui you to come :s. 'Is and lives to hort you to do, But that this ill back it M'ith ind good will ch means, that ace with him. } Gospel. He ■tuiiity. Mer- •aw you, and en you preacli- by outward ' Christ, \v]k) irist's sake, tf) ur peace with our own con- keth you, and inations. He ises : precepts assuring you rhe Spirit and always strive long will you X- to say . wiien you idg; lent-seat ? is? Oh! sad ir peace with given these i secure your without re- 'eness. you to come THE PRINCE OF PEACEL 93 and make your peace with him: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to tJie waters, ind hT that titl ,■'"■ ^\ Beloved, here are three " comes" m this text, to shew tlie infinite willingne.cia of God to save poor snniers; so in Eev. xxl 1? ^he h^ etht^ro™'' "I- ''rr- ^-' '«' '"•" *'t come r/^ S ■ ^"i '•=* •■'•" *''"' i'' "*"'"•«* sake, consider wherefore is all th s, b„t tln^ ™! lor them God will lay theni to your charge thit you may be damned for them ^ ' ^ taste of Gods goodness or of his fury. There is partaleTthr"'"' V'"^-ong yo^^, but mu ITlf^ ' """^ ""'' *^^ «^^^«^^^ y«"»- portion will Wwo* ^^k" ,'I''I"*«°"^ Vou shall burn in the .our peace wi?SXt-7lX"KX Oi cnRisi'a FAMOUS tit:.e3. ! « you shall go to hell for not making your peace- one of them you mu«t do. Oh ! I havelet life and d;aTh dTXm '""' '''?"='• ""'' ™<"''' ■'«'•»- yo" *ht' Wu ,l°" ".'*''« yo"'- peace with God or no! Wil you st.l go in a way of wickedness, breakLi his laws grieving his Spirit? Will j^u die^ ^^r?! death before you' live a spiritual ife I say then, ,f you l,ve so, and die so, you shall be damned w,th tl>e damned, and pun i hod wTth the pimishment of hell, and so sent to hell with loads of wrath upon your backs. You shall hive your stone which is the second death. He that be- Ifi ni . •^""'u' ""* "•"• I'O'-d. Mark xvi. ina tha.^ t " -f ""■-1° "'P""* "'*'•<">' PeriBh- S. -J^ ° Pfi'ish without repenting; therefore kok to It as well as you will. aVc you'able todell Iro,^ o? wlr • ''' '''"' •' •^" *'"' ^"'■''i ■' but like a drop of water in comparison of God; and therefore rnake your peace with him. " How shall we e 0!^ if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb ii 3 ^' Fourtldy, Consider what the damned 'in hell would give for the offers of mercy thlTai-e now offered to you; ce.-tainly they would give ten poitumties that you enjoy. Should God sav to poor wretches that are ^ufering in hell forTheir abominations on earth, as he doth to us, "Come an^rT-'lf"- ^' *''"* ^""^"^^ ""<> "« heavy lato and I will g,ve you rest," Oh how earnestly would oldordXl'^V^' '•'""^ ""'of God's mout^ u Beloved, the devils are too well acquainted with misery, to put by mercy if it wer„ offe~" - 'V our peace : one life and death, efore you this th God or no? !ness, breaking ill you die a ritual life? I you shall be ihed with the ell with loads all have your fire and brini- He that be- believes not , Mark xvi. thout perisli- ig; therefore u able to deal is but like a and therefore ill we escape, ii. 3. ined in hell hat ai'e now Id give ten or these op- God say to sll for their us, "Come leavy laden, lestly would rod's mouth ! ainted with "Qd to tuCilii THE pRmcE OP PEAca 95 But alas! alaa! poor wn-ti-hc »i, • , mercy for them no nTf! ' 1"^""" '' "" ^""n °f for them: noHuedmn „V T'^ "' '"^■"P "<'^''t«"- tongues. ' Oh that ?o? ™'f> *" """^ "■«'■■ "'''»'«g make your peaee WiS. r "'.''t T'''"^"' *'"'> »>'d lose your go den ^eifo^'/"; ";«''* ^^ ^«o.v ! Ify^ therefore make yof^ p^aV^i ^ 0^°,"';,^°"'* ^'' not be said of von «\ £ ^'"'' *''■>' '* may "Oh that ti oH'ad t kn^' ™-' ""^ °f J«n'«aicn^ things that eouce™ thv '' '", *'"' ^''^ ''■■'y. "'e Wa ?ro,n th.r:;e"«riSrj.'^]i''°J^ "-^ -■« weeping word a s',d v^ i^ V " Here M\as a gone; there is no place to be i!l^ ll'"^"™" '^ l>eg of vou ai tl,„,.„i T "'"'' '"«' therefore I gin^g ofC' iffe ^o'l Ij'^'t ■condemned, and beg- Christ, and for 'your sou^lr" '°,*''' ''"''^'^ "^ with God. ^ ^ ^'"'' '^^^•^ yo<"- peace thoS^l!rj;;fiV:rf ■• *'■'' ■""'«*"''« °^ «•- of thy head^or' leVndTtr'''' *'r '•'^ ''^"'^ stai-sintheheavenTwh^VJ,! • ^ sea-shore, or the one of thy sinswere ™? "^^ '""."""^hle. Alas ! for ever : V,a TZtaTe ttl" T'' '^"' '"*" '«'" of all these deli<-4e b„nf 1 .> ^ ™^ •''''P '" hell Oh think on tint ^r *,'"'' "^ ^'"^ °'' ""th ? ashamed of noth i^^bn w' ^•'T'? ^^ ^''»" he in nothing b^^t y^ ^ hl^Z "sf "• ",T' ^"^ S'-'^ in the bosom that , i^Z- '?•," ^'^'^ » ^<"T'o"t closet that t *ali„. o/ E.' " '■■^^ "^ *'"«f "' the that is poison ncSr like a^°"°." ?" *',"^ ^*<""»<^'' that is killin,. °Somp al ^ Tn'^ ,'° *''^ ^""^^^ . • .,=•,. "ome are in hell alrenfi» fi-r H """" ""^ '•'"" ^'^«^' in; and if thoulive-st'and diest 96 Christ's famous titles. mi .weetneS S„rfrom ^il;^ 'f" "■•"■ *''«^« ''"^ nothing but wen rit?" """"S; y"" *'"" ""s profits will never i,.v>flM„ • * ''"' '"'' y"'"- the works of si„'t„ , fi^""'" T^^ l>e that like., wages of sin t" hue f? "'""' .^"' ""ver like the and dau>„able i hamlr- ^'" '' '^°"' ^'''""rf"! .lamneth tlem'i, 41'*'",^ "^ "''°, ,'" ""^ ^''■■'<' anJ that at first 1^ "tes b"t "' T"'''' ' i* '^ "ke Judas, Delilah, to sn'de n ^u, f, ' > \"'"'^'' "^ ' "'^ "^e "sis' "i; r f »' "-' "" '"" come. O .sinners tL 1 *"™<'°*« "> "'e life to you, wherein you have T' "' '"^'"""S "P°" sorrow withoutCecour ^T"Z-,7'"l°''* "'4', ishment withou pity' ^^n", ^.f »"* /««^ P""" end, unless repentaij'do ^feve "t " T1 "'"""f Jesus shall be revealed frn^ J. ^''?,I""-J ■nighty angels, in Tm ng &? ^S v"'* '" on them that know nSt Pn'^ >^ .^"Seanee not the Gospel of n!,r T ? r' *"'' *'»' "% from tire Cesete of th ^''fT"^ destruetion «>o:y Of hL ;t-.;/ ^-..^i. ^l %i. t best. .ES. ? l)e with them • more bitterness ever there was • you that see 3ion will siifi'er It k better he)-e n hereafter to it sin for your s; he that likea never like the i both shameful this world and t is like Judas, 'ays us; or like [■ay us into our ' this, and pait set with your im. "dgment that ^en to all the in the life to istening upon thout mercy, lit ease, pun- leut without "The Lord en with his ig Vengeance i that obey Christ; who destruction 'd from tlie 9. Oh! let TIIE PliiNCE OF PEACE. gj the hearing of this prevent ih. f v poor sinner. i ^evtnt the faelwg of this, ^Vi^% and W/y, If nono nf +1 r n^ent^or considerations prev"?l tith v''"'!' ^^'^"■ your peace with the PvhZ'nf V ^""^ *^ "^^'^^ one, I beseech you and th. T'^' ^'* ^^'* *^^"« willingness of God' to ' Jvo ^/''- f^ ^^''^^^^'"^^^ ^^<^ give himself to you O? ^"'•*' ^"^ ^^'^»'i«t to give his Son andar. . ""''mI."' ^"^ ^^"''"g to Sou? ConsidWSt^'m :";^'^"i"^ ':' receive^is Btand at the door an kn^k 'i; ^"^^ •' " ^^"^«W, I voice, and open the doo, I ^il """^ ''•'''' ^''^' "^7 and will su) with IWn. ' il" '^'^'"^ ^» "nto him Who? I that hath he. V 'n V i' ^ '*-^"f^-" crown to give; tha W a,/'^^^^^^^^^^ ^ -^^^^ ^'-^ a iave myself to give-f It.m "^^f /'' ^'^^^' ^ that ««c thi., poor sin^n rs ? Wr^-^'t^^ft ,^^ ^"^ door of your hearts and Wksf wX^'Tt '' '^' Kmg of saints, the PiinPP^f t> ^""^ It is the God! and will vn„ /I ""^ ^^^^^' the Mir^htv you unwillilf J^,: Tatd^r '' ?^".^ ^^^^^•'' - be happy fo,^^er ? wt'xt'r *^ ^^'^"^^""' ^-^"^ to be delivered from Satnn f *^ .^^'''' unwilling to flamesof hell? Tfyoube wifr "'1\ "^^ ^^'«°^ t^e peace with God, forTod is wi H^ *^"' ^^^^^ ^^"r Jor you, if you be will U to in ^ *^ ^^"^ ^^^^en him; he is .iiUing to Ive^yo" if^v"" I'"!; ^^"^'*« **> to be saved; he is wilW Z^-'^^?!? ^c but willing billing to deceive Chrisf. lefV'h ^^'''' '^ ^«" ^^f pi-ovoke you to go for ife toll r r^-''^'^'^-^*^«»« for peace to the'PHuce 5 tV ^'^ "^^ ^^^^^ *« go the God of grace. Wei^e ^L ^^^^^^ ^" ^^^ ^'^ee to ^es.aodi3.oinduIge:tr^^~-do^^ I ■' 98 Christ's PAaous titles. THE ELECT PRECIOUS. Who can bo weary of i)reacl.ing, or hearine or reading, or learning Christ! who i^'so precSnd Jewf lov^ r"*,^' ""•''"';'^'' '»™; Moses is the JCTS love; the Pope is the papists' love; but Chnst ,s a believer's love. I shall 'now make some title The IlectPbecious; 1 Pet. ii. 6. Prom this exeellcn title I shall lay down two propositions Father^ L^r"%''""' *''", *^<'<^'^*<"'- '" «»d «'« Jatheis elect I pray mark, there is a threefold Behold my servant, my elect," saitli the Father speaking of Christ (2.) The elect angels, iS. T 'nl^- "'""-go t'"^" before God, and our Lord Jesus Chnst, and the elect angels." (3.) The elect saints; and for this see Col. iH. 12, « Put on tW mercy. But, alas ! what are the elect angels or the elect saints, to the elect precious! It i! o ,ly t le Wessed Jesus that is the Elect Precious and pV^! Clous to the elect, ^ l^ic II. And this is, That a crucified and glorified Christ IS very precious to all believing saints In handling this precious point, I shall shew you five things,-!. That he is precious. 2. That he7s most precious. 3. He is 111 precious. 4. He s ^irst, Jesus Christ is precious three ways; to hearing, or •recious and ^oses is the love; but make some and lovely From this 3sitions : is God the El threefold fsa. xlii. 1 : he Father, )ls, 1 Tim. our Lord The elect b on thero- , bowels of fels, or tJie 3 only the and pre- t glorified Qts. shew you rhat he is 4. He is precious. ways: to THE ELECT PIlECIOUa 99 ^^; ::;fti:^iir "^"*^- . ^'-^ -^^^ ^^a the Fatheri..th sa 1.i'^s if'Kr ^ "^".' ^^'^ *^^« whom my soul dclH totl^' J ' ^^^^^^^^^ "% elect in fifie, Christians win t Pi .f ' ''^"- ^- ^^^^e you ofGoddeii;;:;^t^^^f;^^o^^^^^ Oh how precious trf '-^^f!^^^' ^ut well pleased. The Lord J^srhoui/' *' ^"^ *^^« ^^^^^^r yet he was not a\tn ^of j" Tf /"^ T"" '' ^^"--' not corruption; he that Z; """^ ^^rr^ction, but went out of the wav hiZ 1? ""7 *^ ^^'^^^^ "^ver needs be precious I^tioTf' "^f"' ^^^"'^^ °^"«t displeased InmTnanvfl 'f ' ^"'^"^« ^^« "ever evcTythin. Thn vi^^o"^-p^^.^PJ^^d ^^"^ ^^ of liimsoif saith "J do .] "'^./^^"'^ ^P^^king please him." o' friend, t''^:^ *^ ^^^^S^ that your crown, your onour I Tf ^'^ ^'""^ S^ovy, day, if in this dav vo' ^"^ ^;Winess anothe^ please Goa: IT cHc7c& tr^!''^ ^T'% ''-'' ^e we^t .C doin' S ^aS" *'^^*^^^^' ^- not always stay in Snf p Le ^'t he l'* ^\''''^ doing good. And trulv if.!' ""'^"^ ^^'^out better by his coming 7' ?1'^^ '^^^'^ ^ot made employed, he was nevef SneL^ "^^l "^"^"^ ^^^ the Scriptures to our^^" ^^ " -'^ ^ as he opened our understanding to the W . °' '^ ^^^ ^^^"^^1 very precious to tfea^.esa?X''T i^'l^^^ ^« the angels were vor^^f 1 T , ^^ *^ *^o Father : fijoj,, f-,, ,^^® ^^^y Jojful at the birth of ^1— •- -ivir i^uiu; tiiey sanc' nraispq f.. n a \ - I ^"*'«'' J «"o piaises to God on high, Luke 100 CIiniST's FAMOUS TITLES. ii. 13. See with joy and triumph at t ho b.rth of Christ. Oh ] .,.,.,. to the elect angels! the angels adore 1„.„. ^,, the angels of God worship him," Heb i G \ l^ord of Hosts is worshipped by an host of ' l^ot all the ange].^ of God worship 1 ph the angels sang low precious is Christ »im: "Let all he angels. Th -,..„.,., v,x ^^l,u worsmp iiim. The angels desire to j>ry into the mysteries of the Gospd of g:race, 1 Tet. i. 12. The angels, tlK)ugh theyre g onous to all eternity, look upon it as not bdow them to pry into the mysteries of Christ. Oh I the angels are desirous to know tliose things which we neg ect to know. The angels stand before h ml' waiting-men to serye G.,d, and to serye such as are Gods; when he bids them go, tlu^y ..o- coine tF^ev mands, Ps. cm. 20. Jesus Christ is the Creator of nitnf ' ^^^^^^ t'-' Prince of angettho Head of angels. Col. i. 1 6. The Son of God is yerv precious to the angels of God; and well he may fo^ indeed ho is a precious jewel in the cabinet oTJi^ace Jxl J I u^ V* *^ *^"' I'^^l'^^^ = " Unto you there, fore which beheye, he is precious."' Mark lere unto you; what you? "To you therefore th ft ^Tem'^h". ?T"^^-" ^^ ^« precious Ldtd to them that beheye, and no wonder; l,e is a beheyer'fi all. Now that which is his a must hTelt.^ChT-^ ''lil'^ ''• ^"^^"^^- - "^"^ tLTi2 k '' ""^l^^^^ '' ^^^-^^^^ ^« i« all that they are, they are nothing without him : they haye nothing without him: whateyer they are worth it IS he that makes them worth it; it is not worth a man s while to liye unless he liye in Christ; Chris? I [in.£»elH sang s is Christ i: "Let all i. G. The ' of angols. iin." Tho the Gospel h they are not below Oh ! the which wo re him as uch as are ome, they 1 his com- ^reator of ngels, the )d is very i may, for i of grace. a, as well i^ou have ou there- rk hero, ore that 3 indeed ho is a all must all that i all that ley have vorth, it worth a ; Christ *UE ELECT PRECIOUS. 101 I tl"3 I am £l.„,Je" t, C J' '.%',"," t^^' '"^ yoin-.s, and yo are Cl.rist's " *'"*>'" "'■« of t cilrnf^o^ih' Lr" ""■•«-'- — t and all al„„„ i slTaM ./,"'' "»"'to'y "f his estate; -orth of all'tl, t.^'"^^, ]^^ ;[".•■''"'* Christ i. the so j,rofio„B and exeol .nt VVl T^"' " ''<'"<'^"' as these: he is a vi ^^''y- '*>« such things IS a living man; he (leal of oys and Iin„n ^f .' '." ""th « great I'oly; JJ,inTJX':Z'' /'Vf "8''teous\nd things tha make a Chi t • ^ "' "* '""*• These are and "he hatl" one rf t,;!''''", '" "'"'ellent a person, hath all this !Zl by ftSt^"" "^^ Christ, and he is ilivi^ It" Iwi'Ts? "' -^ ^''"■''-". that he spiritual sense^ee led?,? "'"" "" f '■"' <^"' '» a all men arc dead m.„ 1 * ,'"« T"" ^'"t a believer ; know tha it wa "ad of'?, '"^ f-''^ ''^''«^°' You' in his sins he tVri'l'fCs 'f '' "'"'''''"' "^<=d and is alive again " L ,l'' .,,0'' "y ^"n was dead, then he was aC' l" th.n.' ^ '''"'" ''" '"'"<^™<1 most valued which w^ We^ ,k T"'", '"■'-' '^ «'« that a man has wi 1 ho rive for " rJ '"""' "'"' ''" rather part with hi« l?,Pi-u , ^"' '*= a man will because'^his iTfe s so d 'l^i^fL*'"";?^ ""!- /"'^ '«^' natural life be so desirable » t " ?'"^' ■'^'oved, if life, that which in^p if f """g' ''''at is a spiritual NoV.theS everistlfonltr "?""'' '"'^ ''''<' "^«»d« man is spiritually dtadiut"^"^-'"^'^"*'''^' believer to life? pl 1, ,","'' ^""^ «omes tho it is bv Chit jV.^^ Jt'""" ■•"*> li™» Whv. .je.as. I am crucited with Christ: I J 102 II U\ Christ's famous titles. notwithstanding I live " Cnl a on -itti . fied and yet live f Yes ri . ' ^^^*' ^^"^^- yet lives : and so did Panl ^ ''m "'""'^^^"^ ^"^^ formity to cthtl^ft'! ^ ^^'ff/^^ance and con- but Olfrist Wh in me a^Kl Thf Iy"' ^t ?'' ^' live in flip fln.i, t i- ,' ^ *^^ ^^^^ ^vlnch I now life 1U3 otv „ but onlv ■., 1 ,^'"'' 7 " ""' «"» '"» Clirist liveth in |Z%„* 1'^ tienvod it fr„m Christ. 2 TI,„ "J ""u more tlian liimaelf Jiveth he t a iVn*'^ ll^ 'r""^^'?; "? ■" *"'^' *'-* difference beCen ner^on T"'"^ ''''"-"'' '"'*^ "'« thing to bo bo^rbHl^Xor tSt Eded aft ''^ " "' born. JSfow all Mm.i L pmi(ied after one is blinded aft:rTh^''Hr"N""";^"'" Y""" ""• you know howprS, s^lbt ;J?""i "i"'"?,'^' ^°"'<' who once could^^e W?l 'f „f f ' " '''""' ""» comes runninc, to PI,,; J t ■ * l'""'' "'"» ^'l'" that I may v^coi™ my' th"" 'T ""*; !'« ^o"'- having the^ight of mfr ^ 'be aZ'Ji^l ""'T us so much more excellent tl,.,i,,ftl? "' '""'''"'' be withm.f ,•+ ^,-;'-^"<-nt tlian otlierwise we would , feV^ tveiy man but a bel ever woiu« • «tts ru!'ir;;°,t'="- ^rapo^tte^^ darkness but „„w rpghtT^ Z'C^ Lord that he sees: he l.": T'J^ ^^ Xr^ ''hat! cruci- ucified and ce and con- "yet not I, liich I now the Son of ot call his oin Christ, veth. I this, that » puts the It is a sad fter one is ^ blind or ed, would Jlind man man who ;' Lord, in nature lat makes we would I we put >ur souls ! ur heads ow, in a believer; saw him valks in 'stle tells metimes d," Eph. ver doth in the oth{ I Of THE ELECT PRECIOUS. 103 and as blind as othprcj f.'ii i, and no sooner was he ^' .k" t^ 7V ^" *^^ ^^^'^^l in the Lord "" *^^ ^^^^ ^"^ J»e was light ho\'^^:::^t:^^.f^^n^^^esinthi^^ i^^autyand hono^are talin. '""'T-"^'^^ ^^^^^"»- this world. Now all hnfM'- ^^^^«^"^g t^^ngs of Poi-sons; there T' no h".^"^'"'^"''' ^''« defomed they should be desired BuLTVr'^'''''' ^^^7 lovely, beautif.d nfr. 1 ^^'"^ believer is a very "AnJ' I "ut a i :X„^ r f " r !l" ^^^^^^«^ ^-^ = in thy ears-" "Tl?n, ? ^ ^«'-(^head, and ear-rings didst Uper int "a^l^^rgVonr' tl ^-"^^^"^' -^ But mark how she cJehv /• 1 ^'^'- '''''• ^^' l'*^- verse: "And t ^ renown^^ l ^?^" V^ "^ ^^'^ ^'^^ heathen for thy beau^v f T^ ^''*^^ ^^^^'^^^^^ ^he the comeliness ^hiTl'^llad 2 ™ ^?/^^^* *^'^«"^?h Lord God," verse 14 Sjfj "* "P^" *^ «'^ith the in the eyes of the Lord b,?'i "^'i* o/-y beautiful from the Lord . a thev «' ."u '^'f ^'^'^ ^^^ beauty in the eyes of God .nZ *^? ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ki^g angels a'nd St'^'^Tas^^^^^^^^^^^ f ^^^^ heaven is, the angels thir.k I ^ /\ ? ^ ''^'^^^' ^» ^-ait on the ima?^f\ni , • . "^* ^^^°'^' *'^^^« to below; that is to^w.lf ^'''^l'":' ^^ ^^''''^ bere tbe L rd's U-dlnl:^;^^^^^^^^^ .-^ to be not all ministering spirits wf fi ! .^^"^ ^bey -iJUt this IS not all flio^r ^^ ^ '^iv^u f nen. 1. 14. leave them whef t^e tt tal;*]^ "i" ""^ souls, and transport them t^ a b..f '' ^^"^^^^ ever this world 4as trtW f ."•'''' '^•'""*">^ ^^^^ say that there is no \Jt' ^^"^ '^ ^« ^^ paradox to Jes to the Iv. fs o' anlT'r? *" ^^^^^'^"^ ^ut he _-.ns o. anguls, Luke xvi. 22. In the I 11 104 Christ's famous titles. U 1 the wr ir'ibi''.r c j.?Xtt ^-: SeX'tha?/''* '" '"'"'"■^ ■'-« believers at 'he verv fnnri «f , * ^^^ accoimts; they aio h„B beautiful and honourable Ttheeye* of God' the eyes of good angels and gooTmen and all f^" that which IS not worth the having Alas i fh^ i ttr* :urrt';^er''B*ur '^ ^'\--«^Vo> no man nterme'^dleth with n '^"' ^"'^^^"^ *"•"* and from the Lord- "Tlioc^ +i • i"^ ,^^"7) m wi s. amis, saith the vas carried Lv ," that is, to lievers at their '' their souls to y and honour- The truth is, r for believers e apostle, "Be 1 unbelievers, iliever, though mts; they are >rld, and had h other men. nt, that he is eyes of God, ^ow, all this brist : see the 3ve, he is an is Christ that God, and in : and all the ough Christ; excellent is, } no joy, but Lias! the joy crackling of th a joy that n partaketh ? Why, in peak," saith They have Lord: "We THE ELECT PRECIOUS. 105 Paid, ''and have no rejoice in Christ Jesus," %-' confidence in the flesh." 5. Have they hope? it is from Christ: and indeed none have hope but from Clirist. But the believer hath good hope, and this bears him up many times Alexander thought this so brave a thing, that when he gave to one man whole countries, and to another vast treasures, and being asked what he would keep for himself, saith he, I will keep hope. For he thought it enough for so brave and great a soul as his to hope for tliat which would make him to do whatsoever he was able to do, or any one could think. The hope of mercy, and joy, and peace, will cairy a man through thousands of difficulties. Now tlie believer hath this hope, for he hath it from Christ: "Christ in you the hope of glory," Col. 6. Are they wise? are thev righteous? are thev holy? and none so but they? Every sinner is a fool and therefore in Scripture is called a foolish man • he plays the fool all the time he spends out of «ie fear of God; all sinning-time is a foolish-time. JVow, the believer is a wise man, and he is a righteous man and a holy man; but how he comes to be thus now, take an account of it in 1 Cor i 30 Christ is the all of a believer: "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemp' *r"'i" ^^ *^^^* ^^ ^ believer be a wise man, he may thank Christ for it; if he be a righteous man, if he be a holy man, he may thank God for it. 7. In a word, they are saved : and indeed this is the complement, ay, the complement of all the rest: are they saved? and none are saved but believers' lOS CHBIST'S FAMOUS TITLES. the unbeliever i S^he stte'^/ f ^'™«'^"' «'''' nature we are all „i,ij „ " damnat on. Bv Jesu., Chri.,H. emeatVa'tr;'',; f."'' «'■"''" to free us from beWeh^,! ^°^ '"'*'' Wointcl tbat believes "past thi, 1, ? ?/ "'^""- ^ow he he shall be savSlndTow'"""^'^ <"»"''">'»-''' It is by Christ, bv'benev^^r;?nf.'l'' *» ^ «"«1 It is by Christ hv'blr .°'^.'=°™" he to the a'iourtt'^ Sr'"/o'betSt ' f^'."''"''' below, and to be with fh-^of • I ^''™' '^ heaven there i., no bein.^ ^th ,^. "f f ''^™" above; but Christ here bekw M,?, ™' ""^^l' »' ''<' "e not i„ it is that makes a bel rj '"«' .heWed, whatever it is Christ that malesT" T^^"?,'"''' P^'^"'"""^ all from Christ; "htt^s";" X,'}"= ''^ '"«* '' a«> pLious, fri;/drar:;srhr"™' "■■"*' Clous; but a Christ « %? ^ '• ^^^^^^ '^ Pre- times more p^Wthan ti?'"'' ''. *^^ *^«"«^»^I rather We Cw\JX,*^r' "^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ without Christ: 'Vhomt^''^^'^' *^^^^ ^^^^^^^ thee? and there is non? ^^ \'^ ^^^^^^^ b"t besides thee," ?«," rxxHi'sr^ *^* 1 ^^"'^ search lieaveu and earn. "' i . , ^* ^ believer thing comparaWrto God To^? rl"^/^- ^"^ '^- happiness; to draw near fnl' '^^ ^'"^ '« «"r I^ife is precious, friedom i. n ^^ '\^"^* ^^^^'^^s^- cious, peace is precionrfn / ^"J^"'' ^^^^*^ i« Pre- cious, 'gold and^sil^^rJe nre^ 'T'"* ^^^ ^r- crowns are precious' indeed Th"'' ^"^^^'"^^ ^"^^ places, but nothing. \-nrl„*i^^ ^^^' /'^ their ° --aapimaon with Jesus Chr 8; • loss Chri that win wha1 best Ohh short pilgri there in CI such have i God,, intere blessei man: things ance a things ■what I Christ them, theirs to justi and his not bul his prec Jesus i sweetesi the dea than th lES. ieveth shall bo all be daiTiTied." )f salvation, and lam nation. By i; and faith in hath appointed rath. Now he be condemned, 'e to be saved ? b. Oh ! who is hrist is heaven en above; but ^' we are not in ved, whatever ' and precious, 1: he hath it fous so he is fecious, saints ^aven is pre- ien thousand believer had than heaven heaven but lat I desire ' a believer vill find no- bim is our •ur holiness, -alth is pre- 'nt are pre- >gdoms and e, in their vith Jesus THE iSLECT PRECIOUS. 107 ^-Vea'S.^f^r^^-J^Phil.iii. loss for tl e eLelWv .f .1 T''^ ^" *^^»g« but Christ my Cd " f .f ^^^ knowledge of^^Jesus that is noLn^r count the^ f'''^' ^'^««' ^^'Y^ win Christ. What k om 1 f K '^""^ *^^^* ^ "^4^ what is our lifrbnt a t^l" ^.^""^ ^ ^^^'^^^^^ a»d best o, bein^t arcaVbt;;?t X ''' pilgrimage to hl^T'l^hiw ""' k"v '^^^*«"« bis therefore he is more m-n" "li^ ^"^^"^^^^^''^ ^"' and in Christ, and rhin7or:fchr''I= J.^ ^"^^^ ^" such thing as a believe? without 1^'' ^' S'T!^ "^ have an intererst in Christ JIi -^ ^^'*b we Cod, and by having an intlst n God' "^^ * "^ interest in all thinirs Thfl • ' ^"^ ^'^^^ '^'^ blessed n,an, the o^^y h Jppy '^^^"V^^ *^« only man: ^'He fb^f «.X. ^^I'PJ man, tlie only rich things," Eev xxf 7 ^n?™",* ^''*" '"'><'"* a things are thcis ^cl tW , T • 1^"' '""" ' All what can therde,"- nZ '''?'■"''?" ''" things: Christ hath is'^theS b^Zi *>"•"" ^" that them, his love is theirs t.^Tu'" *''<'"'^ *" teach theirs to comfort them hi.^'Kf"""' '"^ «?"'* '^ tojustify themrhis power stllf.T'''"'' '' ^''^'''^ and his gIo,7 is theS to crow, ^m ''0^' .*""' not but be most precious to a kIv ?'"■"'* <">n^ h.s precious eomfoLrme fro^ Cwir'' ^^7.?? "'J Jesus IS fairer than tliP f-,iJL ^^^^ ^^rd sweetest, nearer than tZ 1 \ '"^^f*"' ^^^^^ the the dearest. H'dricCth-?]'-^"^ ^'"^'^^' ^^^'^ than the best The - "'' '' "'"^^ Elect Precious is of all and better the 108 ciiisist's famous titles. most precious. (1.) Because he is the greatest mft that God can give or tliat we can receive. "God 80 loved the world that he gave his only begotten bon : this is more than if he had given us all the world; for God hath but one Son, and can make no more sons; but God can make more worlds at hi.s pleasure. Th s gift is God himself, and God can give us no greater gift than himself. We may sav us one said to Caesar when he gave him a m-t^it reward '; This is too great a gift f^r me to recef^"'' JJut It IS not too much forme to give," said Caesar. W Because he is the richest gift that ever was i given for Christ is all in all. I? he hath gTven u. Christ he will give us all things else, Rom viii. 32. lie is the one thing needful that brings all thinjrs- ^^ fr wi ^^' "^^"^•' "^f thou knewest L gitt ol God, thou wouldest have asked of him, and h^ would have given thee living water," John iv. 10. Why IS Christ called the gift of God? Surely God hath given us more gifts than one. True, but as I the sun IS more worth than all the stars, so this giit I excels them all; according to the proverb, " We I bless not God for stars when the sun shines; for I When the sun shines the stars appear not." (3^1 Because he is the chiefest gift that God hath to I give Other gilts he gives promiscuously to good I and bad, so that no man knoweth love or hatred I by anything that is^^before him, Eccl. ix. 1. Judas I had the bag; and Dives fared deliciously every day I when Lazarus would have been glad of his crumb.. I But God never gives this gift to any but whom he I loves with his dearest, special, and eternal love I Suppose some prince would woo a great lady, and | had a jewel worth a million, it may be he would '■ greatest gift ceive. " God only begotten ^en US all the can make no ^vorlds at his Lind God can We may say, liim a great 5 to receive :" " said Caesar, lat ever was ath given 113 ^om. viii. 32. s all things: kuewest tlie of him, and John iv. 10. Surely God rriie, but as i, so this gift )verb, "We shines; for not." (3.) rod hath to sly to good e or hatred '. 1. Judas y every day his crumbs. it whom he iernal love, t lady, and J he would THE ELECT PRECIOUS. JQg gives to his spouseX" fe^eUs SnisT ITl ''" Christ I Tl^„, , *''"'* a '•are iewel is is he'tbrt'mai: 'it,red iriiT' ^"-"f*' •' ™d glorious after delir (5) tL ffi"; "''''".'' see Christ to belS' p'" ct':>"^"'"' ''-'' ^^ -» ^W^y, He is altogether precious TT« • n precious; there is nothing in CW but wl f • ^" eious; he is amiable and des rabL ll^^^^^/ and sweetness «nrl J,^ 4. ^^^^^^^l^y he is fulness and lifrand wteS B^r '"^ ^^'^"^'^^^ ^^"^^^^ in Christ- in JlTK? \ believers enjoy all things life, and th^life ^' *^^ ^^^ ^^ ^ believei^ , «,uvA i/iie me oi a believer s lov Oli t ni, • i. • Wood IS precious. 1 P,.t i 19 ,„i ,,*---^ ^'^ lor a d..p of his blood is' ^onl'Zl ^'Lt.Z'd ! ^1 no Christ's famous titles. n\ F -.1^ ''"'' ^^^*^' *^^* ^« «"'g^* Ii^« his life. (^. Faith IS precious, 2 Pet. i. 1. Faith is there called precious faith : the least grain of faith is more worth than all the gold in Europe. (4.) His promises are precious, 2 Pet. i. 4 : « Given unto us exceediug great and precious promises." They are great for extent and precious for their excellences. JO ) Mis gifts and graces are precious, Prov. iii. 15- More precious than rubies;" all things thou canst desire are not to be compared to them (6 ) His members are precious, Isa. xliii 4: "Since thou last been precious in my sight, thou hast beei^ honourable." A believer indeed is a raven in the worlds eye, but a dove in Christ's eye: the saints in the world s account are dross, but in God's account they are jewels and pearis. Graceless men look upon God s people as castaways, but God will give whole kingdoms for their ransom. Wicked men may call the saints factious, but God calls the saints precious. The scoffers and jeerers of the people of God in other ages were but bunglers to the scoffers and jeerers of the people of God in our age: well, there is a time coming when Christ will laugh at the ungodly for now laughing at ungodli- ness. Though holiness be that whfch a sinner scorns, yet holiness is that which a Saviour crowns • as you expect happiness from God above, so God expects holiness from you below. (7) The re proaches of Christ are precious, Heb! xi. 26- Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." I beseech you mark, it is not here said, that Moses did esteem the person of Christ, or the members of Christ or the privileges of Christ, or the elory nf nhr'igt u THE ELECT PRECIOUS. Ill greater riches than tlie treasures in E.ijypt. Oh! beloved, the worst of his is better tlian the best in the world; Christ's cross is sweeter than the world's crown; the reproaches of Christ are greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. Will you give me leave to tell you that which few believe; and this is, that afflictions are good and precious. Few believe this truth, that afflictions are good and precious; and let me toll you, it is a great truth and this I shall make ajjpear. ' Now, beloved, if I can prove that afflictions and reproaches for Christ be good and precious, which is the worst of him, then you will conclude with me that Christ is all precious. (1.) That must needs be good that comes from the only good; now, afflic- tions come from God, who is only good, Psal. xxxix. 9 : "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth," saitli David. Why?— "because thou didst it." (2.) That must needs be good which was suffered by the sweetest good; afflictions were endured by Christ, who is the sweetest good: "He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," Isa. liiL 3. (3.) That must needs be good which fits and prepares us for a glorious estate, the eternal good. Now, affliction doth this: "It was good for me that I was afflicted." Do you believe King David? Will you believe David a Christian? Will you believe David a saint? Will you believe David a man after God's own heart? Why, he tells, It was good for him he was afflicted. But you will say, why was it so good? Look in the 6th verse, and there is the reason; for, saith he, "Before I was afflicted I went astray." So again, in 2 Cor. iv. 17 : *'For our light afflictions, which are but for a mo- 112 CHRIST'S FAMOUS TITLES. ment, worketh for iis " wi x more exceeding and etern^w -7:^*^^^^^-"^ ^^^ you know what tLy wSTo? ' f .S!?^'" ^^^ ^-ore exceeding and^eternal I •"? }^^*^' ^ ^«r Christians ! under yaJtc-ts^l^il"^ f-^^^^" ^ greatest treasures • akit? "^^^^ ^^^<^^^ yonv pleasant; sin is pi;asan t^f \'" ^°°^' but not is more evil in a dronTf ' " "?"* ^"^^^ b"* ^^ere the «ea of afflicttnT gJ'T'Z'^''''' '^''' ^' ^n the sin he haces so S^dlv frn^.r'"'''^"^ ^^I^^^^tes dearly. By the greatei iffl^? H.'^"^ ^« ^«^es so the greatest inJZtot'^fTl.'^!^^ *^^^^^^^^ "« lies under that handth.f i .u ^^.l^^^er, wJien he the heart that dotraffee"^ ^"-' i-« in fied by the world th«f f ^ Relievers are cruci- world: ThrS ?rn ^^ "^^y ^^ ^^ "^ified to the offering is^tZyVZZl^^^^^^^ ^--- nian an early courtier but if ^•, '* "^""y ^^^^^« ^ nian a heavenly maitvr fl. Tu" "'^^^ "^^^e a Me of Christ'upofSeirtys'wir^^ "^^ *^^^ the cross of Christ nnor. +i . , ^^, ^"1 never carry «tadies more how JadorrlT. "'''*' = but a believed avoid the cross none r "''°''' ^^^ how to are religious: a belief !,r:"f^r^''^ '^""^ 'hat till he fells asleep TnJerf *""' ''''"'P '■'''• J««"B ^hich is their shame and l;,r"%S'"'7 1° that that which is our "lory If" "'^ ^' ^^h*""! ot dishonoured for JesSs Alio/ 4f >?° """o'"- to bo is not Christ with h sTrol K Tf " T' <^ ^^'i^^^'. ;vith its crown? Suppose ol^l^' *^° tl^^ ^"--M hot, seven times iS,1i is bS ^m V ^"™'"=^ *'« and suffering h'ath Z^ L^^Tllr^. ^^^^ if^y?— "a far ^lory." Do ^Vliy, a far gjoij. O I lieth your d, but not ; but thero there is in ^ sej)arates he loves so eaclieth us J wJien he ira, lies in ai'e cruci- led to the ?, b.?rouse y niake a f make a ^ not the ver carry I believer I how to lose that or Jesus in that amed of ir to bo believer, le world 'iiace be II seven 'istians; iffering, )m sin- TIIE ELECT PRECIOUS. 113 a our heads makes way for re4 li " nf ""« "^ God will season our vessels wUhwfter of afflT" = belore he ,,o„rs in the wine of sl^r ,W tf^'"" «ee beloved, that the repmaehl of P. • 'f ^"" precious. It i, botte- '', ""^"^^ °f drist are than to rot i„ honey ^^ ^'"''''"^ '" ^ne, i.obw ^k/rr"!^;:"^* ':^ -^'-^^ p-cio„s to thousand worlds • rr ^T"-" *° t'"^™ than a in all theiSs' and rJl'*!' ^'^^^ ^''^ *''«"■. all their straits and ^, "u1 *'"^'j: ."""Wes, and in their afflietion Ve 1 " ffli * 'T-'f'"'!™'' "I" all *ho would "ot suL wtl ' l"^- '■"'"• »• Oh! this? "When tl,o. ™ w,"'''' « ^"nipanion as ^iil be ^th thee rd I T^^ the'watera,! shall not overflow thee wlV^'" "'" "™'-^. t^W the fire, thou shl n't 'l'" *?" '™"^-«' ""-""gh flames MnX f^ ?h e,'%';''Tl^i "f "S *''" *^« th.s. Christians! he is with tou n tie ^1 ^""^ water, in the prison in ^11 J, , °'^' '" the he never leaves you' ,or f„ '^ I '' ""'" "' "" """s: Ho beds and Z!2 W h'Tu'le^He'th^f """'■ '■ riseth up with you • he i^eS t -^ ^""^ '"«' he is our best friend "Thfi^if k?'"' T^ '"<"««<» is my friend O I. J if ' "^ beloved, and this V. 2I Jel^'cttf^lSth nfr^'rV «™S J>rudent friend- fl^Jff 1 '"^ '^"^"^i he is a oompassionTtf friend • a o-tinrf-'"^ '""?"' '^ fiend; an everlasting friend He w'"' " i°^'"S end, and there is no e°nd This iSe HeS ^ """ his image to us In™» I,;. ■ . "* *"*' g*™ Christ 4-e Mm»,lf 7 ^'^ ""*Se in us. .fisu, ea.e .amself to us and for us: he love. .L „ k2 in lU CHRIST 8 PAMOPS TITLES. Ml iw!r niij KM himself. Oh vrhnt . ..«,„„* * • j • k "■ _ "»''. 'n »»'ng Chnst to iis, gave hin very WlS n'r,V •^'-■'"\^'''."-^* «» precious to •'WhtrOhi ;^ ^ """^ ^J" » '«'"«™'-'« life: vv itu Ihriat, who is one 1 fe, shall anncar th»n B^iu.l we appear with him ,n glo^" £w 'iii ? There 18 a three-fold life that flowsfrom cCt- a I'fe of grace, a life of comfort, a life of glory ^2^ mu t If ;. f ^ ' *'"' H» '■e a-^ in Christ we stc light . "Awake thou that sleepest, and ari■ )t friend in ve hifl very •sus Christ lio is thus 'ecious to ^er's life : ^ear, then ol. iii. 4. Christ: a ory. (2.) use he is IJhrist wo I that we and arise ee light," believers meat in- n vi. 55. on, that ver thou bread is cious to ce a man to with- Christ, hen wo To be h, is all )elievers ss. (G.) 50 he is lies and THE ELECT PRECIOUS. JJ^ .Tor- ''j^wt "VV «iH '""'." <:: l.Vht m k 1 *^^ knowledge of God, all Gospel Jignt, uU the knowledire of sDirifiml n.;«^ >^"«i)ii all from Christ if^ «I mtual things, we have heart- f we L/h ''''T'^T ^^'^ ^^'^^«^^r "^ !"■« oart IJnl aY""^ ^ ^'^^^^ ^'^^^-t' a tender eart' hot . ''''^ u^^T' * ^^"^^*> ^ ne^-covenani iieart how conies he by this? Why. he hath f «n f thri'7.^" :^°^ '^' "^- covi;;nt is mad .,'■. »» Ch.-ist but now Osoul n. • ' *" ""^o'^' t» saints; "" f'"*", w sou), IS he ]>recious to thv soiiH if i,^ i precious to you, then all which is prSs to It JTOcious to vou Oh tliuf ™^ piecious to him is With their oln'soX. Man v ta^ '"*'f *7^^ taste of ffrace- everv n«o ^^f . of grace, but few tian thaf talk; likZ Ph f" ""^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^Ihris- going to heaven a,^r^ ^ themselves as surely Lvf n ; 'Cr thint t^nTg^^elf S'T '^ hereafter beoflii«A if ,•« *" g" wen with them I enjoy. Con- one good day n ordinances, 5 must thank given you a showed you is worth, he put all tliia here is that md is it any 30 with him e living but believere! 1 set so high is their all for exami- that Christ to saints; il? if he be s to him is t deal truly ce, but few ke a Chris- 3w what is )ne; many drudgery ; leir hearts ' as surely welling in 'ith them em here ; ds of rest, i J THE ELECT PEECIOUa II7 dust ,• many appear righteous who are only nVhteoua by working ot.t our S^^n r7^ ?'^*'''" '^''* have you in hin.! 2 WhS tfl ^'>\* '"te-'^st from him ? 3 What „fWt* '"""ences have you w ightyThiu*'^' art 4sMer.t'ir'the«*^ selves. ^ * ^' ^erefore, examine your- theUdVhtve^r/ndstt 1^/"™^ ^^'""''> and knocks. " Behold I ' ta„d J "^l^"^' ^""'^ knock; ifanymanwm'hi.;'^°l„1*..*''«,'J'«»- «?<> ^oor. I win come in to him" a"'d '^^Z^^^ 118 chkist's famous titles. he with ipe " Rev Hi. 20. He knocks hy his rod, by his Spirit, by his mercies, by his judgments, by his comforts, and all is, that he may come in and 8up with you. Now, sinners, will you not open the door of your hearts to Christ, that he may open the door of heaven to you ? If you shut out Christ out of your hearts, he will shut you out of heaven: and what will you get by that ? He hath gold to enrich you, wme to cheer you, bread to nourish you, righte- ousness to justify you, mercy to save you, happiness to crown you. (2.) Let all that which is precious to God be precious to you, viz. -the Son of God:— the l)ook of God;-the day of God;-the ordinances of .(uVrJr® ministers of God; and the people of God. Uh let these be precious to you ! The people of God are very precious to you ; a saint is as gloiious in his greatest misery as a sinner is miserable in his greatest glory. - i :s by Lis roc], judgments, by come in and L not open the may open the »ut Christ out heaven; and jold to enrich h you, righte- ou, happiness is precious to of God; — the ordinances of eople of God. eople of God is glorious in erable in his WONDERFUL. jjfl VII. . WONDERFUL. gether in heaven n 1..^ ^ """"'' *°"'' *»- worthies of whom" the w„.U '•'"'' ^^^/'^ '^''^ wTotlt^rr ert": tf cr r^^'^'"- also ourselves to h°m' ^"''' *"" ^« »«« feu 'J^^e She e^Tri'''^ ^' -^ - ^"^ The bel"™7s Llir""'' Wonderful," Isa. ix. 6. He is wonderful in the/ " ? T"''"'*! Saviour. in WsaLnsion-itTi'etlS ''.'\™>"l"-t- towards his saint, " "f ,?^»'"'on— m his working coming tSlu^t'nT'^''^"^' ''^ " ^"""^rf"! - h- -eZretrrTha:i"iU'^?he"r^'r''"' ^ ""- much precious matw V"!'..!''^'^'^^'^" ^ "^t on>it Beloved,IwiUhandle'hut'o;:':;f:LqSl": 120 Christ's fasjous titles. and that IS the seventh, viz., That Jesus Christ is wonderful in humiliation. This is the head we shall now insist upon, and indeed this is one of the greatest wonders of all ; that he that waa so hi^^li should be brought so low; that he that was so ri?h should become so poor; that the Lord of life should die, and the great God become a babe, and the internal Word not able to speak a word; that he that made the law should be under the law; that he that was more excellent than all the angels should become less and lower than the antrels O ye angels! how stand ye amazed at tliis, that the Lord of heaven and earth should become a Servant to his own servants. « He took upon him the form of a servant," Phil. ii. 7. This must needs be won- dertul to all the angels in heaven. F^rst, Jesus Christ took upon him our nature, Jaeb. 11. ib. God could stoop no lower than to become naan, and man could be advanced no higher tnau to be united to God. He that before made man a scul after the image of God, now made him- self a body after the image of man; for to be like to God IS a wonder, but for God to be like man is a greater wonder. But when was it that Jesus Christ took upon him our nature? When it was in inno- cency from misery and calamity? No; but when It was at the lowest, after the fall, when it was most beggarly, most wretched, most bloody, most accursed, most sinful, most feeble. "When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly," Rom. v. 6. That Jesus Christ should take upon him our condition, our frailty, our curse our nature, when it was thus low, thus poor, thus wretched: Oh I thia ig « --^n-l-- U -*- -^r ' ^ — 15, n, TT Oiia?::i Oi T(Vuuuers, ana WONDERFUL. 121 yet thus you see did Jesus Christ. Oh, wonderful ^ad we so far run upon the score of vengeance to none could satisfy but God himself? Could he iiot send his angels or saints, but mus^. he come not do It; but if Christ will save us, he himself must come and die for us mmselt Jecondlr^, Our Saviour's humility descended very or reputation. Was there never a great ladv or gentlewoman in Jerusalem for this great Prince of born of a poor despised virgin ? Yea, cei-tainly otrLTri^'^'^nr"^'^ ^^ Btore in Jerusalem, but thn. f h "' S"'* ^"^"'"^^^ ^«* *^e rich more than the poor. He was revealed to poor shepherds not to emperors and kings, not to Xs and S the^e Wnl ?^- *^' ^"f ^' ^^^ ^«* g« ^^d declare Kome, but to poor shepherds in the fields, Luke ii 01 palace not in a parlour or chamber; no, but in a stable where horses and beasts are fed. He C wrapt up m clouts, and laid in a manger ; they we^ no clouts of fine linen or silks, no cloths of™ or gold, nor precious robes, but poor and mean, like to beggars rags. Now, beloved, put all this together humility, humility, how great are thy riches that ^^I^'^^rn""f' """^ confoundest devils, and bring- est the Creator to a manger. O sweet Jesus, thou conquerest death by dying ! ' 122 Christ's famous titles. mrdhj, The third wonder in Christ's humiliation s this-he became poor; that he that vT so rich became so poor; that he that was LordTaH had rl;Sof i,^L^^^^^^^ ^-en and earl h\1 his h^ ^i^y^^^, '^^zzz:i nmself here, but a crown of tl.orns. "Thefo^e! .ave holes and the birds of the air have nests b,tt S tt^"iii*''2oor indeed, You will 3t a penny ; ot a penny Matt. xvii. ip to Jeru- I'se or beast )ther man's ts, admire iess of God, eaven, the death, the become so angels and i's humili- times for n he was a blessed WONDEHFUL. 123 Jesus IS this ! What ! ready for the sacrifice already? What but eight days old, and shed his blood for the salvation of men's poor souls i The second time was when he was in his agony in the garden. Matthew tells us that his soul began to be soirow- Jul. Sore amazed (saith Mark), Mark xiv. To be troubled: "Now my soul is troubled;" what shall 1 say " save me from this hour," John xii. 27. Troubled O Lord ! What ! Thou that bindest up the proud waves of the sea, turnest the hearts of kings as rivers of waters; thou that laidest the foundations of the earth, and spreadest the heavens as a curtain; thou that guidest the stars and thun- derestin the clouds; thou that upholdest all things Z w^.'^'^nt ?J ^}'y P^^"^^ ^^^> ^hat-' thou troubled ! Oh the horror, the terror, the sorrow that seized upon the soul of Christ! saith Luke- ±le began to be in agony, and he sweat," Luke xxii. 44. What! no natural sweat, but blood: he was in a bloody sweat all over,~he sweat clots of blood, as the original hath it. Oh! how did Christ come swimming to us in blood; and have not we a tear to shed for all these streams of his? We did eat the sour grapes, and his teeth were set on edjre • we climbed the tree, and stole the forbidden fruit' and he went up the ladder of the cross and died • Oh how lovely should he be in our eyes ! We should wear his cross in our hearts, and treasure it up as Moses did the manna in the pot. Christ's cross, saith he, is the golden key that lets us into paradise and the angel with the flaming sword is turned out. ms blood washed away our sins. ^ He shed his blood for us when his cheeks were nipt anu torn : the pulling off the hair, as the 124 It i M Christ's famous TiTLEa off: both were very^teV to t' *''•?""''' them could he witL f ''^ ? \, *'',"^- "«'">«•• "f that the soldiers ddbL?;?', ^'<""'^/»'- we find him on the face and hi le v" ''""/ ^P'^ *''™ ™°t« was fairer tC thf ' f *''? *^ ^'"'•' He that oT^foftS£f^"-So^"-"«^^^^^^ r/oii£~n=-^^^ ^xvii. "someTf tT» /*f "P™ '"'' ^'«'<'. Matt. Beventy-three woUds ff h •■"T^. *'"'* ^' ^"^^^d could Lt butTut bood'ot^';::-^'!^ *YT a siffht was tliw f« k^i u xi , ^* *-'" what was'as tC tst'^fit'tld't'St "' '"^' *''''' presseth it to be r>^t T ' ? * . ^P""'*® ex- rent with thorns that hr^'f, '"*'' ^I'^'-''^. ""d r!: the smitcra, 'ff the hair," irist's cheeks d was pulled •• neither of for we find I then smote > it was that «« soldier that on. Saviours blood spurting out upon his eyes re- stored him to his sight, and he beeime a co/vcrt a preacher a martyr. You will say a veiy strange cure that the physician should bleed, and his bZd s^muld have the virtne that we should all be saved Physicians be usually liberal of other men's Zod but spanng of their own; but it is not so with our Physician ; instead of the patient's bleeding in the clown t\vM '." ^^ ''-^"^ """y -^o^' thou'shower down thy blood and come swimming in thy blood , Is not a dron sufficient' "Ons J-- •> ."'•',""''"' ' "IS more worth than heaven and elkh." Oh love h2 I 126 CIIRIST^S FAMOUS TITLES. wonderful indeed! '^t ■ """(' '^"'y- t^at is pardon a thiefT,t tL tr'',;'^'' f*"" " '''"« '» that we might ive i,»i "f ^™"'- ''« ^ied agony, thJt m?ght "Z nrwi.l" fl''"'" '" '''^ comfort us with anX<,."T "'7'* Aagons, and pain, that Je mi»ht t„l„ !i ""'^'"^'^ *'"' S^-'t^^' Oh how lovTlvTfw I T^ *■'« fifeatest pleasures. ir.?8! ^'WlK,^wo^,u'''™y,™'' ?"^t in his suffer- Jnts!" Chris«an cw "™, *'""' *'"»' ^'"8 "^ Lord nn^ ^"".""an consider how much thy dear tw' 7/h pS btdT^'r"'/"' undergoLi:; scth us, it wuXth "^f It .-ede^emeth us, it clean- isS^^^er^etdrntsl!,;^!-^?!^- jng sorrowful, even unto deati,,"^S i'xTTs" this IS a great wonder indeed i tL i" dom in thei^souTs il- ' i*'"'^ ''«'' "»«'» ft""- spiritual joy and wtrt"" %"'< "''* C"" "^ ""^ dn>n. the 0.^^^;^^:^,^^^ He f )tion ! Tliafc dlty, that is ' a king to nself should expression ! nr: he died fered in his flagons, and the greatest t pleasures, n his snffer- ou King of h thy dear lergone for Li8, it clean- sanctifieth jeth us to lumiliatiou 1 is exceed- xxvi. 38. tk ! For a ► say so, oh "^^g of his ^t yielded uls' stead, d much iu Lcked, and Juch free- i of much ns Christ 3oul: and iter. He drink tlie WONDERFUL. 127 ■ uLu nim,— tliey crowned him with thorns- --thc';/tr? l"'"""'" hand, instead of ascent;- they cruS liT. 5.r. ' """fSginS their heads:- tt/t^tterhtln-^Jif^-;^ %T " r never left him till his soul left ^i?^' J "^ .^''^ thi. they did in siorn t' hL thr he/'"'- fl make his death more painfufTid shaSl 5h G.ti£U:;i^"»een:^^^^^^^ "i^^cu men and devils, but he suffers too from" "the |l i 128 Fathe Christ's famous titles. ather; and this IS that which makes the wonder ho greater Isa liii. 10, "It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him ti gr-iof." Mark one wou d have thought, if God would spare Lnyi ^ould have been his Son, his own Son,^his belo;ed ►Son, his begotten Son, his bosom Son; and yet God ^T)ai-ed him not: "He spared not his own Son, but lelivered him up for us all," Rom. viii. 32. Mark .0(1 did not spare him, but delivered him up for us hirn, God will not spare him, but let out the fulness of justice to the full upon him, till he had paid the ermost farthing of justice. O blessed^ Jesus tlKlst thou undergo so much for our sinning, for oui' offending, for our rebelling? Oh, then, what infinite cause have we to love thee, and obev thee «nrl suffered for us, the dearer he ought to be unto us. Eighthly, The last wonder that I shall mention is. Christ fore.saw all this, and yet he willingly under-' took It, to save mankind: he knew beforS he came f^x)m heaven how his countrymen the Jews wou^d e him and that one of his family would betmy womb nf r' itt ^'' ^^' '^^^^^^g ^as in the womb of time that was not first in the womb of Christ; he knew it from the beginnincr. That our Lord Jesus Christ should foreknow all thtmost wonderfu misery that he endured, yet that he shoiiS come freely, wHlingly, and joyfully from heaven, o d e and suffer by and for such poor wretches as we are, here is a wonder to angels and men, "Lo I come, saith Christ, " to do thv will. O Gn^ » WpK i \ WONDER PULi 120 I the wonder the Lord to Mark, ono spare any, it I, his beloved and yet God )wn Son, but 32. Mark, im up for us. ir sins upon b the fulness had paid the 3ssed Jesus, ling, for our •vhat infinite y thee, and I done and to be unto mention is, ngly under- >re he came Jews would 5uld betmy who should vas in the e womb of That our I this most t he should heaven, to 3hes as we Jn, «Lo, I >Qd;' Heb. 9. And what 3f. y. Auu wimt was i» tie was suffer for poor mau, to redeem , „„r man D„ youBce here s,-,. what g«.at loie Christ b.«o u hell ':TL ';*"'" , "'r ''-"y *-'j^ m lieu, and be .lamneil, Jesus Christ wmil,? CO,, , from heaven and suffer all this for Z„ thoush he knew hfcn: how he should be used ( i' tins is a givat m „„der, dear Christians " lif.rt'i ■ i such a peail should sprfle in o i 'Z ' ^f^"^, glory, not in the sidt seas of our tS but i^ . rod sea of Christ's blood. Truly it r^onderftil to point an -e of i„fo,.matio,rand'exhortatior' '"' ^^£f^t-r^^^""^--S: rtrst, my hrst mferenee is this ThsTt PK^; f' suffermgs is what he e„,l„red 7 L me„ in js body, and what he suffered from God Tn his so ^: t ::. r'^ohii'" """ i" '-'' body.^uragty in ms soul. Oh the sea of aufferiu^^s tli^ «^. *• Diessed feaviour waded through to comp ^r^A v. • peaee to our souls, salvation To ot souls ^ace If &Ld°-''T-'°"''' H« ^"fle'«'> from 'dS he that bis whole life was full of sor owCd .^'Le^*^ J^al'dT -■*!%!"'■"'" *'"»P*«'J' hewn- i-1-a.i.ed, ii„ „„s falseiy accused, he was appro- 130 CHRIST S FAMOUS TxTLES. He nor he handed, he was betrayed, he was crucified. What shall we say more? What can be said more? He was full of sorrow : he took his name from sorrow : our Lord Jesus Christ is called a man of sorrows— "A man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief," Lsa. liii. 3. Now, judge whether Christ's life was not full of sorrows : he took his name from sorrow. O sweet Jesus ! thy sufferings were truly great. Secondly, Jesus Chi-ist suffered by himself, was alone in his sufferings; neither angels saints bore any part with him in them; no, .a« drank the bitter cup alone; he alone purged' our sins : " He alone by himself purged our sins," Heb. i. 3. Christ had none to help to bear his heavy burden with him; he bore it himself alone. But, my beloved, though our Lord Jesus Christ suffered by himself, yet he did not suffer for himself: he suffered for us, he su red for that which we de- served : " He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed." Do you see here. Christians, how many oura are here? Our griefs, our sorrows, our transgressions, our iniquities, our peace. So again, "For our sakes he became poor," 2 Cor. viii. 9. IMark, "for our sakes." Beloved, he was born for us : " Unto us a child is born ;" he was given for us : "to us a son is given," lsa. ix. 6. "He was made a curse for us," Gal. iii. 13; the text tells, he was made a curse, but it was for us; he was delivered up for us, Rom. viii. 32. " Who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." Oh, all *■ things were for us— given for us, made a curse cified. What d more? He from sorrow : of sorrows — th grief," Lsa. 3 life was not n sorrow. O great. himself. He r angels ncr hem; no, he 3 purged our r sins," Heb. ar his heavy alone. But, hrist suffered himself: he rhich. we de- d carried our sgressions, he Lstisement of is stripes we I'istians, how sorrows, our i. So again, Cor. viii. 9. vas born for given for us : was made a ;ells, he was as delivered ared not his 11." Oh, all iiade a curse WONDEKFUL. loi Saviour suffered rr, I tW '^V"'= "^ "o^^^d TO,-,.,// t1 • "'' '°^' ■"<* 'niglit not suffer l.avl left their tl.lo,,'!^- ""'' ""''«™'-^ ^''"•''d .Inm. ri • ""ones, tlieir crowns, tlieir tine i &v ^"be'sTr,; "'"'■ S'"^^' their h„rurB a S tosuffert,; --1^^^^^^^^^ ci-eatures, he is the Creflfnr fi.^ ! ^' ^^""^ ^^® been half such a wond r if alfthe *»"'''."';* ''='^« he loved us so tlat he died for ove " Cw iT' TW r"' '™'''''''' *'"' inference, which w^'stl^' That It 13 more for Jesus Hl.vi.t to -, ff!" '*"'^^*'."''< than for all men and angei;- to Vffefkir'ftS^': 132 Christ's famous titles. And, indeed, I want words to express it or set it forth; for there is both want of words, and want in words to express this matter. Fourthly, In what miserable case lay we, that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ must endure all this, bear all this, undergo all this, for poor sinners? Certainly the misery of man was very great, that man should need such redemption as this. Oh what a breach hadsinmade between God and us, that theSon of God must come from heaven to earth to suffer all *^^J.l' J ^^' ^"schievous sin hath undone us; sin hath robbed every one of six jewels, every one of which jewels are more worth than heaven and earth. Would you know what jewels they are that sin hath robbed us of? I will tell you, and then you will say with me that we were in a very miserable case. (1.) It robs us of the image of God. Was this a precious jewel, think you? I say it robbed us of the image of God, and drew in man the devil's pic- ture : Malice is the devil's eye, oi)pression is the devil s hand, blasphemy is the devil's tongue, and hypocrisy is the devil's cloven foot. (2.) Sin robs us of our sonship, and makes us slaves to the devil slaves to sm, or slaves to the world, and slaves to oureelves. (3.) It robs us of our friendship with God, and makes us enemies to God and enemies to Christ, enemies to our own soul and enemies to all that IS good. (4.) It robs us of our communion and fellowship with the Father, Son, and Spirit, and makes us strangers and aliens. (5.) It robs us of our rights and privileges, of heaven, and heavenly things, and makes us children of wrath, and heirs of hell. (6). It robs us of our honour and glory, and makes us vile and miserable, as you may see : "There WONDERFUL. ss it or set it 3, and want in ly we, that our endure all this, poor sinners? ;i'eat, that man Oh what a as, that the Son th to suffer all ne us; sin hath one of which ti and earth. 3 that sin hath bhen you will liserable case. Was this a robbed us of ihe devil's pic- ression is the i tongue, and (2.) Sin robs s to the devil, and slaves to iendship with id enemies to snemies to all mmunion and d Spirit, and It robs us of and heavenly I, and heirs of ad glory, and yme: "There 13.3 is no soundness in us; but wounds, and bruises and putnfymg sores "Isa. i. 6. Put all this tog^'ther and then see whether or not we are not miserable and whether we did not need a Saviour oTonfe tknl in P^ • . T ^"""^ ''^"^ happiness, Chris- ittVn th^nlf a7 ^^^^V^^^« jewels again that we lost m the old Adam; the glorious image of God TviC ^P^'"' ^1'"^^^"^^' «"^ fellowship, our privilege, and our glory and honour, we have all again by Jesus Christ. ' *^^^ ^Fi/thl^, Jesus Christ brought life to us— a lif« of grace, a life of comfort, a life of glory' but we brought death on liim; he'brought gfory to us b^t we brought shame on him; he brought riches to us but we brought poverty on him; he'brought iov to us, but we brought sorrow to him-sorroVuW sorrow : we put the crown of thorns upon his head tho^ht'.!' "T^' ^^"'^ "P«^ our'heads We thought the earth too good for him, and would not let him live here, but put him to death, but ho thinks not heaven too good for us; we are 'ashamed to own him before men, but he is not ashameTto own us before his Father and his holy angeJs we condemn him, but he justifies us. Oh think of Cr unkindness to him, and let the considerations of his ^ja^%. All believers have exceeding great cause to bless God for Jesus Christ. God the Father g^ve him to us, who were not his friends, but enemies- to us, who were not sons, but slaves: to us, who were not angels, but men: to us. who }n..A 1. iiuu, but hated him. Oh! have we not'^cau^e^to 134 Christ's famous titles. bless God for Jesus Christ? "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have evedasting life," John iii. 1 6. Oh what a gift IS Jesus Christ ! ^ Seventhly, If Jesus Christ be so wonderful, then how vile, how base a thing is it for the hearts of men to prefer anything before Jesus Christ' I beseech you and beg of you all to mind this infer- ence. Surely if Jesus Christ be so wonderful, so precious, so lovely, so rich, so sweet, so rare, it is a most abominable thing, a wicked thing, a vile thin*, to prefer anything before Jesus Christ. Oh 'If speak It with grief of heart, there are too many in the world that set light by him, and make nothing 1 . v"^; ^""t ^""^^ ^'"^ ^^*' ^"^ P^-^^er every base lust before him : though there is nothing more cursed than this, there is nothing more common than tins— for men prefer the vilest things before Christ Ihe wicked worldling prefers the trash of the world before Jesus Christ; he can leave hearing and pray- ing reading and fasting, to follow the world : he prefers gold before God, earth before heaven, gain before glory, his corruptible silver before his Saviour. Uh! thou wicked worldling, thou wretched world- ing, can thy riches save thy soul ? Let me ask thee, Can thy riches deliver thee from hell? Can thv riches bring thee to heaven, that thou preferrest them before Christ? Oh! the Lord Jesus will come in flames of fire to take vengeance on such, and then thou wilt know to thy cost, and pain, and torment, that thy riches cannot keep thee out of He i, much less bring thy soul to heaven: then thou wilt see thy folly when it is too lata WONDERFUL. 135 SO loved the len Son, that ofc perish, but )h what a gift underfill, then the hearts of IS Christ! I nd this infer- wonderful, so o rare, it is a ■, a vile thing, irist. Oh! I too many in nake nothing T every base J more cursed )mmon than before Christ. of the world ng and pray- e world: he beaven, gain ! his Saviour, tched world- me ask thee, L? Can thy >u preferrest i Jesus will ice on such, id pain, and thee out of : then thou , P® ;;!;^^.^^^^ drunkards prefer their drunkenness him"th?rv*^i ^^^"?^^^^ p^'^^"^- ^- p«*« ~ liim, the drunkard wades through the sea of drink to his grave; he can sit a day or a whole night in the ale-house, and think it a little time; but an hour in the service of God, oh how tedious is that ! O thou drunkard, that turnest off thy cups so fast God Almighty has a cup for thee, but not a cup of sTck sLu T t^ ^'"1^^^ ^ ^"P °*' ^^'^^h' ^hich thou Shalt drink to eternity! which is woi-se than to drink sea dmg hot lead down thy throat. He hath thi^rb ^IT'. "^T' ""'' ^"^^ ^^^"k *« quench his thirst, but to drink to excess, till he say Ind do he enorb"'.."^^"'^ ^"* ^^ ^^" ^' shall have little enough, there is never a tavern or ale-house there: no, there is not a drop of water to be got all hell over. O tliou wretch! thou shalt live in burnin!! flames, and thy tongue shall cleave to the roof of lorirf"" ' ^""^1 '^ *^?^ ^^"^^"^* 8^^ ^ thousand worlds for one drop of water, thou shalt not have il ,^"^.*hfi'^foi'e I beseech you, if any such there are here, m the name of God hear and fear, and do no more wickedly. Oh! I would not be in thy but have bowels of pity towards thee, which con- hl^r.T ^t^ *? 'P^^^' ^"^^^"g *hy condition better than thou dost thyself. Oh ! cofildest thou but speak with thy fellow-drunkards that are now m hen, what a dreadful story would they tell thee of their agonies, and suffering, and pain, and tor- men s! Some are in hell already for the same sins you live in; and if you live and die without Christ, you shall be ere long with them. The swearer, the blasphemous swearer, prefers his 136 CHRIST'S FAMOUS TITLES. ru^r^h T • , ^«^t*^mptuously, as if there were no God to punish, no devil to toment We\7]lt fire" "win ni; • f ^^''*^* y^ ^"^'^^' i°*« everlasting? liie; win Christ say to such nersfm^ TK« ». i pmon prefers his prfde before cS if J^t me wnicn IS to come, all ve wipkpr) ^noo ti,«» ^ anything before Christ """ P'^'^'^ '««9'A'%, If Jesus Christ be so wonderful tb^n every one that heareth of him sS t^ nt •? - a most dreadful thing to mirhim "o cSan's and friends, consider of itr Certainlv Vw tltT'"'" r:j^''™ ■»" *' -eds^b 'C ndtd" snneH tr°^^ dies without Jesus Christ. O poor emner! the devil looks but for a look from cZ everv W if Z°°' '""'' ^^^ »»•'' '^ » danger nothang, he knows nothing, he enjoys nS'hfng, can I ^11; wear by their idly, and look if there were >nt. Well, let V delightest in nth a curse to ito everlasting 3. The proud : if a fine suit on the other, uit of clothes ■V what a vile lything before Psalmist, "ye n pieces, and poor wretch! en to all the rments in the 3s that prefer nderful, then lid think it Christians ly that man sad indeed, ist. O poor k from God d draw thy 3 in danger and earned 3 you think sad thing it im, he hath lothing, can WONDERFUL. 137 tt^^tvlor'to^ '^' "^^^""^' -^ - worth miseries to miss of 0^' wl ^ ^^^^^'* °^ that person is in .IZt^tt Chr^t ""'"''"°'' ^'^ SOME GROUND' WHEREON- A POOR SINNER MAY EXPECT MERCY THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST. that of repentanceTorto be ™ ^<^'y 7°^i ^-"l pentence 'to salvation, 2 Cor TlO ![ ' nl*! "^^ X , pensn, without some oerson «« o p,«^:« - or redeemer, to undertake fir hiJ 7^m, or 140 SOME GROUNDS WHEREON A liath undertaken it; for that God is infinitely just, and he must have his justice satisfied; and all that the poor soul can do is but to mend his life for the future, walking more conformably to the righteous law of God than heretofore. But, alas! that is no more than what we ought to be for the time to come, it will not satisfy Divine justice for the transgression already done against tile law of God, any more than a man's paying another an ensuinjj week, month, or year, for all he is engaged in lor within the space of time, doth satisfy and clear the debt which became due in time before that week. Neither, indeed, can a man of himself satisfy for what he shall owe to it in the remaining pait of his life. Now this consideration works the soul into a melting frame, brings him on his knees to say, as the poor J)ublican, " Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner;" and as the prodigal humbled, and sees all his rambling shifts in vain for yielding him that solid comfort his soul thirsteth after, therefore re- solves to go home to his father; and although he "^^y look upon him as enraged against him (for which his soul knew there was just cause), yet he goes humbling himself to his father, saying, "Fa- ther, I have sinned, &c., and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Now observe the success: When he was yet a great way off, his father saw hira, and had compassion, and fell on his neck, and kissed him;" and further entertained him, not as a servant, as he humbly besought (for the humble shall be exalted), but as a son, and rejoiced in him Luke XV. 18-20. The Assyrians also well knew what good this humble application was likely to effect in an Israelitish kinsr (I Kintrs w .qi .q9\ I I Initely just, md all that I life for the le righteous that is no the time to tice for the law of God, an ensuin£r aged in ivor id clear the that week. ' satisfy for ; pait of his soul into a } to say, as upon me a md sees all ? him that lerefore re- Ithough he it him (for se), yet he ying, " Fa- s worthy to le success: father saw } neck, and im, not as he humble sed in him, well knew 8 likely to Y 31 A9\ POOR SINNER MAY EXPECT MERct. Hj And if mercy be expected from one of ih. i • then much more miv ,> i J J^ .? * *"^'^^ ^^"l?s, King of rbose kinTtLli:n/^'^"I"«"^^' '^^^ mised large g^-acosi:' Me" S t toV'^',' ^^^" the advice of Mordecai chan ,V f ' J^ ^^^^*^'^» "* of this humble way of aXL • ' 'J^'^^ case otherwise desYeral ttr^"^ ^"^ T^'^^ in a the royal sceptre howl/n,^ "^T"' '^^^'^''^ "^^^ even beyond a petitn in l^^^^'^' *" ^^^'^"t she went aboutTbuf V^ ?"f '^'? ^""^^ ««*' ^v^'>on wisely perceiving th^fl '^^' '^^"'^ P^"«h : yet, -t so^^ppl^'sLXtded""* ^^'"^^ ^- «^^ ^- if they stayed vhere Jh^v vf ^^"^ '"^^^* ^^^""n^ therefL ionld v^.^T IT relir"' '"^' ^>^ enemies, bein^ snrA +1; , , ^ among their thanth;ywl%h^;Vui7brJ' "'' '^^ ^-- other: so when the sou f. f f ''"^'^^y ^^ ^n- own misery, and humb Ifl *!l"^>-?"ght to see its withal is^l^ng'remttcftLtr^^^ ^"^ presents so much as a poSi J ^ .^^"' '^^^^^' pod shows his mercy to^Sf ft 1'"^."^ '^' *^^^ Ivii. 15 16 X^n « T 5®"esii it, according to Isa and to '..Vive tLe LX I? t^ ^''"t* "^ «- ''""W:; Christ conifortaWy iSs .^h""/-^"™"''- ^"^ ■s wea,7 and haavS laden wHh the Se'ofT'' *''''* he invites h m to crnno a^A ■ ^ "' ""s sm, the Gospel doth in TL?.? ■"""" '^'*= «"'' thu:^ humble and pen ten? 2 ^'"f «"<""»«gement to fi-om the eteS God he^r *"k'T°* «''™«'"' l-eing taken away Then k"? '^'°'? »P"ken of -ndc. a sense ot that misemble conditio^ ^^tZ U2 SOME GROUNDS FOR MERCY. liiith made a man liable to, and beinj? rightly desir- ous of salvation, that which is required of him is only to believe that the righteous God, who might have made him eternally miserable, hath, notwith- standing, through his tender compassions (his mercy being above all his works), resolved on a way to satisfy his justice by acquitting the guilty, who was no way able to pay a suflScient random for his own redemption, therefore provided a price satis- factory to redeem poor fallen man from the curse; concerning which both the apostles and prophets have witnessed, Isa. liii. and Iv. chapters; Micah V. 2; Hos. xi. 1; Ps. xxii.; Acts i. 8 and x. 41, and more scriptures; that price of salvation, Jesus Christ, of whom the angels proclaimed about the time of his entrance into the world, " Glory be to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will to- wards men," Luke ii. 14. And the evangelist John, chap iii. 16, declares positively, "That God so loved the world that he gave* his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." This is the term of salvation, to wit, believing in his Son to be that gift and ransom which the Gospel generally holds forth to those who would know what they should do to be saved: withal there must be an obedient conversation, and that universally to all God's commandments, answerable to a poor soul's ability, 80 long as life may last. ightly dcsir- 1 of him is who might bh, notwith- LHsions (his ed on a way guilty, who ?om for his price satia- i the curse; id prophets ters; Micah I X. 41, and tion, Jesus I about the jrlory be to 3od-will to- gelist John, at God so y begotten should not ihe term of to be that erally holds they should an obedient all God's ul's ability, MUKRAYANDGlnB.RDINByRCH