A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Thus we have the meaning of the words: whereby we may see, that by all these three, we can understand nothing else but Christ himself, and his merits. Now one and the same thing in Christ, is signified by divers terms: to show that there is in Christ the fullness of all grace, and plentiful redemption; yea, store of supplies for all our wants. The Laodiceans were poor, but Christ was their riches; they were naked, Christ was their garment; and lastly, they were blind, but Christ was their eye-salve. So that what wants soever be in us, there is store of supply thereof in Christ. This must the more diligently be marked, because the Papists make Christ but half a Saviour, in putting our merits unto his: and so disgrace him in his glorious work, wherein he is a most absolute Saviour, ⟨p. 209⟩and Redeemer.

Thus wee haue the meaning of the words: whereby wee may see, that by all these three, wee can vnderstand nothing else but Christ himselfe, and his merits. Now one and the same thing in Christ, is signified by diuers tearmes: to shew that there is in Christ the fulnesse of all grace, and plentifull redemption; yea, store of supplyes for all our wants. The Laodiceans were poore, but Christ was their riches; they were naked, Christ was their garment; and lastly, they were blinde, but Christ was their eye-salue. So that what wants soeuer be in vs, there is store of supply thereof in Christ. This must the more diligently be marked, because the Papists make Christ but halfe a Sauiour, in putting our merits vnto his: and so disgrace him in his glorious worke, wherein he is a most absolute Sauiour, ⟨p. 209⟩and Redeemer.

III. point. The means whereby these worthy gifts of God may be gotten, is by buying and bargaining: so Christ saith: I counsel thee to buy of me. Where he alludeth to the outward state of this City; for it was rich, and also given to much traffic as Histories record: and therefore he speaks to them in their own kind; as if he should say, you are a people exercised in much traffic, and delighted with nothing more than buying and selling: well, I have wares that will serve your turn; as gold, garments, and oil, therefore come and buy of me. These words must not be understood properly, for so we can buy nothing of Christ; because there is nothing that is good in any, but it proceedeth from the free gift of God in Christ. This is only spoken by way of resemblance to buying and selling; which stands in these points, which are the principal things in bargaining. First, a man sees his want, and desires to have it supplied; and therefore goes to the place where such things are to be sold. Secondly, he seeth the thing and he liketh it. Thirdly, he prizeth and valueth it. Fourthly, he maketh exchange for it, by money or money worth. Fifthly, if it be a great sum, he giveth earnest. So in the getting of Christ, there is a kind of resemblance to all these. First, a man must feel himself, to stand in need of Christ and his merits; because men see want of bread, meat and drink in their houses, therefore do they go to buy the same. Now look how sensibly any man feels these worldly wants; so evidently should we feel our want of Christ, and his merits. For this is the first beginning that causeth us to seek to receive Christ Jesus. Secondly feeling our wants, we should hunger & long after Christ, that we might be made partakers of him & the virtue of his merits: as a man that is to buy a thing doth take a liking thereof, which doth stir up a desire in him to buy; so must we labour to have liking of Christ, which will move us to seek unto him.