Now a natural man, he will not have Christ to be all, but himself will be something; or if Christ be all in some things, he will not have Christ to be all in every thing, to have Christ to be his wisdom, his righteousness, his sanctification; to do nothing but by Christ; to have Christ to be his redemption, not to be able to help himself without Christ, but that Christ must help him out of every trouble, and bestow upon him every comfort, this, I say, is contrary to the nature of man: therefore we must be thoroughly emptied of our selves in this matter of rejoicing, aswell as in the matter of taking: for in what measure any man sets any price upon himself, so far as he hath any opinion of himself that he is something, just so far he detracts from Christ: but when a man boasts not of himself at all, such a man rejoiceth in GOD altogether, such a man will stand amazed at the height, and breadth, and length, and depth of the love of GOD; such a man will be able to see that there are unsearchable riches in Christ; such a man will be able to say with Paul, that he cares for nothing, he reckons all things dung, Phil. 3.1 I have all the privileges (saith he) that other men have; I am a Jew, I am a Pharisee; but I reckon all these things as dung; that is, I care for none of them, if I had an hundred more: It is true, I have been as strict as any man; yea, I went beyond others: for I was zealous in ⟨p. 80⟩that course wherein I was, yet I have been taught thus much, that all these things are nothing, for GOD regards them not, he regards nothing but Christ and his righteousness, therefore I look not after these things, but that I may be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, but that righteousness that GOD accepteth, which is through faith in him. Therefore, my brethren, learn thus to rejoice in CHRIST, and in GOD, and not in your selves; this is the most excellent work that we can perform, it is the work of the Saints and Angels in Heaven, we should learn to come as near them now as we can: In Reu. 7.11.2 they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation cometh by our God, that sitteth upon the Throne, and by the Lamb; and therefore, praise, and wisdom, and glory be given to God for evermore; because salvation is from the Lord, and from the Lamb, and not from our selves at all: hence it is that they fell down, and worshipped him;
Now a naturall man, hee will not haue Christ to bee all, but himselfe will bee something; or if Christ be all in some things, he will not haue Christ to be all in euery thing, to haue Christ to be his wisdome, his righteousnesse, his sanctification; to doe nothing but by Christ; to haue Christ to be his redemption, not to be able to helpe himselfe without Christ, but that Christ must helpe him out of euery trouble, and bestowe vpon him euery comfort, this, I say, is contrary to the nature of man: therefore we must bee thorowly emptyed of our selues in this matter of reioycing, aswell as in the matter of taking: for in what measure any man sets any price vpon himselfe, so farre as he hath any opinion of himselfe that he is something, iust so farre he detracts from Christ: but when a man boasts not of himselfe at all, such a man reioyceth in GOD altogether, such a man will stand amazed at the height, and breadth, and length, and depth of the loue of GOD; such a man will be able to see that there are vnsearchable riches in Christ; such a man will be able to say with Paul, that he cares for nothing, he reckons all things dung, Phil. 3.1 I haue all the priuiledges (saith he) that other men haue; I am a Jew, I am a Pharise; but I reckon all these things as dung; that is, I care for none of them, if I had an hundred more: It is true, I haue beene as strict as any man; yea, I went beyond others: for I was zealous in ⟨p. 80⟩that course wherein I was, yet I haue beene taught thus much, that all these things are nothing, for GOD regards them not, he regards nothing but Christ and his righteousnes, therefore I looke not after these things, but that I may be found in him, not hauing mine own righteousnesse, but that righteousnesse that GOD accepteth, which is through faith in him. Therefore, my brethren, learne thus to reioyce in CHRIST, and in GOD, and not in your selues; this is the most excellent worke that we can performe, it is the worke of the Saints and Angels in Heauen, wee should learne to come as neere them now as we can: In Reu. 7.11.2 they cryed with a loud voyce, saying, Saluation commeth by our God, that sitteth vpon the Throne, and by the Lambe; and therefore, praise, and wisdome, and glory be giuen to God for euermore; because saluation is from the Lord, and from the Lambe, and not from our selues at all: hence it is that they fell downe, and worshipped him;
- 1Phil 3.
- 2Reu. 7.11.
