13. The ever blessed and holy person of Christ is desirable above all. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousands;—yea, he is altogether lovely, or desirable; so Vatablus renders it, Christus est totus desideria, Christ is all desires. If the actions of Christ be desirable, what must himself be? If the parings of his bread be so sweet, what must the great Loaf Christ himself be? Christ is admirable in action and person, but above all, his person is most admirable; no creature in the world yields the like representation of God, as the person of Jesus Christ; he is the express Image of the person of his Father; 2as the print of the Seal on the Wax is the express image of the Seal it self, so is Christ the highest representation of God; he makes similitude to him, who otherwise is without all similitude. And hence it is that Christ is called the Standard-bearer of ten thousands: 3all excellencies are gathered up in Christ, as Beams in the Sun. Come, poor Soul! thy eyes run to and fro in the world to find Comfort and happiness; thou desirest after worldly Honour, worldly Pleasure, worldly Profits; cast thy eyes back and see Heaven and Earth in one; look if thou wilt at what thy vast thoughts can fancy, not only in this world, but in the world to come; or if thou canst imagine more variety; see that, and infinitely more, shining forth from the person of the Lord Jesus Christ: no wonder if the Saints adore him; no wonder if the Angels stand amazed at him, no wonder if all Creatures veil all their glory to him. Oh what are all things in the world to Jesus Christ? Paul compares them together,4 [Greek or Hebrew], all things with this one thing; And I account all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. And I count all things] surely all things is the greatest count that can be cast up; for it includeth all prices, all sums; it takes in, Earth, and Heaven, and all therein, that are but as created things; q. d. Nations, and all Nations; Gold, and all Gold; Jewels, and all Jewels; Angels, and all Angels; all these, and every all besides all these; what are they in comparison of Christ, but as feathers, dung, shadows, nothing? If there be any thing worthy a wish, it is eminently, transcendently, originally in the Lord Jesus Christ; there is no honour, no felicity like that which Christ hath; some are sons, Christ is an only Son;
13. The ever blessed and holy person of Christ is desireable above all. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousands;—yea, he is altogether lovely, or desireable; so Vatablus renders it, Christus est totus desideria, Christ is all desir•s. If the actions of Christ be desirable, what must himself be? If the parings of his bread be so sweet, what must the great Loaf Christ himself be? Christ is admirable in action and person, but above all, his person is most admirable; no creature in the world yields the like representation of God, as the person of Jesus Christ; he is the express Image of the person of his Father; 2as the print of the Seal on the Wax is the express image of the Seal it self, so is Christ the highest representation of God; he makes similitude to him, who otherwise is without all similitude. And hence it is that Christ is called the Standard-bearer of ten thousands: 3all excellencies are gathered up in Christ, as Beams in the Sun. Come, poor Soul! thy eyes run to and fro in the world to find Comfort and happiness; thou desirest after worldly Honour, worldly Pleasure, worldly Profits; cast thy eyes back and see Heaven and Earth in one; look if thou wilt at what thy vast thoughts can fancy, not only in this world, but in the world to come; or if thou canst imagine more variety; see that, and infinitely more, shining forth from the person of the Lord Jesus Christ: no wonder if the Saints adore him; no wonder if the Angels stand amazed at him, no wonder if all Cteatures vail all their glory to him. Oh what are all things in the world to Jesus Christ? Paul compares them together,4 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, all things with this one thing; And I account all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. And I count all things] surely all things is the greatest count that can be cast up; for it includeth all prices, all sums; it takes in, Earth, and Heaven, and all therein, that are but as created things; q. d. Nations, and all Nations; Gold, and all Gold; Jewels, and all Jewels; Angels, and all Angels; all these, and every all besides all these; what are they in comparison of Christ, but as feathers, dung, shadows, nothing? If there be any thing worthy a wish, it is eminently, transcendently, originally in the Lord Jesus Christ; there is no honour, no felicity like that which Christ hath; some are sons, Christ is an only Son;
- 1Cant. 5.10, 16.
- 2Heb. 1.3.
- 3Cant. 5.10.
- 4Phil. 3.8.
