The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Two or three Particulars more we are to instance in, by which it may appear in what Christ is laid a foundation. And

Seventhly, He is to be preached as the Fountain of all the happiness, joy, and spiritual content the godly hearer can have. We are to preach Christ as the centre in whom all the lines of your hope, love, and desire are to meet. Thus Paul himself, I determined to know nothing but Christ crucified, 1 Cor. 2.2. The Greek words are comparative, Christ crucified rather then any thing else. There is no Doctrine, no Opinion; there is no outward or earthly advantage that I desire to know, but Christ. And in many other places, you have Paul despising and renouncing all privileges: To be a Jew, was nothing; Circumcision, was nothing: To be an Apostle, to be a pure Roman; all these were nothing with Paul, in respect of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Therefore it is, that Christ is compared to our King, to our Husband, to our Head; because all our affections, desires, and inclinations, should be towards him. And this is so necessary a foundation, that no man can be Christs Disciple, that doth not attain to this; that doth not hate Father, and Mother, and Children, for his sake. Oh then, consider, Where is thy joy, thy love? Upon whom is thy heart set? If it be on any thing but Christ, thou errest in the Foundation. Oh, but how hard a thing is it, thus to Disciple our Auditors! Some have the world for Christ, some their lust for Christ; and thus instead of building gold and precious Stones, they build dung and filth.

Seventhly, He is to be preached as the Fountain of all the happiness, joy, and spiritual content the godly hearer can have. We are to preach Christ as the center in whom all the lines of your hope, love, and desire are to meet. Thus Paul himself, I determined to know nothing but Christ crucified, 1 Cor. 2.2. The Greek words are comparative, Christ crucified rather then any thing else. There is no Doctrine, no Opinion; there is no outward or earthly advantage that I desire to know, but Christ. And in many other places, you have Paul despising and renouncing all priviledges: To be a Jew, was nothing; Circumcision, was nothing: To be an Apostle, to be a pure Roman; all these were nothing with Paul, in respect of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Therefore it is, that Christ is compared to our King, to our Husband, to our Head; because all our affections, desires, and inclinations, should be towards him. And this is so necessary a foundation, that no man can be Christs Disciple, that doth not attain to this; that doth not hate Father, and Mother, and Children, for his sake. Oh then, consider, Where is thy joy, thy love? Upon whom is thy heart set? If it be on any thing but Christ, thou errest in the Foundation. Oh, but how hard a thing is it, thus to Disciple our Auditours! Some have the world for Christ, some their lust for Christ; and thus instead of building gold and precious Stones, they build dung and silth.