You prize some for their beauty, why, the Lord Jesus 1Christ is the fairest among the Children of men, Psal. 45. 1, 2. Cant. 5. 10. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest, or, the Standard-bearer among ten thousand.. You prize others for their strength, why, the Lord Jesus Christ hath in him everlasting strength, Isa. 26. 4. Trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, he is the rock of Ages. You prize others for bearing their fathers 2Image, why the Lord Jesus bears the Image of his father. Heb. 1. 3. He is the brightness of his fathers glory, and the express Image of his person. You prize others for their wisdom and knowledge; such a one is a very wise man, you say, and therefore you prize him; and such a one is a very knowing man, and therefore you prize him; why, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ, Col. 2. 3. In whom (saith he, speaking of Christ) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The truth is, all those perfections and excellencies that are in all Angels and men, they all centre in Christ, they are all epitomized in Christ. All the Angels in heaven have but some of those perfections that be in Christ. All wisdom, and all power, and all goodness, and all mercy, and all love, &c. is in no glorified Creature, no not in all glorified creatures put together. But now in Christ all these perfections and excellencies meet, as all water meets in the sea, and as all light meets in the Sun. Others you prize for their usefulness, the more useful persons and things are, the more you prize and value them. The Lord Jesus Christ is of universal use to his people, why, ⟨p. 276⟩he is the right eye of his people, without which they cannot 3see; and the right hand of his people, without which they cannot do, &c. He is of singular use to all his people, he is of use to weak Saints, to strengthen them; and he is of use to doubting Saints, to resolve them; and he is of use to dull Saints, to quicken them; and he is of use to falling Saints, to support them; and he is of use to wandering Saints, to recover them. In prosperity, he is of use to keep his Saints humble, and watchful, spotless, and fruitful; and in adversity he is of use to keep them contented and cheerful. All which should very much engage our hearts to prize this Christ.
You prize some for their beauty, why, the Lord Jesus 1Christ is the fairest among the Children of men, Psal. 45. 1, 2. Cant. 5. 10. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest, or, the Standard-bearer among ten thousand.. You prize others for their strength, why, the Lord Jesus Christ hath in him everlasting strength, Isa. 26. 4. Trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, he is the rock of Ages. You prive others for bearing their fathers 2Image, why the Lord Jesus beares the Image of his father. Heb. 1. 3. He is the brightnesse of his fathers glory, and the expresse Image of his person. You prize others for their wisedome and knowledge; such a one is a very wise man, you say, and therefore you prize him; and such a one is a very knowing man, and therefore you prize him; why, all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge are in Christ, Col. 2. 3. In whom (saith he, speaking of Christ) are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge. The truth is, all those perfections and excellencies that are in all Angels and men, they all centre in Christ, they are all epitomized in Christ. All the Angels in heaven have but some of those perfections that be in Christ. All wisedome, and all power, and all goodnesse, and all mercy, and all love, &c. is in no glorified Creature, no not in all glorified creatures put together. But now in Christ all these perfections and excellencies meet, as all water meets in the sea, and as all light meets in the Sun. Others you prize for their usefulnesse, the more usefull persons and things are, the more you prize and value them. The Lord Jesus Christ is of universall use to his people, why, ⟨p. 276⟩he is the right eye of his people, without which they cannot 3see; and the right hand of his people, without which they cannot doe, &c. He is of singular use to all his people, he is of use to weak Saints, to strengthen them; and he is of use to doubting Saints, to resolve them; and he is of use to dull Saints, to quicken them; and he is of use to falling Saints, to support them; and he is of use to wandring Saints, to recover them. In prosperity, he is of use to keep his Saints humble, and watchfull, spotlesse, and fruitfull; and in adversity he is of use to keep them contented and cheerfull. All which should very much ingage our hearts to prize this Christ.
- 1Christs beauty needs no letters of commendation.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew] Charakter tes hup•stase•s autou. The Character of his subsistence. A comparison from the seal of a Ring, the fo•m of which is imprinted in the wax.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Charakter tes hup•stase•s autou. The Character of his subsistence. A comparison from the seale of a Ring, the fo•m of which is imprinted in the wax.
- 3Christ is qu• qu•d appetib •e, a• O•igen speaks, whatever we can desire. If we hunger and •h••st, he is p•bxlum anime the food of the soul.Chr•st is qu• qu•d appetib •e, a• O•igen speaks, whatever we can desire. If we hunger and •h••st, he is p•bxlum anim• the food of the soule.
