A77593:854
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
Ton anexichniaston plouton [sic] tou Christou. The unsearchable riches of Christ. Or, Meat for strong men. Milk [for] babes. Held for th in twenty-two sermons from Ephesians 3.8. By Thomas Brooks, preacher of the Word at Margarets New-Fishstreet.Ton anexichniaston plouton [sic] tou Christou. The unsearchable riches of Christ. Or, Meat for strong men. Milke [for] babes. Held for th in twenty-two sermons from Ephesians 3.8. By Thomas Brookes, preacher of the Word at Margarets New-Fishstreet.
London: printed by Mary Simmons for John Hancock, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
No way to advance the Kingdom of Christ in the world, like this, of improving your gifts and graces to the advantage and profit of others. No love nor pity to the precious souls 1of men, like this. No way to abound in grace, to be rich in grace, like this: Nor no way to be high in heaven, like this. Art thou, O Christian, bound to do good to others, by communicating earthly things? And art thou not much more bound to do them good by communicating of spiritual things? Surely thou art. Why are Christians so often in Scripture compared to Trees, but because of their fruitfulness and usefulness to others? And why are they called Stewards of the manifold gifts of God, but to note to us, that their gifts are not to be enclosed, but employed for the good of others? And why ha's Christ put a box of precious Ointment into every Christians hand, but that it should be opened for the benefit of others? Certainly he that is good, is bound to do good, for gifts and graces are given, not only to make us good, and keep us good, but also to make us, yea, to provoke ⟨p. 191⟩us to do good. Lilmod lelammed, We therefore learn, that we may teach, is a Proverb among the Rabbins. And I do therefore lay in, and lay up (saith the Heathen) that I may draw forth again, and lay out for the good of many. I think they are no good Christians that shall scorn to learn this good lesson, though of a Heathen. And O that all that write themselves Christians, were so good as to imitate the good that shined in many Heathens! To me 'tis sad, that Christians that live and act below the very Heathens, should be offended to hear now and then of those excellencies that sparkled in the very Heathens. I think that is a very evil spirit, that can't endure to hear of those excellencies in others, that he wants in himself. Certainly he is a brave Christian, and ha's much of Christ within, that accounts nothing his own, that he does not communicate to others. The Bee doth store her Hive out of all sorts of flowers, for the common benefit, and why then in this should not every Christian be like a Bee?
No way to advance the Kingdome of Christ in the world, like this, of improving your gifts and graces to the advantage and profit of others. No love nor pity to the precious soules 1