5 You must meditate upon the fullness and richness of the Promises.1 The Promises are the Saints Magazine and spiritual Treasure; they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephes. 3. 6, 7. It is one of the greatest titles belonging to a Saint,2 to be styled an Heir of the Promises. That man who hath a right to all the Promises in the Bible,3 is the richest man in the world. For God is his (and he that hath him that hath all things, hath all things) Christ is his (and Christ is all in all) the Spirit is his (and he who hath the Spirit, hath all good things, as appears by comparing Mat. 7. 11. with Luke 11. 13. In the first it is said—How much more shall your Father in Heaven, give good things, &c. In the second, How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit, &c.) Grace, and Glory, and all outward good things are his. It is said of the Great Duke of Guise, that (though he was poor, as to his present ⟨p. 145⟩possessions) yet he was the richest man in France, in Bills, Bonds, and Obligations, because he had engaged all the Noble-men in France unto himself, by preferring of them. A true and real Christian is the richest man in the World in Promises and Obligations, for he hath the Great God engaged by promise to be his God, and the God of his. As Charles the first, commanded his Herald in a challenge to Francis the first, King of France, to proclaim him with all his titles, stilling him Emperor of Germany, King of Castile, Aragon, Naples, Sicily, &c. But Francis commanded his Herald to call him so often King of France, as the other had titles by all his Countries; implying, that France alone was more worth than all his Countries. So when a wicked man brags of his Lordships, and great possessions, when he boasteth of his thousands a year, a child of God may say, God is mine, God is mine, &c. I am ⟨p. 146⟩richer than all the wicked men in the world.
5 You must meditate upon the fulnesse and richness of the Promises.1 The Promises are the Saints Magazine and spiritual Treasure; they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephes. 3. 6, 7. It is one of the greatest titles belonging to a Saint,2 to bee stiled an Heir of the Promises. That man who hath a right to all the Promises in the Bible,3 is the richest man in the world. For God is his (and hee that hath him that hath all things, hath all things) Christ is his (and Christ is all in all) the Spirit is his (and hee who hath the Spirit, hath all good things, as appears by comparing Mat. 7. 11. with Luke 11. 13. In the first it is said—How much more shall your Father in Heaven, give good things, &c. In the second, How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit, &c.) Grace, and Glory, and all outward good things are his. It is said of the Great Duke of Guise, that (though hee was poore, as to his present ⟨p. 145⟩possessions) yet hee was the richest man in France, in Bills, Bonds, and Obligations, because hee had ingaged all the Noble-men in France unto himselfe, by preferring of them. A true and real Christian is the richest man in the World in Promises and Obligations, for hee hath the Great God ingaged by promise to bee his God, and the God of his. As Charles the first, commanded his Herald in a challenge to Francis the first, King of France, to proclaim him with all his titles, stiling him Emperour of Germany, King of Castile, Arragon, Naples, Sicily, &c. But Francis commanded his Herald to call him so often King of France, as the other had titles by all his Countries; implying, that France alone was more worth than all his Countries. So when a wicked man brags of his Lordships, and great possessions, when hee boasteth of his thousands a year, a childe of God may say, God is mine, God is mine, &c. I am ⟨p. 146⟩richer than all the wicked men in the world.
- 1The fifth meditation, meditate on the richness of the Promises.
- 2Heb. 6: 17.
- 3Qui habet habentem omnis, haber omnia.
