Gentiles, 1 Tim. iii. 16. a people that feemed to be loft in the darknefs of idolatry; yet even for them Chrift was given by the Father, "Afk of me (faith he) and I will give thee the Heathen for "thine inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth for thy " poffeffion."

Secondly, Chrift, the defire of all nations, plainly notes the fufficiency that is in him, to fupply the wants of the whole world; as the fun in the heavens fuffices all nations for light and influence, fo doth the Sun of righteousness fuffice for the redemption, justification, fanctification and falvation of the people of God all over the world; Ifa. xlv. 22. "Look unto me, and be ye faved, all "ye ends of the earth.”

Thirdly, It implies the reality that is in godliness. It fhews you that religion is no fancy, as the atheistical world would perfuade us; and this evidently appears in the uniform effects of it upon the hearts of all men, in all nations of the world, that are truly religious: all their defires, like fo many needles touched by one and the fame loadstone, move towards Jefus Chrift, and all meet together in one and the fame bleffed object, Chrift. Were it poffible for the people of God to come out of all nations, kindreds and languages in the world, into one place, and there confer and compare the defires and workings of their hearts, though they never faw each other's faces, nor heard of each other's names, yet, as face anfwers to face in a glafs, fo would their defires after Chrift anfwer to each other. All hearts work after him in the fame manner; what one faith, all fay: These are my troubles and burdens, these my wants and miferies; the fame things myndefires and fears: one and the fame Spirit works in all believers throughout the world; which could never be if religion were but a fancy, as fome call it, or a combination or confederacy, as others call it : fancies are as various as faces; and confederacies prefuppofe mutual acquaintance and conference.

Fourthly, Chrift, the defire of all nations, implies the vaft extent his kingdom hath, and fhall have in the world; out of every nation under heaven some shall be brought to Chrift, and to heaven by him; and though the number of God's elect, compared with the multitudes of the ungodly in all nations, is but a remnant, a little flock; and, in that comparative sense, there are few that shall be faved; yet considered absolutely, and in themselves, they are a vaft number, which no man can number, Matth. viii. 11. "Many "fhall come from the Eaft, and from the Weft, and shall fit "down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom "of heaven." In order whereunto, the gofpel, like the fun in the heavens, circuits the world. It arofe in the East, and takes its courfe towards the western world; rifing, by degrees, upon the

remote, idolatrous nations of the earth: out of all which a number is to be faved, even. « Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands to "God," Pfal. lxviii. 31. And this confideration fhould move us to pray earnestly for the poor Heathens, who yet fit in darkness, and the fhadow of death; there is yet hope for them.

Fifthly, It holds forth this, that when God opens the eyes of men to fee their fin and danger by it, nothing but Chrift can give them fatisfaction; it is not the amenity, fertility, riches and pleafures, the inhabitants of any kingdom of the world do enjoy, that can fatisfy the defires of their fouls: when once God touches their hearts with the fenfe of fin and mifery, then Chrift, and none but Chrift is defirable and neceffary, in the eyes of fuch perfons. Many kingdoms of the world abound with riches and pleasures; the providence of God hath carved liberal portions of the good things of this life to many of them, and scarce left any thing to their defires that the world can afford. Yet all this can give no fatisfaction without Jefus Chrift, the defire of all nations, the one thing neceffary, when once they come to fee the neceflity and, excellency of him: then take the world who will, fo they may have Chrift, the defire of their fouls. Thus we fee upon what grounds and reafons Chrift is ftiled the defire of all nations.

Object. But there lies one great objection against this truth, which must be folved; viz. If Chrift be the defire of all nations, how comes it to pass, that Jefus Chrift finds no entertainment in so many nations of the world, among whom Chriftianity is hiffed at, and Chriftians not tolerated to live among them? Who fee no beauty in him that they fhould defire him.

Sol. First, We must remember, the nations of the world have their times and seasons of converfion; those that once embraced Chrift, have now loft him, and idols are now fet up in the places where he once was fweetly worshipped. The fun of the gospel is gone down upon them, and now shines in another Hemisphere; and fo the nations of the world are to have their diftinct days and feafons of illumination. The gospel, like the fea, gaineth in one place what it lofeth in another; and in the times and feafons appointed by the Father, they come fucceffively to be enlightened in the knowledge of Chrift; and then shall the promise be fulfilled, Ifa. xlix. 7. "Thus faith the Lord, the Redeemer of Ifrael, and his "holy One, To him whom man defpifeth, to him whom the na«tion abhorreth, to a fervant of rulers; kings shall see and arise, "princes alfo fhall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful."

Secondly, Let it alfo be remembered, that although Christ be rejected by the rulers and body of many nations; yet he is the defire of all the elect of God difperfed and fcattered among those na

tions.

And

In the next place, Secondly, we are to enquire upon what account Chrift becomes the defire of all nations, i. e. of all thofe in all the nations of the world, that belong to the election of grace. the true ground and reason thereof is, becaufe Christ only hath that in himself which relieves their wants, and answers to all their need. As,

Firft, They are all, by nature, under condemnation, Rom. v. 16, 18. under the curfe of the law; against which, nothing is found in heaven or earth, able to relieve their confciences, but the blood of fprinkling, the pure and perfect righteousness of the Lord Jefus: and hence it is, that Chrift becomes fo defirable in the eyes of poor finners, all the world over. If any thing in nature could be found to pacify and purge the confciences of men from guilt and fear, Chrift would never be defirable in their eyes; but finding no other remedy but the blood of Jefus, to him, therefore, fhall all the ends of the earth look for righteouínefs, and for peace.

Secondly, All nations of the world are polluted with the filth of fin, both in nature and practice, which they fhall fee, and bitterly bewail, when the light of the gospel shall shine amongst them; and the fame light, by which this fhall be discovered, will alfo difcover the only remedy of this evil to lie in the spirit of Chrift, the only Fountain opened to all nations for fanétification and cleanfing: and this will make the Lord Jefus incomparably defirous in their eyes. O how welcome will he be that cometh unto them, not by blood only, but by water alfo, John i. 5, 6.

Thirdly, When the light of the gofpel thall fhine upon the nations, they fhall then fee, that by reafon of the guilt and filth of fin, they are all barred out of heaven; those doors are chained up against them, and that none but Chrift can open an entrance for them into that kingdom of God: that "no man cometh to the Fa"ther but by him," John xiv. 6. «Neither is there any name "under heaven given among men, whereby they must be faved, "but the name of Chrift," Acts iv. 12. Hence the hearts of finners fhall pant after him, as a hart panteth for the water-brooks. And thus we fee upon what grounds Chrift becomes the defire of all nations. The improvement of all followeth, in five feveral uses of the point; viz.

1. For information. 2. For examination. 3. For confolation. 4. For exhortation. 5. For direction.

Firft ufe for information.

First, Is Chrift the defire of all nations; how vile a fin is it then in any nation, upon whom the light of the gospel bath fhined, to reject

Jefus Chrift? And fay, as thofe in Job xxi. 14. "Depart from us, "we defire not the knowledge of thy ways." To thruft away his worship, government, and fervants from amongst them; and in effect to fay, as it is Luke xix. 14. "We will not have this man "to reign over us." Thus did the Jews, Acts xiii. 46. they put away Christ from among them, and thereby judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. This is at once a fearful fin, and a dreadful fign. How foon did vengeance overtake them like the overthrow of Sodom? O, let it be for a warning unto all nations to the end of the world. He would have gathered the children of Ifrael under his wings as a hen doth her brood, even when the Roman Eagle was hovering over them, but they would not; therefore their houses were left unto them defolate, their city and temple made an heap.

Secondly, If Jefus Christ be the desire of all nations, how incomparably happy then must that nation be, that enjoys Christ in the power and purity of his gofpel-ordinances! If Chrift, under a vail, made Canaan a glorious land, (as it is called) Dan. xi. 41. what a glo rious place muft that nation be, that beholds him with open face in the bright fun-fhine of the gofpel! O, England, know thy happinefs and the day of thy vifitation: what others defire, thou enjoyeft. provoke not the Lord Jefus to depart from thee, by corrupting his worship, longing after idolatry, abufing his meffengers, and oppreffing his people, left his foul depart from thee.

Second ufe for examination.

If Chrift be the defire of all nations, examine whether he be the defire of your fouls in particular; elfe you fhall have no benefit by him. Are your defires after Christ true spiritual defires? Reflect, tempers of your heart. Can I befeech you, upon the frames and you fay of your defires after Chrift, as Peter did of his love to Chrift? Lord, thou knoweft all things; thou knoweft that I defire thee. Try your defires as to their fincerity by the following

characters:

First, Are they vehement and ardent? Hath Chrift the fupreme place in your defires? Do you efteem all things to be but dross and dung in comparison of the excellencies of Jefus Chrift your Lord? Phil. iii. 8. Is he to you as the refuge-city to the man-flayer? Heb. vi. 18, 19. As a fpring of water in a dry place, as the fhadow of a great rock in a weary land? Ifa. xxxii. 2. ment defires are true defires.

Such vehe

Secondly, Are your defires after Chrift univerfal; i. c. is every thing in Christ defirable in your eyes? The hypocrite, like the barlot, is for a divided Chrift; they would be called by his name, but If his holiness and governlive upon their own ftock, Ifa. iv. 1.

1

ment, his cross and fufferings be defirable for his fake: fuch univerfal defires are right defires.

Thirdly, Are your defires after Chrift industrious defires, ufing all the means of accomplishing what you defire! You fay you defire Chrift, but what will you do to obtain your defires? If you feek him carefully and inceffantly in all the ways of duty; if you will ftrive in prayer, labour to believe, cut off right hands, and pluck out right eyes, i. e. be content to part with the moft profitable and pleasant ways of fin that you may enjoy Chrift, the defire of your fouls; then are your defires right defires.

Fourthly, Are your defires after Christ permanent defires, or only a fudden motion or fit which goes off again without effect? If your defires after Christ abide upon your hearts, if your longings be after him at all times, though not in the fame height and degree, then are your defires right defires. Chrift always dwells in the defires of his people; they can feel him in their defires, when they cannot difcern him in their love or delight.

Fifthly, Will your defires after Chrift admit no fatisfaction, nor find reft any where but in the enjoyment of Chrift? then are your defires right defires. The foul that defires Chrift, can never be at reft till it come home to Chrift, 2 Cor. v. 2, 6. Phil. i. 23. The devil can fatisfy others with the riches and pleasures of this world, as children are quieted with rattles; but if nothing but Chrift can reft and terminate your defires, furely fuch restless desires are right defires.

Sixthly, Do your defires after Chrift fpring from a deep fense of your need and want of Chrift? Hath conviction opened your eyes to fee your mifery, to feel your burthens, and to make you fenfible that your remedy lies only in the Lord Jefus ? then are your defires right defires. Bread and water are made neceffary and defirable by hunger and thirst; by these things try the truth of your defires after Chrift.

Third ufe for confolation.

Do you indeed, upon ferious trial, find fuch defires after Chrift as were defcribed above? O, bless the Lord for that day wherein Chrift, the defire of all nations, became the defire of your fouls; and for your comfort, know that you are happy and bleffed fouls at present.

First, Bleffed in this, that your eyes have been opened to fee both the want and worth of Chrift. Had not Christ applied his precious eye-falve to the eyes of your mind, you could never have defired him; you would have faid with them in Ifa. liii. 2, 3. "He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we fhall fee him, "there is no beauty that we should defire him?" Or, as they to

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