created all things, visible and invisible; secondly, that he upholds them all by the word of his power; thirdly, that he has redeemed unto himself a peculiar people, through his own blood, who are his church; and he is to them what the head is to the body, the head of authority, the first in rank and dignity, and the head of influence, from whom life, and motion, and sense, are communicated to all his members: for in him they live, and move, and have their being. In all things he is first, or has the pre-eminence; he is Jehovah, the Creator and the Preserver of all things. Jehovah incarnate, the Head of his church, and the Saviour of the body. This is the blessed object of faith; and what can there be conceived beautiful, useful, or happy-what excellency is there, or perfection, which is not in its highest degree in this most adorable God-man? What can a believer want, what can his heart desire, which is not here treasured up for his use? Here is a surety perfectly qualified, as man, to act and suffer for man; as God, to merit infinitely and eternally by what he did and suffered; and as God-man he has now all fulness of wisdom and righteousness, and holiness and strength, and every thing needful for his people's happiness. -Whither then should they go, but to him for every grace and blessing? And to him they do repair, according to the command-" Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." The mise to them who are looking unto him is very extensive" My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." By him they expect a continual supply of all their temporal and spiritual needs; and therefore on him they pro would have their eyes ever fixed, looking unto Jesus. While by faith their eyes are kept steady upon him, they will be discovering something new in this wonderful God-man, and receiving something out of his fulness to strengthen their hopes, and to inflame their affections; he will grow more lovely in their sight, fresh beauties will discover themselves, new worlds of delight will appear; for all the glories of heaven and earth shine in their fullest lustre in his person. The believer sees them at present: for by faith he can see him that is invisible; and although he has not such a perfect vision as they have, who, standing round his throne, see him face to face, yet he hopes to enjoy it soon; and has even now this peculiar pleasure in viewing the glories of his God and Saviour, that he can truly say of him-" This is my Beloved, and my Friend;" here I fix, and on him I rest; I want to look no where else for any good, since it all meets and centres in one object : for it hath pleased the Father and the eternal Spirit, that all fulness should dwell in the Son of God, and he is my beloved Saviour, and my dearest friend; he is the Chief among ten thousand in my affection; yea, he is altogether lovely. The more I live by faith upon him, the more I love him; for I experience such tender compassion in his heart, and such a kind concern for me and my interest, that the love of Christ constrains me to love him again. He endears his person to me by continual favours. I do love him, but not so much as he deserves. I would increase, and abound more and more in love to him, as his mercies increase and abound to me; but a grateful sense of them, and love to him for them, are his own gifts, for which, as well as for his mercies, I must be content to be indebted to him for ever and ever. Lord, shed more of thy precious love abroad in my heart; enlarge it in true affection to thee, and make all that is within me bless thy holy name. Reader, stop a little here, and consider. thou one of these believers? person of Christ? Art Hast thou a warm Dost thou see in heart for the him, and in its highest degree, every thing that is lovely? and art thou growing and abounding in love to him? If this be thy present happiness, thou wilt find many powerful motives to increase it in the 45th and 72d Psalms. Read them, and see whether thou canst so mix faith with what is said in them of the incarnate God, as to conclude with David-" Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee !" If thy heart be thus enamoured with his love, then thou hast got a key to the book of Canticles; for thou art the spouse of Christ. Mayest thou experience what is therein said of the glories of thy heavenly Bridegroom, and mayest thou grow in love to his adorable Person, by finding continual tokens of his love to thy soul in the several offices which he sustains for the dispensing of his favours. In these offices, he is always endearing himself to his people. 2. This is the second thing whereby the fathers in Christ grow in the knowledge of him. There is not a want which sin has brought upon believers, but there is an office in Christ where it may be supplied: and the sense and feeling of that want, leading them to trust in him upon the warrant of his word and promise, will certainly bring them a supply in the hour of need. His offices are many, but they may be all concluded in these five-He is the Saviour, the Prophet, the Priest, the King, and the Advocate of his people. The SAVIOUR, Jesus, a dear name, descriptive of his infinite grace, and sweetly suited to the sinner's wants. Whatever pollution or guilt he has contracted, whatever misery he deserves to suffer in time or in eternity, Jesus is Jehovah, almighty to save him for he was called Jesus, because he was to save his people from their sins. Whatever they stand in need of to make them happy-wisdom, righteousness, holiness, comfort, or strength—it is all, in the fulness of Jesus, freely promised, and by faith received, as it is written, "Ye are saved freely by grace through faith," and saved for ever; for Jesus the author of eternal salvation. The spirits of just men made perfect in glory, are said to be crying with a loud voice-"Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." So that the name Jesus is dear and precious to the saints in heaven; they are happily employed in ascribing the glory of their eternal salvation to the Lamb of God; and the believer has at present a part of their happiness, for Jesus is the Saviour. He can trust him for all the promised blessings of his salvation, and live by faith upon him for the receiving of them. As every moment some of them are wanted, so the Saviour's love in bestowing them is more experienced; faith in him is thereby strengthened, and love to him increased. And these graces will be continually growing, while the believer views the state of guilt and misery from which Jesus has saved him; the state of safety in which he has placed him, and the blessings which he has promised him in life and death, and in eternity. Must not such a Saviour become more precious for continuing day by day such free and unmerited benefits? And who can receive them, sensible of his unworthiness, without rejoicing in such a salvation, and admiring and adoring the goodness of the Saviour? O most blessed Jesus! increase the faith of thy people, that they may glorify thee more by depending upon thee for all the promised blessings of thy salvation. Teach them how to do this, as the great . PROPHET of the house of God. This is another of his gracious offices, suited to the ignorance of his people; for when sin separated them from God, they then lost the light of life, and had no means left in their own power to discover God and the things of God. Hear what two infallible witnesses say to this fact-"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Mind, here is no ex ception, the prophet knew not one; neither did the apostle" All the Gentiles had the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.” To man, in this state of ignorance, what could be so suitable as a Prophet? And what Prophet like him, who, being God, is possessed of infinite wisdom, and, being God-man, has that infinite wisdom for his people's use? He was made unto them wisdom, that by his divine teaching he might enlighten their understandings, and by leading them into all truth might make them wise unto |