The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 4
EPHES. 3. 8.
—The Ʋnſearchable Riches of Chriſt.
NOw the next Obſervation that we ſhall begin with, is this.
That the Lord Jeſus Christ is very Rich.
And the ſecond will be this.
That the great buſineſſe and worke of the Ministry, is to hold forth to the people, the Riches of Chriſt.
We ſhall begin with the firſt Point at this time, namely,
That the Lord Jeſus Christ is very rich.
For the opening of this Point, we ſhall attempt theſe three things.
1 To demonſtrate this to be a truth, That the Lord Jeſus is very rich.
2 The Grounds why he is thus held forth in the word, to be one full of Ʋnſearchable Riches.
3 To ſhew you the Excellency of the riches of Chriſt, above all other Riches in the world.
And then the Uſe of the Point.
For the firſt, That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is very rich.
Firſt, Expreſſe Scripture ſpeaks out this truth. He is rich in goodneſſe, Rom. 2. 4. Or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſſe, that is ready to be imployed for thy internall and To chreſton. His native goodneſſe, &c.eternall good, &c.
Againe, He is rich in wiſedome and knowledge, Col, 2. 3. In whom (ſpeaking of Chriſt) are hid all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge. Chriſt was content that his riches ſhould be hid from the world; therefore doe not thou be As man is an Epitome of the whole world, ſo is Chriſt of all wiſedome and knowledge, &c.angry that thine is no more knowne to the world: What is thy one mite, to Chriſts many millions? &c.
Againe, He is rich in grace, Epheſ. 1. 7. By whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveneſſe of ſins, according to the riches of his grace.
Againe, He is rich in glory, Epheſ. 1. 18. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints. So in Chap. 3. 16. That he would grant unto you according to the riches of his glory, to be ſtrengthned with might by his ſpirit in the Nec Chriſtus nec coelum patitur hyperbolem. Neither Chriſt nor heaven can be hyperbolized.inner man. So in Phil. 4. 19. But my God ſhall ſupply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Chriſt Jeſus. The riches of glory are unconceiveable riches: Search is made through all the bowells of the earth, for ſomething to ſhadow it by: The riches of this glory is fitter to be believed, then to be diſcourſed of, as ſome of the very Heathens have acknowledged.
But ſecondly, As expreſſe Scripture ſpeaks out this truth, That Christ is very rich, ſo there are eight things more that doe with open mouth ſpeak out Chriſt to be very rich.
Firſt, You may judge of his riches, by the dowry and portion his father hath given him. In Pſal. 2. 7. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee; aske of me, and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion. He is the heir of all things, all things above and below, in heaven and earth, are his. Heb. 1. 2. God hath in theſe laſt dayes ſpoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed Heire of all things. Chriſt is the richeſt Heire in heaven and earth: Men cry up this man to be a good match, and that, and why ſo? but becauſe they are great Heires. Ah! but what are all the great Heires of the world, to this Heire, the Lord Jeſus? Joſeph gave Portions to all his brethren, but to Benjamin a Portion five times as good as what he gave the reſidue: So the Lord ſcatters Portions among the Sons of men, he gives braſſe to ſome, gold to others; temporalls to ſome, ſpiritualls to others, but the greateſt portion of all, he hath given into the hands of Chriſt, whom he hath made the Heire of all things. Rev. 11. 15. And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great voyces in heaven, ſaying, The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reigne for ever and ever. So in Chap. 19. 11, 12. And I ſaw heaven opened, and behold a white Horſe, and he that ſat upon him was called, faithfull and true, and in righteouſneſſe he doth judge, and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many Crownes. (Mark that) what are Princes ſingle Crownes, and the Popes tripple Crowne to Chriſts many Crownes? Certainly he muſt be very rich, that ha's ſo many Kingdomes and Crownes; waite but a while, and you ſhall ſee theſe Scriptures made good, &c.
Secondly, You may judge of his riches, by his Keeping open houſe for the reliefe and ſupply of all created creatures, both in heaven and in earth.Craſſus was ſo rich, that he maintain'd a whole Army with his owne Re…enues: …ut what is this to what Jeſus does? &c. Pſal. 145. 16.
You look upon thoſe as very rich, that keep open houſe for all commers and goers; why, ſuch a one is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he keeps open houſe for all commers and goers, for all created creatures both in heaven and earth. Pſal. 104. 24. The earth is full of thy riches, ſo is the great and wide ſea, where are things creeping innumerable, both ſmall and great. He opens his hand, and he ſatisfies every living creature, ſayes the Pſalmiſt. So Iſa. 55. 1. Ho every one that thirſteth let him come and buy wine and milke without money, and without price; wherefore doeſt thou lay out thy money for that which is not bread, and thy ſtrength for that which doth not profit? All Creatures, high and low, honourable and baſe, noble and ignoble, bleſſed and curſed, are fed, at the coſt and charge of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: They are all fed at his Table, and maintained by what comes out of his treaſury, his purſe. All Angels and Saints above, and all Saints and ſinners below, are beholding to Chriſt for what they injoy. Oh the multitudes, the numberleſſe number of thoſe that live upon the coſt and charge of Chriſt! Can you number the Stars of heaven? Can you number the ſands upon the ſea-ſhore? Then may you number the multitudes, the millions of Angels and men that are maintained upon the coſt and charge of the Lord Jeſus. In Col. 1. 16, 17. For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, viſible and inviſible, whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things conſiſt.
Thirdly, You may judge of the riches of Chriſt by The time that he hath fed and cloathed, cheriſhed and maintained ſo many innumerable millions of Angels and men,
He hath maintained his Court above and below, upon his owne coſt and charge, for almoſt ſix thouſand years. Oh to keep ſuch a multitude, if it were but for a day, would ſpeak him out to be richer then all the Princes in the World: But to keep ſo many millions, and to keep them ſo long, what do's this ſpeak out, but that Chriſt is infinitely rich, rich in goodneſſe and mercy. It would begger all the Princes on earth, to keep but one day the leaſt part of thoſe that Chriſt maintaines every day, &c.
But Fourthly, You may judge of the riches of Chriſt by this, That he doth not onelyonly inrich all the Saints, but all of the Saints.
That is, He inriches all the faculties of their ſoules, he inriches their underſtandings with glorious light, their conſciences with quickneſſe, pureneſſe, tenderneſſe, and quietneſſe; and their wills with holy intentions, and heavenly reſolutions, and their affections of love, joy, feare, &c. with life, heat, and warmth, and with the beauty and glory of the moſt ſoulinriching, ſoule-delighting, ſoule-raviſhing, and ſoule-contenting objects, &c. All Saints experiences ſeale to this truth, and therefore a touch ſhall ſuffice, &c.
Fifthly, Judge of the riches of Chriſt, by this, That notwithſtanding all the vaſt expence and charge that he is at, and hath been at for ſo many millions of thouſands, and that for neare ſix thouſand yeares, yet he is never the poorer, his purſe is never the emptier.
There is ſtill in Chriſt a fullneſſe of Abundance, and a fullneſſe of Redundance, notwithſtanding all that he hath expended. It were blaſphemy to think that Chriſt ſhould be a penny the poorer by all that he hath laid out for the relief of all thoſe that have their dependance upon him. Col. 1. 19. It pleaſed the father that in him ſhould all fullneſſe dwell: Not ſtay or abide a night, or a day, and away, but ſhould They ſay 'tis true of the Oyle at Rhemes, That though it be continually ſpent in the inauguration of their Kings of France, yet it never waſteth. I am ſure though all Creatures ſpend continually on Chriſts ſtock, yet it never waſteth.dwell: The Sun hath not the leſſe light, for filling the ſtars with light. A Fountaine hath not the leſſe for filling the leſſer veſſels. There is in Chriſt (Plenit…do fontis) The fullneſſe of a fountaine: The overflowing Fountaine powres out water abundantly, and yet remaines full; why, the Lord Jeſus is ſuch an overflowing Fountaine, he fills all, and yet remaines full. Chriſt ha's the greateſt worth and wealth in him, as the worth and value of many pieces of ſilver is in one piece of gold, ſo all his petty excellencies ſcattered abroad in the Creature, are united to Chriſt; yea, all the whole volume of perfections, which is ſpread through Heaven and Earth, is Epitomized in him, &c.
Sixthly, The Lord Jeſus is Generally rich; and that ſpeaks him out to be rich indeed, he is generally rich.
You have few perſons that are generally rich, that is, a rich man indeed, that is generally rich, that is, that is rich in money, and rich in Land, and rich in Commodities, and rich in Jewels, &c. Now the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is one that is generally rich; he is rich in all ſpiritualls, he is rich in goodneſſe, rich in wiſedome and knowledge, he is rich in grace, and rich in glory: Yea, he is generally rich in reſpect of temporalls, He is the Heire of all things; he is the Heire of all the Gold in The Philoſopher once ſaid (Solus ſapiens dives) OnelyOnly the wiſe man is the rich man, &c.the world, and of all the Silver, and of all the Jewels, and of all the Land, and of all the Cattell in the world, as you may ſee by comparing ſome Scriptures together, Hoſ. 2. 5, 8, 9. For their Mother hath played the Harlot, ſhe that conceived them hath done ſhamefully, for ſhe ſaid, I will goe after my Lovers that gave me my bread and my water, and my wool, and my flax, my Oyle, and my drinke. But mark what followes, verſ. 8, 9. For ſhe did not know that I gave her corne, and wine, and Oyle, and multiplied her ſilver and gold, which they prepared for Baal; therefore will I returne, and take away my Corne in the time thereof, and my wine in the ſeaſon thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax, given to cover her nakedneſſe. So in Pſal. 24. 1. The earth is the Lords, and the fullneſſe thereof, the round world, and all that dwell therein: All others are either Uſurpers, or Stewards. 'Tis the Lord Jeſus that is the great Landlord of Heaven and Earth. So in Pſal. 50. 8, 9, 10. I will not reprove thee for thy ſacrifices, or thy burnt-offrings, I will take no Bullock out of thy houſe, nor He-goats out of thy folds, for every Beaſt of the Forreſt is mine, and the Cattell upon a thouſand hills. I know all the Fowles of the mountaines, and the wild Beaſts of the fields are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee, for the world is mine, and the fullneſſe thereof. 'Tis all mine, ſaith the Lord.
Thus you ſee that the Lord is generally rich, rich in houſes, in Lands, in Gold, in Silver, in Cattell, &c. in all temporalls as well as in ſpiritualls; but where will you find a man that is generally rich, either in ſpiritualls, or temporalls. 'Tis true, you may find one Chriſtian rich in one grace, and another Chriſtian rich in another, but where will you find a Chriſtian that is generally rich, that is rich in every grace? that is rich in knowledge, in faith, in love, in wiſedome, in humility, in meekneſſe, in patience, in ſelfe-denyall. Abraham was rich in Faith, and Moſes was rich in Meekneſſe, and Job was rich in Patience, and Joſhua was rich in Courage, and David Gregory the Great, was wont to ſay, That he was poor, whoſe ſoul was void of grace, not whoſe Coffers were empty …ſ money.was rich in Ʋprightneſſe, &c. But where will you find a Saint that's rich in all theſe graces? Or where will you find a man that is generally rich, in reſpect of temporalls, as to be rich in lands, and rich in moneys, and rich in wares, and rich in Jewels, &c. But now the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is generally rich, both in reſpect of ſpiritualls, and temporalls. In having nothing I have all things (ſaith one) becauſe I have Chriſt, having therefore all things in him, I ſeeke no other reward, for he is the univerſall reward, &c.
Seventhly, You may judge of the riches of Chriſt, by the Tribute and Rent that's due to him.
He is the great Landlord and owner of all that Angels and Quicqu…d eſi d…bes …cami, Quicquid …otes, debes redimenti. Bern.men poſſeſſe above and below: All created Creatures are but Tennants at will to this rich Land-lord, the Lord Jeſus: He puts out and puts in as he pleaſes; he lifts up one, and caſts downe another; he throwes downe the mighty, and ſets up the needy, according to the pleaſure of his owne will; Pſal. 113. 7. Pſal. 148. 14. Luke 1. 52.Whom he will he deſtroyes, and whom he will he keeps alive: whom he will he binds, and whom he will he ſets at liberty; whom he will he exalts, and whom he will he abaſes; whom he will he makes happy, and whom he will he makes miſerable, &c. The Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 148. upon this account calls upon all Celeſtiall and Terreſtiall Creatures, to pay their Tribute of Praiſe to the Lord: He ha's given them all their beings, and he maintaines them all in the beings that he ha's given them.
The Ancient Hebrewes (as Joſephus relates) ſet marks and tokens ſometimes on their Armes, ſometimes at their Gates, to declare to all the world the Tribute and Praiſe that was due to the Lord for all his benefits and favours ſhew'd unto them. Bernard ſaith, We muſt imitate the Birds, who morning and evening, at the riſing and ſetting of the Sun, omit not to pay the debt of praiſe that is due to their Creator.
Eighthly, and laſtly, Judge of the riches of Chriſt, by the Multiplicity and variety of temporall and ſpirituall Gifts Chriſt ſaith to the believe…, as the King of Iſrael ſaid▪ to the King of Syria, I am thine, and all that I have, 1 Kings 20 4. This is a…vearium div…ni mellis, an hive fu…l of Divin… comfort.and Rewards that he ſcatters among the children of men.
He gives honours to thouſands, and riches to thouſands, and Peace to thouſands, and Pardons to thouſands, and the joyes and comforts of the Holy Ghoſt to thouſands; there's not a moment that paſſes over his head, but he is a ſcattering of Jewels up and downe the world; he throwes ſome into one boſome, and others into others, but the beſt into the boſome of his Saints. Oh the abundance of peace, the abundance of joy and comfort! Oh the fear, the faith, the love, the kindneſſe, the goodneſſe and ſweetneſſe, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſcatters up and downe among the precious Sons and Daughters of Zion, beſides all temporall favours. There's not a Saint that receives ſo much as a cup of cold water, but Mat. 10. 42. The Duke of Bu…gandy gave 1 poor man a great rewa…d, for offering him a R…pe Root, being the beſt preſent the poor man had: And ſurely ſo w…ll God bountifully reward the leaſt ſev…urs ſhew'd to his.Chriſt rewards it abundantly into the boſome of the giver. By all which you may well judge, that certainly the Lord Jeſus is very rich, for if he were not, he could never hold out in ſcatterring of rich rewards among ſo many millions, and for ſo many thouſand years as he hath done.
And ſo much for the proof of the Point, viz. That the Lord Jeſus is very rich.
We come now in the ſecond place to diſcover to you