-4.38 CHRIST THE WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR. Book 1I. Pardon. It is by his own Blood, viz. that Atonement which he hath made we . come t? have our Sins forgiven. It is he that gives us a Heart to alk it, and a Hand ·to recerve tt. Is Chpf\ /I ll to thee in refpeCl: of every Grace? He gives Faith, it is . he that IS the Author and Fmilher of it; it is he that jheds Love abroad in our Hearts, by the Holy Gho.ft. All Grace IS treafured up in him, all Grace is communicated to us through him. Is he All to thee in the Minif\ry of the Word? It isChrif\ that is preached it. is he that gives Grace to preach, and opens the Ear to hear the Word preached, and ,helps the Soul to recerve the Word. Is Chrift All to thee in Ordinances? The Lord's Supper holds forth his Death, his Body broken, and his Blood lhed. He is the Sum ~nd Subfbnce of it. Baptifm fl1ews his Burial, and his RefurreCl:jon. In Ordinances .or Duties, art thou not fatisfied unlefs thou meeteft with Chrift·Jefus? • 9· Art ~hou willing to ac~ept of Chrift as the Father offers him? Art thou willing ·tO have htm to be thy Pnnce, as well as thy Saviod to deftroy thy Sin, as well .as to fave thy Soul ? 10. Daft thou long to be like him? Art thou as willing and defirous to be holy, as tn ~e happy? .to live to him here, as well as to live with him hereafter? Is every Thing ,m Chnf\, or that belongs to Chnft, precmus to thee? V. Reproof; This reprehends thofe that lay afide, and woulrl build without this ,precious Corner-Stone. Who they are, fee Metaphor, Chrift the Foundation. VI. ,Labor to efteem and highly value Jefus Chrift. What are all Thino-s with– out him ? If he is not precious to thee, nay thy All, all thy Profit by him at Iali: will ,be nothing at all ; what.wilt thou do at Dea~h ? · szu. Some may fay, What ./halt we do to get Chrift? to o.btain him who isfo precious? 1. Let thy Sins go. 2. Let all thy Righteoufnefs go in point of Dependence, do .not truft to that. 3· Let aii ·Confultatior.s with Flelh and Bloqd go, and clofe imme– .diately with Chrilt 4· Improve the Means of Grace God is pleafed to afford thee, attend .upon the Miniftry of the Word. Laltly, Here is Comfort to all true Be– lievers; you that have Chrif\, .have :>11; and let me tell you, you can never have lefs than all, for this precious Stone can never be taken away from yo~, you having made the blelfed Chqice, that one ;J'hing needful, with Mary. CHRIST THE WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR. A>td his Name jhall be called Wonderful, Counfellor, &c. !fa. ix. 6. COUNSEL I. 0 R, is a Word of a double Signification, refpeCl:ing two Ranks of 1 Men. ( 1.) Such as appertain to the high Courts of Princes, called Counfei!ors of State. (2.) Such as appertain to the high Courts of Judicature, who arc called Couil– fe!!ors at Law. Thefe two Ranks of Men have their proper Work and Bufinefs pecu– liarly appropriated to them, &c. The firft of thefe Ranks of Men are m Counfd with the King, to make and elhbli!b Laws ; therefore called Elders, or Senators, &c. 2. The proper Work and BuGnefs of the fecond Rank or Order of Me~ 1s to unfold and plead Law; therefore called B.arrifters or Counfel!ors, &c. Many 1 hmgs belong– ina to each Station, do very fairly agree to the Son of God, who therefore rs not unfitly called Wo.nderful, Cormfellor, &c. Luke ii. 47· Wonderful, becauf~ the greatefl: and wifeft that ever was. Counfel!or, becaufe hiS Place, Work, and C1rcumthnces 'agree thereto, as appears in t~efe' following ConGderations. C0 UNSELL0 R. J. so'ME Counfdlors are of a noble Extraction, well def– ,cended, which gives them Advan– ,tage abo:ve others. Such have a .double Adyantage. I. In refpeCl: of Honor. 2. In refpeCl: of Edu– .cation. Men bafely or meanly ,born <\,nd d.efcended, are feldom o.r PARALLEL. I. THE Lord Jefus is of an high and fublime Extraction, well defcended according to the Flefl1, of the Blood royal, of the Lineage and Stock of Da'!Jid, the King of Ifrael: And in refpeCl: of his Divinity, the eternal Son of God, Pojfeffor of Heavw and Earth; he is Lord of the Angels, and King of Saints and Nations; and a)fo King of all the Kings of the Earth; le that comes
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