Book III. OR THE 0 0 S P E L G L 0 R I 0 U S. 529 more that has God and Chrift and a Title to Heaven. H ence the Scripture faith, he lball abide fatisfi.ed; fuch thirfr no more, their inordinate Delire after the World is al– layed, John iv. I 3• I 4· '3· Lafrly, Chrifl's R iches are glorious Riches becaufe they are permane " , they arc lafting, yea, everlafting Riches. Otper Riches fly away like Smoke, they ar= here to Day and gone in a moment with one Spark of Fire or with one Blall: at Sea, but Chrif\'s Riches are durable, Riches and Honor arc with me, yea, durable Riches anrl Righteoufnefs, Pr•v. viii. IS. fi!.tfe.ft. Thirdly, Why is Chrift held forth in the Gofpel to be thus glorioully rich ? Anfw. I. That the Doubts and Scruples that are in Sinners H earts might be removed? is there enough in Chrill, is there enough Grace, enough Pardon, enough Strength? &c. 2. Becaufe the Gofpel holds Chrill: forth to be the Store-houfe of all divine Grace and Bleffings, he is ordained to convey all fpiritual R iches to his Church and to every Member thereof. 3· To allure and engage Souls to love him and clofC: in with him ; how can any re– fufe fuch a Friend, rejeCt fuch a Savior, that is fo beautiful to look upon and alfo fo exceeding rich? 4· That it might leave all Men and Women without Excufe in the great Day; what will they have to fay that rejeCt fuch·a Savior, that turn their Backs upon fuch aChrifr, when they are called to anfwer in the Day of Judgment? 5· To relieve the tempted Soul. 6. To ftrengthen the Faith and chear the Hearts of all that do believe in him. Fourthly, ·The Gofpel is glorious in refpeEt of Chrift, the glorious Objetl: of it, a$ h reveals his glorious Power. Power in Scripture is taken in two manner of Ways, or it lbews a two-fold Power in Chrift, I. A commanding Power, his Power of Sovereignty, or regal Power, that which we call Authority. 2. The Power of working or effeCting that which he would have done. Some have Power to command, but want a Power to effetl: that which they command; cannot ac– complifh what they would have done, but what Chrift commands he can do or caufe ·to be done at his pleafure. I. llball lbew that the Power of Chrift is a glorious Power. 2. Shew why Chrift hath fuch Power. 1. Chrift hath a commanding Power, he hath great Authority, he hath a regal Power or Superiority over all, I. Over Angels. 2. Over the Church. 3· Over the Devils. I will lay upon the Shoulders of Eliakim, the Keys of the Houfe of David, lfa. xxii. 2 2. Keys is a borrowed Speech fignifying Government and legal Power, Chrift hath the Keys of David, Rev. iii. 7· All Power in Rule and Government, in commanding, forbidding, puni01ing, binding, loafing, damning, faving, is in Chrift's Hand : See Chri.JI the Head, and Heir of all Things. Keys of Hell and Death lignifieth Chritl's regal Power over the Devils, and delivering up unto Death and Hell, or keeping out cl~ . 4· Over Men, mighty Men, Kings of the Earth, He ts the only Potentate, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 1 'J'im. vi. 15. They are aJJ his SubjeCts, fnall and mull: fub– mitto him. He hath an univerfal Power, therefore a glor.jous Power; the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the Winds, the Seas obey him, Rev. xix. I6. 5· Chrift's Power is abfolute, he bear~ the Image of God, he i$ God; as you heard before. None hath abfolme Power but God; he cloth what he pleafeth, Pfal. xv. 3· 6. Chrift's Power is juft, therefore glorious in Power; it is not a Might withou( Right; it is in him elfentially as God, and is given eo him as Mediator : In the one 6 T · Refpetl:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=