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knowledge; and in whom alone they can be seen; and by whom alone they can be opened up to us, which he is doing, by saying, "All things that the Father hath are mine?" O then, sirs, there is enough in him; and how easily can he satisfy the longing soul, and fill the hungry with good things? Nothing else in this world can give satisfaction to the soul: he was a fool that said, when he had a full barn, " Soul, take thy rest :" we may as well dream of a coffer full of grace and glory, as a soul full of corn and wine. It is only Christ that hath suitable and satisfying fulness for the soul, enough to give complete, solid, permanent, and everlasting satisfaction.

4. All things that the Father hath are his efficiently, or effectively, so as to make us take and share of that store: he can make us comely, through his comeliness; righteous, through his righteousness; and glorious, through his glory; "I have made thee perfect through my comeliness which I have put upon thee," Ezek. xvi. 14. He imputeth righteousness without works, Rom. iv. 6. “All we, beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord," 2 Cor. iii. 18. There is a power and efficacy in every saving discovery of this glorious treasure; it enriches all that behold it; and completely satisfies all that have a title unto it, and an interest in it.

5. All things that the Father hath are his unchangeably; for, he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, Heb. xiii. 8. Whatever supply you get out of his hand, his stock and store is still the same. Let faith draw never so many bills upon him for this and that supply, at this and the other time, and get never so much rent, annual rent, may I call it, or daily rent out of the stock; yet still the stock and interest both are in his hand; and the believer hath all his store secured for him, in Christ's hand, even when all that you get in your hand is spent: this well of salvation springs up for ever, and that to everlasting life. You may be full and empty by turns; but he is invariably the same; "I am the Lord, I change not."

6. All things that the Father hath are his eternally : they are the everlasting things of the everlasting Father. The fulness of the Father that is his, is a dwelling fulness; "It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. All the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him :" and in him it dwells for ever: hence the blessings he communicates are everlasting blessings; everlasting peace, everlasting pardon, everlasting consolation; so called, because though perishing things may give people perishing comforts; yet the consolations of the Spirit are from everlasting things; such as everlasting love, everlasting righteousness, and everlasting inheritance. Here is a depth to dive for ever into, Ŏ poor mortal that would be happy for ever! all things that Christ hath to give are everlasting and eternal things: because, All things that the Father hath are his.

IV. The fourth thing proposed, was, To shew why all things that the Father hath are the things of Christ; or, wherein appears, the beauty of this disposure of all things.

1. Herein appears beauty and wisdom, that the right and property of no party is lost or alienated. When Christ says, "All things that the Father hath are mine," the Father's right is not alienated. When, among men, an inheritance is conveyed from one to another, then the conveyer denudes himself of his right; and the other only can say, All is mine; but it is not so here; when Christ says, "All things that the Father hath are mine," he grants that God the Father hath all things; and yet he asserts his own title and possession also, they are all mine; yea, when God gives Christ, and all things to us, he still keeps his right to all that he gives, "All things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's," 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. Thus what the Father gives into Christ's hand remains still in the Father's hand; " And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one," John x. 28, 29, 30.

2. Herein appears beauty and wisdom, namely, in the fitness of the great, Trustee to whom all things that the Father hath are committed, that he who is the centre of the glorious Trinity (so to speak) the middle person should be the centre of all things. O sirs, how fit is it that all things should move toward their centre, and meet there! that he should be the Mediator betwixt God and man, the centrical place of meeting, where God and man might have all things common betwixt them; and that he might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him! Ephes. i. 10. All things, good and bad, may be said to be given to Christ's management: all good things are put in his hand to be secured; and all bad things put under his feet to be over-ruled for the glory of God, and the good of his people. None but Christ was capable of such a trust: no mere creature among men or angels were able to bear this glory. It is he that shall build the temple of the Lord, and bear the glory, Zech. vi. 13. None but he was capable to be the general receiver of all things that the Father hath, and the disposer and dispenser of all things.

3. Herein appears beauty and wisdom, that in this dispensation the pleasure of all parties is consulted: even the pleasure of all the persons of the glorious Trinity; it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell," Col. i. 19. The word Father there, is a supplement, and not in the original; therefore, this work of reposing all things, all fulness in Christ, may be looked upon as not only the work of the Father, but the work of the whole glorious Trinity; it pleased the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that in Christ as Mediator, all fulness should dwell: the Father proposed, the Son accepted, the Holy Ghost consented, that in him all fulness should dwell: this was done with rapturous pleasure. It pleased the Father to propose it: for he says, "I have laid help upon one that is mighty;" and, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." It pleased the Son to accept; for he says, "Lo! I come; in the volume of thy book it is written of me,

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I delight to do thy will, O my God!" It pleased the Holy Ghost, to consent; for he rested upon Christ, and furnished him for all his work; "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he hath anointed me," Isa. Ixi. 1. This unspeakable pleasure is expressed, Isa. xlii. 1. "Behold my Servant, whom I uphold; mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth," &c. Also, Prov. viii. 30, 31. “ I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him," &c. As God consulted his own pleasure herein, so the pleasure of all the redeemed, whose eyes are opened to see the glory of this method of salvation: how does it fill them with joy unspeakable and full of glory, that in Christ they have all things!

4. Herein appears beauty and wisdom, that in this dispensation the credit and honour of all concerned is consulted for,

(1.) Here God hath consulted the credit and honour of his own majesty and greatness, in putting all things in the hand of the second Adam, and not transacting any more with man immediately in his own person, now when turned a rebel to his crown and dignity, by transacting immediately with Christ, a person of equal dignity with himself, and giving out all things through him to us. Thus we are taught to keep at a due distance from this infinitely glorious Sovereign, and to come and receive blessings, not immediately from God, but by the hand of Christ the Mediator, who saith, “I am the way: no man cometh to the Father, but by me."

(2.) He consulted the credit of his name, and of all his other glorious excellencies: the credit of his broken law how it might not only be fulfilled, but magnified to the utmost: the credit of his offended justice how it might be not only satisfied, but glorified to the highest. Why, infinite Wisdom knew that there was nothing that the violated law or injured attributes of God could demand, for the reparation of their honour, but what the sinner's Surety, having all things, could answer with ease and to infinite satisfaction. The Creditor well knew that the Surety was not only creditable, but responsible and able to pay all the debt, but mighty

to save, mighty to satisfy, mighty to give all the infinite satisfaction demanded; insomuch, that mercy to sinners vents without prejudice to justice: and the attributes of God seemingly inconsistent, harmoniously meet in Christ; "Mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other;" whereupon God pardons and justifies, so as not only to be merciful, but even just in justifying the ungodly.

(3.) He hath herein consulted the credit of his Son, Christ Jesus, who thus is honoured with a name above every name; all things being his, not only to furnish him for his mediatorial service, but also to reward him for it; because "He became obedient to death, even the death of the cross; wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name," Phil. ii. 9. He is honoured with a goodly train a throng court of supplicants; all things that the Father hath being his, that the gathering of the people might be to him for supply, and that revenues of praise might be given him to eternity. Yea,

4. Herein is consulted the credit as well as the profit of all the redeemed. God never honoured the churh and people of God, nor advanced them to a higher dignity, than by making over to Christ an universal plenitude, as Head of the body the church; and every be-liever may say, my Head, my Husband, my Lord, hath all things that the Father hath; and this is the honour of all the saints, they have all things in Christ: and he is made of God unto them, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, and all things, that he that glorieth may glory in the Lord.

V. The fifth and last thing promised, was, To make application. If it be so, That our Lord Jesus Christ, as Mediator, is possessed of all things that the Father hath; then hence,

1. It is most native to infer, what our Lord Jesus himself demonstrates by it, namely, that there is good reason why the Holy Spirit, by taking and shewing the things of Christ, doth glorify him: even because, all things that the Father hath are his. The things of Christ are glorious things: why? 1. They are the things

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