down, and there be no passage that way. But the covenant of grace is better ordered, and better built; it is made betwixt God and Christ, two divine and ever lasting persons: therefore, "Mercy shall be built up for ever." If it be asked, What is our part of the covenant? Indeed we make no part of the bridge at all: we are only called by faith to pass along by this bridge: this faith is properly no part of the bridge itself, but a taking the bridge, when, in a day of power, we are persuaded to take it; that is, to embrace Christ, and receive him, and then to walk in him; and so to walk along the bridge till we come to heaven, and thus to live a life of faith and gospel-obedience.

7. In Christ we have all things more freely. As the new-covenant bridge is firm, so it is free to all passengers. At some bridges there is money to pay before you be allowed to pass; but there is none here: whosoever will, may come and pass. But the old covenant bridge is still the old price: it requires more money of personal obedience to the law, than you are able to give it; whereas the new-covenant bridge is such a free passage that it requires less money than you are willing to give, Isaiah lv. 1, 2, 3. till God, by a work of humiliation, let you see your empty purse, and make you willing to be saved by free grace, and content to be obliged to Christ for all things, and that because all things that the Father hath are his. You that have a full purse, and are rich and increased in goods, and stand in need of nothing, valuing yourselves upon your good hearts, your good duties, your good endeavours and meanings, your privileges, performances and attainments, you mistake if you expect passage for your money by the old bridge of the covenant of works; know, that you and your money will perish; that bridge will fail you; for "By the deeds of the law no flesh can be justified. All your righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" you will fall into the gulf of wrath. But, for you that are poor, miserable, wretched, blind, and naked, having no money, no grace, no good qualifications that you can see, which indeed is the case with all, though all have not their eyes open to see it; here is a good passage to you, free passage; and the poorer you come, the wel

comer. As Christ hath laid himself like a bridge over the gulf of God's wrath and terrible justice, over which we may pass to the enjoyment of God: so, he hath all things provided for the poorest passenger. Christ is the way to the Father; and there is no fear of want of provision for them that take this way: for, "All things that the Father hath are his."

8. In Christ we have all things more honourably: and this is the honour of all the saints, that Christ is their all; and that of God they are in Christ Jesus, who of God also is made unto them, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, and all things. Here is divine plenty and variety: for, in him, as a Prophet, they have all things necessary for their instruction and illumination: in him, as a Priest, they have all things necessary for their justification; in him, as a King, all things needful for their sanctification; in him, as a Physician, they have all things needful for their healing: in him, as a Surety, they have all things necessary for paying their debt: in him, as a Treasurer, all things necessary for supplying their wants; in him, as a Counsellor, all things necessary for their direction: in him, as a Commander, all things necessary for their protection : in him, as an everlasting Father, all things necessary for their everlasting provision.-Here, indeed, is royal provision, and honourable entertainment. Nothing is wanting where all things are: and surely, if you be a gospelbeliever, who are a hearer of these glad tidings, you will not be standing on dishonourable terms with God. It were dishonourable to a great man, to offer money for a free feast, to which he invites his guests: how dishonourable to the great God is it to stand upon terms and conditions with him? He stands upon no terms with us who have nothing, when he invites us to come and share of all things freely.

God stood upon terms with the Surety, Jesus Christ; terms honourable to law and justice, viz. perfect obedience and complete satisfaction: but now Christ having fulfilled these terms, to the honour of law and justice, therefore God stands now upon no terms with the sinner, but allows him to come freely to him to whom he hath

given all things. This is, indeed, an honourable way; more honour comes to God this way than any other, and more to the poor soul that comes to live upon this glorious and honourable steward, that saith, " All things that the Father hath are mine."

Again, hence let all believers learn to lay all things they want over against the all things that Christ hath: when you think on your guiltiness, look to Christ's righteousness; and lay this over against that: when you apprehend your weakness, then apprehend Christ's strength; and lay this over against that; when you consider your emptiness, consider Christ's fulness; and lay this over against that. Study Christ and your condition together; for, if you study your condition without studying Christ, then you will be full of despair and discouragement: and if you study Christ, without studying your condition, then you will be filled with pride and presumption. If you be ignorant, think upon Christ as a Prophet: if guilty, now think Christ as a Priest; if enslaved, now study him as a King: Christ. hath titles suited to your condition; therefore lay his titles and your condition together it is remarkable, that all the epistles to the seven churches of Asia begin with some title of Christ, suited to the condition of that church; for example, his title to the church of Smyrna Rev. ii. 8. is, The first and the last, that was dead and is alive;' why so? Because they were to suffer hard things, and were called to be faithful unto death, and so on; he shews that he hath titles suited to every case. Thus, set you his names and titles that suit your condition, just over against it, and assure yourselves, that Christ will make good his titles that he is clothed with; if the title be, "The Lord is my shepherd," then I may assure myself, " I shall not want," Psalm xxiii. 1. Thus do you; when you find distress among the saints, then remember his title, "The King of saints;" when there is a disorder among the nations, remember his title, "The king of nations:" when you find darkness overspreading your souls, remember his title, "I am the Light of the world:" when you find death and deadness taking place, remember his title, "I am the re

surrection and the life; when you are reproached, troubled and oppressed, remember his title that he is a " Refuge in time of trouble: a present help." Know that as Christ and the promise is yours, in the gospel-offer and publication, to be believed in, and rested upon; so, Christ is so far yours in possession, as you, through grace improve him, and rest upon him; and the promise is so far yours in possession, as you improve it, and rest upon it. Thus you may be possessed of all things.

Again, hence learn how groundless the complaints of believers are when they complain of wants. Whatever you want, yet still look to him, and you will see you want nothing. Do you say, Alas! I want such and such a near relation? Why, do you complain as long as you have such a relation as Christ living? Will you say, I want a dear child? Is he not better to you than ten children? Do you want a Father as long as your everlasting Father remains? Yea, here is comfort enough even in the case of parting with all things in the world; you may say joyfully, Farewell passing shadows and empty nothings, and welcome Jesus who hath all things that the Father hath, and who invites me to the everlasting enjoyment thereof. Let no extreme difficulty discourage you, and make you think Oh! it is impossible relief can now come: what? are not all things possible to him that hath all things in his hand? Yea, "All things are possible to him that beJieveth" and it is possible for you to do all things through Christ strengthening you, even to overleap the highest walls, to break bows of steel in pieces, and wade through the deepest fords in your way: "What ailed thee, O sea! that thou fleddest? and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob."

O believer! let him that hath all things the Father hath, be all things to you: let him be the all of your knowledge, saying with Paul, "I desire to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified:" what Paul, was you not acquaint with the heathen poets, and all the

learning of your age? True; but I count all dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ; in knowing him I know all things. Let Christ be the all of your desire, saying, " Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire beside thee, Psal. lxxiii. 25.-One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple," Psal. xxvii. 4. This is my salvation and all my desire. Let him be the all of your love and delight let him be the all of your esteem, the all of your joy, the all of your gloriation, the all of your life, and the all of your trust and confidence.

Again, O believer: hold your claim to all things only in him who hath "All things that the Father hath;" and reckon yourself sure of nothing but what you have in him. What claim have you to the promises, but in him in whom they are all, Yea, and Amen? What claim to pardon, of sin, but only in his blood? What claim have you to a comfortable life, but in him who is the Consolation of Israel? What claim to a happy death, but in him who hath the keys of hell and of death? What claim to a blessed resurrection, but in him who is the resurrection and the life, and is risen as the first fruits of them that sleep? What claim to everlasting life, but in him who is the true God and eternal life? The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." What claim have you to God as your God and Father, but in him who says, " I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God?"As a sound believer will hold his claim to all things only in Christ: so, he will reckon himself sure of nothing but what he hath in Christ. What you have in the world, you are not sure of for a day nor a moment: what you have in your own hand may quickly be lost, whether they are temporal or spiritual enjoyments; flesh, and heart, and frames, and comforts, and all may fail you; but of all things you have in Christ, you may well reckon yourself sure; they are as safe in his hand as in his Father's; for, He and his Father are one, John x. 28, 29, 30.