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entrance for them, into that kingdom of God: that " no man "cometh to the Father but by him," John xiv. 6. "Neither "is there any name under heaven given among men, whereby they must be faved, but the name of Chrift," Acts iv. 12. Hence the hearts of finners fhall pant after him, as a hart panteth for the water-brooks. And thus we fee upon what grounds Chrift becomes the defire of all nations. The improvement of all followeth, in five feveral uses of the point; viz.

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1. For information. 2. For examination. 3. For confolation. 4. For exhortation. 5. For direction.

Firft ufe, for information.

First, Is Chrift the defire of all nations; how vile a fin is it, then, in any nation, upon whom the light of the gospel hath shined, to reject Jefus Chrift? And fay, as thofe in Job xxi. 14.

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Depart from us, we defire not the knowledge of thy ways. To thrust away his worship, government, and fervants, from amongst them; and, in effect, to fay, as it is Luke xix. 14 "We will not have this man to reign over us." Thus did the Jews, Acts xiii. 46. they put away Christ from among them, and thereby judged themfelves unworthy of eternal life. This is, at once, a fearful fin, and a dreadful fign. How foon did vengeance overtake them, like the overthrow of Sodom? O let it be for a warning unto all nations, to the end of the world. He would have gathered the children of Ifrael under his wings, as a hen doth her brood, even when the Roman Eagle was hovering over them, but they would not; therefore their houses were left unto them defolate, their city and temple made an heap.

Secondly, If Jefus Chrift be the defire of all nations, how incomparably happy, then, muft that nation be, that enjoys Chrift, in the power, and purity of his gofpel-ordinances! If Chrift, under a veil, made Canaan a glorious land (as it is called) Dan. xi. 41. what a glorious place must that nation be, that beholds him with open face, in the bright fun-fhine of the gofpel! O England, know thy happinefs, and the day of thy vifitation; what others defire, thou enjoyeft: provoke not the Lord Jefus to depart from thee, by corrupting his worship, longing after idoJatry, abufing his meffengers, and oppreffing his people, left his foul depart from thee.

Second ufe, for examination. If Christ be the defire of all nations, examine whether he be VOL. II. X X

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SERM. XIII, the defire of your fouls, in particular; elfe you shall have no benefit by him. Are your defires, after Chrift, true, fpiritual detires? Reflect, I beleech you, upon the frames and tempers of your hearts. Can you lay, of your defires after Chrift, as Peter did of his love to Chrift? Lord, thou knoweft all things; thou knoweft that I define thee. Try your defires, as to their fincerity, by the following characters:

First, Are they vehement, and ardent? Hath Chrift the fupreme place, in your defires? Do you efteem all things to be but drois, and dung, in comparison of the excellencies of Jefus Chrift your Lord? Phil. iii. 8. Is he to you, as the refuge-city to the man-flayer? Heb. vi. 18, 19. As a spring of water in a dry place, as the fhadow of a great rock in a weary land? Ifa. xxxii. 2. Such vehement defires are true defires.

Secondly, Are your defires after Chrift univerfal; (i. e.) Is every thing in Chrift defirable in your eyes? The hypocrite, like the harlot, is for a divided Chrift; they would be called by his name, but live upon their own flock, Ifa. iv. 1. If his holine fs, and government, his crols, and fufferings, be defirable for his fake, fuch univerfal defires are right defires.

Thirdly, Are your defires after Chrift, induftrious defires, ufing all the means of accomplishing what you defire! You fay you defire Chrift, but what will you do to obtain your defires? If you feek him carefully, and inceffantly, in all the ways of du ty; if you will ftrive in prayer, labour to believe, cut off right hands, and pluck out right eyes, fi. e.) be content to part with the most profitable, and pleafant ways of fin, that you may enjoy Chrift, the defire of your fouls; then are your defires right defires.

Fourthly, Are your defires after Chrift permanent defires, or only a fudden motion, or fit which goes off again, without effect! If your defires after Christ abide upon your hearts; if your longings be after him at all times, though not in the fame height and degree; then are your defires, right defires. Chrift always dwells in the defires of his people; they can feel him in their defires, when they cannot difcern him in their love or delight.

Fifthly, Will your defires after Christ admit no fatisfaction, nor find reft any where, but in the enjoyment of Chrift? Then are your defires right defires. The foul that defires Christ, can never be at reft, till it come home to Chrift, 2 Cor. v. 2, 6. Phil. i. 23. The devil can fatisfy others with the riches and pleatures of this world, as children are quieted with rattles; but if nothing but Chrift can reft, and terminate your defires; furely fuch reltlefs defires are right defires.

Sixthly, Do your defires after Chrift fpring from a deep sense of your need and want of Chrift? Hath conviction opened your eyes to lee your mifery, to feel your burthens, and to make you fenfible that your remedy lies only in the Lord Jefus? Then are your defires right defires. Bread and water are made ncceffary and defirable, by hunger and thirst: by these things try the truth of your defires after Chrift.

Third ufe, for confolation.

Do you indeed, upon ferious trial, find fuch defires after Chrift, as were defcribed above? O blefs the Lord for that day wherein Chrift, the defire of all nations, became the defire of your fouls; and, for your comfort, know that you are happy and bleffed fouls at prefent.

First, Bleffed in this, that your eyes have been opened to see both the want and worth of Chrift. Had not Chrift applied his precious eye-faive to the eyes of your mind, you could never have defired him; you would have faid, with them in Ifa. iii 2, 3. He hath no form nor comelinefs, and when we shall "fee him, there is no beauty that we should defire him :” Or, as they to the fpoufe, Cant. v. 9. "What is thy beloved more "than another beloved?" bleffed fouls, enlightened of the Lord; to fee thofe things that are hid from them that perish! Secondly, You are bleffed in this, that your defires after Chrift are a fure evidence that the defire of Chrift is towards you: had he not first defired you, you could never have defired him. We may fay of defires, as it is faid of love, we defire him because he firft defired us your defires after Chrift are inflamed from the defires of Chrift after you.

Thirdly, Bleffed in this, that your defires fhall farely be fatisfied; Mat. v. 6. "Bieffed are they that hunger and thirst af"ter righteousnefs, for they fhall be filled." Prov. x. 24. "The "defires of the righteous fhall be granted." God never raised fuch defires as thefe in the fouls of his people, to be a torment to them for ever.

Fourthly, Bleffed in this, that God hath guided your defires to make the best choice that ever was made in the world: whilft the defires of others are hunting after riches, pleasure, and honours in the world; toiling themfelves, like children, in purfuit of a painted butter-fly, which, when they have caught, doth but daub their fingers: God, mean while, hath directed your defires to Chrift, the most excellent object in heaven or earth. Any good will fatisfy fome men; O happy foul, if none but Chrift can fatisfy thee! Pfal. iv. 6.

SERM. XIII. Fifthly, Bleffed in this, that there is a work of grace certainly wrought upon thy foul; and thefe very defires after Chrift, are a part thereof,

Sixthly, Bleffed in this, that these defires after Chrift, keep thy foul active, and working after him continually in the ways of duty; Pfal. xxvii. 4. "One thing have I defired, that will I "feek after." Defire will be a continual fpring to diligence and industry, in the ways of duty: the defire of the end, quickens to the use of means, Prov. xviii. 1. Others may fall asleep, and caft off duty; but it will be hard for you to do so, whose fouls burn with defire after Chrift,

Seventhly, Bleffed in this, that your defires after Chrift will make death much the fweeter and easier to you; Phil. i. 23,

I defire to be diffolved, and to be with Chrift, which is far "better." When a Christian was once afked, Whether he was willing to die? He returned this answer *, "Let him be

unwilling to die, who is unwilling to go to Christ." And much like it, was that of another, Vivere renuo, ut Chrifto vivam ; I refufe this life, to live with Christ,

Fourth ufe, for exhortation.

In the fourth place, let me exhort and perfuade all to make Jefus Chrift the defire and choice of their fouls. And here ! fall in with the main fcope and defign of the gospel. And Q that I could effectually prefs home this exhortation upon your hearts: let me offer fome moving confiderations to you, and may the Lord accompany them to your hearts.

First, Every creature naturally defires its own prefervation; do not you defire the prefervation of your precious and immor. tal fouls! If you do, then make Chrift your defire and choice, without whom, they can never be preferved, Jude, ver. 1.

Secondly, Do not your fouls earnestly defire the bodies they live in? How tender are they over them, how careful to pro vide for them? though they pay a dear rent for thofe tenements they live in. And is not union with Chrift infinitely more de: firable than the union of foul and body? O covet union with him then fhall your fouls be happy, when your bodies drop off from them, at death, 2 Cor. v. 1, 3. yea, foul and body shall be happy in him, and with him, for evermore.

Thirdly, How do the men of this world defire the enjoyments of it? They pant after the dust of the earth; they rise early, fit up late, eat the bread of carefulness; and all this for very vani, y: Shall a worldling do more for earth, than you for heaven?

* Illius eft nolle mori, qui nolle ire ad Chriftum.

Shall the creature be fo earnestly defired, and Christ neglected? Fourthly, What do all your defires in this world benefit you, if you go chriftlefs? Suppofe you had the defire of your hearts in thele things, how long fhall you have comfort in them, if you mifs Chrift?

Fifthly, Doth Christ defire you, who have nothing lovely or defirable in you? And have you no defires after Chrift, the most lovely, and defirable one in both worlds? "His defires are to"wards you," Prov. viii. 31. O make him the defire and choice of your fouls.

Sixthly, How abfolutely neceffary is Jefus Chrift to your fouls? Bread and water, breath and life, are not fo neceffary as Chrift is; "One thing is neceffary," Luke x, 42. and that one thing is Chrift. If you miss your defires in other things, you may yet be happy; but if you mifs Chrift you are undone for

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Seventhly, How fuitable a good is Chrift to your fouls? comprifing whatfoever they want, I Cor. i. 30. Set your hearts where you will, none will be found to match and suit them, as Chrift doth,

Eigthly, How great are the benefits that will redound to you by Jetus Chrift! In him you fhall have a rich inheritance fettled upon you; all things fhall be yours, when you are Chrift's, 1 Cor. iii. 22. And is not fuch a Chrift worth defiring?

Ninthly, All your well-grounded hopes of glory are built upon your union with Chrift, 1 Cor. i. 21. If you mifs Chrift, you must die without hope. Will not this draw your defires to him?

Tenthly, Suppose you were at the judgment-feat of God, where you must shortly stand, and faw the terrors of the Lord in that day; the sheep divided from the goats; the fentences of abfolution and condemnation paffed, by the great and awful Judge, upon the righteous and wicked: would not Chrift be then defireable in your eyes? As ever you expect to stand with comfort at that bar, let Chrift be the defire and choice of your fouls now.

Fifth ufe, for direction.

Do thefe, or any other confiderations, put thee upon this enquiry; how fhall I get my defires kindled and enflamed towards Chrift? Alas! my heart is cold and dead, not a ferious defire stirring in it after Chrift. To fuch I fhall offer the following directions.

Direct. 1. Redeem fome time every day for meditation; get out of the noife and clamour of the world, Pfal. iv. 4. and feri

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