Читать книгу Plain Parochial Sermons, preached in the Parish Church of Bolton-le-Moors онлайн

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Hoping that we all are deeply concerned in this important matter, that we do place a most exalted value on the riches of Christ, and earnestly desire to partake of them, I beg that we may enter together, with humble minds and spiritual desires, into some examination of their nature and excellency; and enquire in what respects, and for what reasons, they are unsearchable.

1. In the first place, what is the foundation of all our blessedness and all our hope, as the redeemed and adopted children of God; as brought from a state of enmity and rebellion, into favour with Him; as having any claim upon His mercy; any prospect of recovering our lost happiness, of saving our souls alive? What, I say, is the foundation on which we expect these marvellous acts of grace? It is, that the everlasting Son of God left “the glory which he had with the Father before the world was,” [26a] and “took upon Him the form of a servant,” [26b] the nature of man: it is, that the “Word, who in the beginning was with God and was God,” “was made flesh” and came and “dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” [26c] Here then, in the very outset, is unsearchable mercy; the immensity of the divine Redeemer’s condescension and love! Who can search, who can understand it? “It is higher than heaven, what canst thou know” of it? Admire thou mayest, and adore and love; but it is beyond the stretch of thy created powers to conceive, beyond the capacity of any creature. The great truth is revealed and the work is accomplished; and here thou must leave it, in humble faith and overwhelming emotion.