thing by refifting Chrift's gofpel and government; hating his fervants, and by fcorning his ways? or doth it make the crowns fit fafter on the kings heads? I will leave you to judge of this. But beloved, Chrift is the defire of all nations. And that I fhall fhew in five particulars; that though Jefus Chrift be not actively defired by all nations, yet he is rightly filed, the defire of all nations.

First, Becaule he is moft defirable in himfelf, and all things that are defirable are in him. Beauty and bounty is in Chrift, riches and honours are in Chrift, Prov. viii. 18. Jefus Chrift is the treasure hid in the gospel, the pearl of great price, he is the fun in the firmament of the fcriptures, whom to know is everlasting life. He is a fpring full of the water of life, a hive of fweetnefs, a magazine of riches, a river of pleasures, wherein you may bathe your fouls to all eternity. O he is fulness and fweetnefs, the chiefeft among ten thoufand, Cant. v. 10. He is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst defire are not to be compared to him, Prov. iii. 15. Alas! what are all the crowns and kingdoms of the world, all the thrones and fepters of kings to Chrift? I fay what are all the treafures of the eaft, the gold of the weft, the spices of the fouth, and the pearls of the north to him? This or whatfoever thou doft imagine, are not to be compared unto bleffed Jefus. Be

loved,.

loved, the glories and excellencies of Christ excel all others; as all waters meet in the fea, and as all the lights meet in the fun; fo all the perfections and excellencies of all the faints and angels, meet in Chrift. Nay, firs, Chrift hath not only the holiness of angels, the loveliness of faints, and the treafures of heaven, but also the fulness of the god-head, and the riches of the deity are in him, Col. i. 19. For it pleafed the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell; fulness of grace, fulness of knowledge, fulness of love, fulness of glory: He is lovely to the Father, lovely to the angels, lovely to the faints, and lovely to the foul; and therefore he may well be called the defire of all nations, for all defirable things are in him.

Secondly, Jefus Chrift is called the defire of all nations, becaufe his defire are after all nations, tho' he hath no need of them, he hath thousands of angels before him; and ten thoufands daily miniftering unto him; yet fuch infinite love doth he bear to the fons of men, in whom there is no lovelinels, that he himself faith, My delight is with the fons of men, Prov. viii. 31. That our Lord Jefus hath a strong defire after the nations to convert them, and fave the nations, will appear by three things.

1. By what he did before he came into the world. 2. By what he did when he was in

the

the world. 3. By what he doth now he is out of the world.

1. Our Lord Jefus had a great defire after the poor nations before he came into the world, or elfe he would never have left his crown, his royal court, his fathers bofom, his glorious robes, to come unto this world to be fpit upon and murdered by men; nay, he did not only become a laughing-stock to men, but a gazing-stock to angels. Now beloved do you not think that Jefus Chrift had a great defire after the nations good, that he would leave all his glory, greatnefs, pomp and riches, to come into this world, to be poor hungry, weary, tempted, forfaken, betrayed and fold? But you perhaps may fay, that Chrift little thought his own countrymen would betray him. Why, beloved, do you think he did not know it? yea, he knew it before he came into the world, that the Jews would crucifie him, and that Judas would betray him, John vi. 46. He knew it from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who fhould betray him: Chrift knew it before they did. Alas! our Lord Jefus knew before he came from heaven, what course entertainment he fhould have upon earth. Now, beloved, put all this together, and tell me, had not Jefus Chrift a great defire after us before he came to us; that he would uncrown himself to crown us, and

put

put off his robes, to put on our rags, and come out of heaven to keep us out of hell? he fafted forty days, that he might feaft us to all eternity. He came from heaven to earth, that he might fend us from earth to heaven. The fon of God becaine the for of man, that we the fons of men, might become the fons of God; and all this he did to fave the nations.

2. He had a ftrong defire after the nations when he was in the world. O! Chrift would fain have faved the nations, healed and enlightened them; therefore he fends forth his Apoftles, Matt. xxi. 19. and bids them, go and teach all nations, the people were in his eye, and upon his heart; and fo in Mat. xxii. Chrift fends forth his fervants, once, twite, thrice, as if he would take no denial, but they would not come. Nay, beloved, our Lord Jefus Chrift did not only fend others to poor fouls, to intreat them to come in, to repent, and believe in their Saviour, that their fouls might be faved, but he went himself and defired them: Nay, that is not all, beloved he cried to them, and faid, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink, John vii. 37. O how earneft was Jefus Chrift with poor fouls to come to him; Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft; Matt. xi. 23. So in Luke xii, 23 Go to the high-ways, and compel them

to

to come in, that my house may be full. Do you fee this, chriftians? What vehement defires Jefus Chrift had after the nations and fouls of men, that he might for ever make them happy when he was in the world, and he hath the fame defire ftill: How often would Jefus Chrift have healed the Jews, that poor nation, as he himself fpeaketh in Mat. xxiii. 37. How often would I have gathered my children together, as a hen gathereth her young ones, and you would not? Nay, when he had done all this, he doth not leave them, but weeps over them, his eyes were wet because their eyes were dry. So that it is clear by what Chrift did when he was in the world, that he desired much the healing and converting of nations. 1. In his bearing with them. 2. In his proffers unto them.

3. He hath a great defire after the nations. now he is out of the world, tho' he be gone to heaven, entered into glory, and at the right hand of the Father; yet I fay, his defires are as much after poor fouls as ever. This will appear by two things.

1. In his forbearance and long fufferance, Oh! how long hath Jefus Chrift born with the Tinful nations, and yet he bears with them ftill, notwithstanding they have broke his laws, defpifed his golpel, contemned his ordinances, and shed his faint's blood, grieved his fpirit, and abufed his mercies! This and much more have they done, and yet he they done, and yet he

fpareth