So that now, all content arises from suitableness, the conjunction of suitables. What suitableness is there between the fulness of the earth, and the better part of man, the soul? Mark; properly a thing is never said to be full, till it be full of that for which it is made: a man's chest, a chest or trunk, is not said to be full of air; though it be full of air; yet notwithstanding, we say the chest or trunk is empty, because it is not filled with that for which it was made. And so take one of these meeting houses; though the place be full of stools, yet notwithstanding, though, I say, the place be full of stools, or full of air; yet we say, the church is empty because though it be full, yet it is not full of that for which it is made, full of people. So now, take a man that hath all the fulness of the earth: because that his soul was never made, his better part was never made for the fulness of the earth, therefore he is said to be empty, in the midst of all his fulness his heart is empty; and the man is an empty man, because his heart is not full of that for which he was made, and that is Christ, that is Christ; the fulness of Christ in him; he is an empty man all this while. Oh but the fulness of Jesus Christ is a soul-satisfying fulness: "He that drinks of the water that I shall give him, (says he) shall never thirst again," John iv. 14. "When I awake (saith the Psalmist) I shall be satisfied with thy likeness," Psa. xvii. 15. And that is the fourth.

V. The fulness of the earth cannot commend a man unto God, or make him more lovely or beautiful in the eyes of God. The poor, vain, foolish stage-player, thinks himself a brave and a jolly man while he is in king's clothes; or while he is acting the part of a king: but the wise spectator, he says, And is he that does but act the king's part, or hath the king's clothes on, so brave a man; what is a king indeed? Beloved, the Lord he sees all we have and do; stands by as a wise spectator; and when men brave it out with the world's fulness; aye, what then is the man, that acts the fulness of Christ? Is he so brave a man that hath a possession here, land, and house; what is he then that hath an eternal inheritance? If there fall but the least drop of the fulness of Christ upon a soul, it makes the soul lovely and beautiful in the eyes of God. The apostle speaking of the adorning of women: says he, at the 3rd verse, "Whose

adorning, let it not be that outward adorning, of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, and of putting on of apparel: but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is incorruptible; even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price," 1 Peter iii. 4. As if he should say: all other ornaments, plaiting of hair, and gold and the like, is of no price in the eyes of God: oh! but a quiet spirit, and a meek spirit; one drop of the fulness of Christ falling upon the soul, makes the soul lovely in the sight of God; is of great price.

VI. The fulness of the earth, is a fulness that is mixed with poison, sin, and the curse of God. What pleasure or delight can a man take in drinking, when he shall consider with himself, that poison is mixed withal? this is good, or sweet liquor, says he, indeed; oh! but there is poison in the cup, and therefore I will not meddle with it. Take all the fulness of the world; and if it be not mixed with the fulness of Jesus Christ, there is poison in it, the curse of God in it, the wrath of God there: and therefore what pleasure, what contentment can a man take therein, without the fulness of Jesus Christ?

VII. The fulness of the earth is a defiling fulness. When a thing is mixed with any thing that is worse than itself, it is defiled thereby: if silver be mingled with gold, the silver is not defiled thereby, because gold is better than the silver: but if the silver be mingled with lead; the silver is defiled, because it is mixed with something that is worse than itself. So now, if a man be mingled with spiritual and heavenly things, his heart is not defiled thereby, because they are better than himself: but if a man's heart be mingled with the things of the world, his heart is defiled; because it is mingled with something that is worse than himself: and the more a man's heart is mingled with the things of the earth, the more defiled it is. As a dog, that hath bemired himself, the more he fawns upon you, the more he dirties you. If you take a dog abroad with you into the fields, and he runs into a dirty ditch, or the river; after he is dirty you will not suffer him to come near you; and the more he fawns upon you, and leaps upon you the more he defiles you. Truly such is the earth's and the world's fulness: as, I say, a dog, the more he fawns upon you, and falls upon you, the more it

defiles you. Oh! but the fulness of Jesus Christ is a pure fulness, a fulness that is full of pureness.

VIII. Take all the fulness of the world, and though it be never so much, it falls under your expectation. Sink your expectations as low as you can, and yet notwithstanding, it will fall below your expectation. As for the fulness of Jesus Christ, raise and screw up your expectation as high as you can, and yet you shall find more therein than ever you expected.

IX. As for the fulness of the earth, sometimes it is better wanted than enjoyed. It may make you miserable, it cannot make you happy. Oh! but the fulness of Jesus Christ, it can never make you miserable, it will certainly make you happy, there is no such time, wherein it is better wanted than enjoyed.

X. As for the fulness of the earth, again, it costs a man, many times, more than its worth. It costs him his time, his precious thoughts, his soul; much is laid out for it, much care to get it, much fear to keep it, and much grief to lose it. Oh! but the fulness of Jesus Christ, it costs him nothing: "Come, buy wine and milk, without money or money's worth," Isa. lvi. 1. Christ gives much, and takes little, takes nothing; it costs you nothing, and having it, you have all.

XI. And again, to add no more of these, take all the fulness of the earth, and though it be never so much: it is not able to answer you with love; to return you love for your love. The greatest, and noblest gift of the world, is love. That is always unworthy of your love, that cannot answer your love again. If you have a full bag, if you have a full table, if you have a full house: these fulnesses cannot answer you with love again; but it can defile your own love. Oh! but the fulness of Christ it can answer you with love for love, it gives you a better love than you brought: it nobilitates, and meliorates, and raises your own love for ever. Behold! this is the fulness, this is the fulness that the saints and believers do partake in, that they do receive of: and they may come to this fulness of Jesus Christ, and they may say, Of this fulness, of this fulness we have all received. As those wicked men, they may go the fulness of the earth, and they may say indeed; of this fulness we have all received; but as

for that fulness we have none of it. Oh! how much better is the condition of a believer, than the condition of a wicked man, though he be never so great or rich.

You that are believers, you do envy at the men of the world, because of their fulness? I pray tell me, would you change your fulness for theirs? Would you change your

condition for theirs?

I pray

And you that are of the world, wicked ungodly men; that have but the earth's fulness, Why do you lay out your thoughts and your time upon such a fulness? a dropsical fulness; a fading fulness; a dying fulness; a fulness that is mixed with a curse; a fulness that does all bemire you, and dirty you: pray tell me, are you able with daisies, and tulips of the world to satisfy your better part? Oh! know you not, that notwithstanding all the earth's fulness, that a wicked man's fortune, I say, that a wicked man's fortune, it lies in a lake that burneth with fire and brimstone? And when you have done all you can, and gathered all that ever you can together; you may go unto your full purses; or unto your full bags; or unto your full houses; or unto your full barns; and you may say: of this fulness I have received. Oh! but you cannot go unto the fulness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and say: and of this fulness my soul hath received. Oh, fool, says our Saviour, when his barns are full, "this night shall thy soul be taken away from thee," Luke xii. 20. And when you come below, in the pit where no water is; then you will complain, and say: Oh, wretch that I was, I might have had of the fulness of Jesus Christ, but I chose rather the fulness of the earth, and if I had had the fulness of Christ, I had been made for ever; but I chose rather the fulness of the world, than the fulness of Jesus Christ, and now I am lost for ever; Oh, I am lost for ever, I have none of the fulness of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, What an encouragement here is then, and so I come unto the second use: and I will not hold you long in it. What an encouragement is here unto all men good and bad, to come in unto Jesus Christ, and partake of his fulness! I say in the second place; here is encouragement unto all you that hear the word of the Lord this day, good or bad: an encouragement unto all souls, good and bad, to come in unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and partake of his ful

ness! Says our Lord and Saviour, "When I am lift up, I will draw all men after me," John xii. 32. Aye, love is a drawing thing. Love is a drawing thing: it draws men and women together into one yoke, that lived far asunder. And what greater love than this, that Jesus Christ should lay down his life for poor sinners? Wisdom, wisdom is a drawing thing; it drew the Queen of Sheba from far to come unto Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here! Riches, riches, wealth, wealth is a drawing thing. Bounty and liberality a drawing thing; it draws the poor beggar to the rich man's door. And behold, here is riches! Oh, there is an infinite treasury of grace and holiness in Jesus Christ. And here is liberality! For there is an infinite propension and willingness in the Lord Jesus Christ, to give out of this fulness unto poor sinners. Oh, hath God the Father exalted Jesus Christ, and shall not our hearts exalt him? Beloved, let but Jesus Christ be exalted in your thoughts and your hearts, and you will stand firm against all temptations, firm against all discouragements, firm against all afflictions.

Firm against all temptations. If temptations come to offer you profit and pleasure; then will you make this answer: no, you bid me loss; for there is a fulness in Jesus Christ; and of his fulness through the Lord's mercy, I have received.

If the devil come and

Firm against all discouragements. tell you; Thou art now a professor, but ere long you will fall away, and prove as great a scandal to religion, as ever you honoured it before. You will make this answer, True, indeed, Satan, I have a backsliding soul, I have a backsliding heart; but there is a fulness in Jesus Christ, and through the Lord's mercy, I have received of this fulness; and therefore I shall persevere in the way that I am in, notwithstanding all thy discouragements.

Firm against all afflictions. If you want this creature comfort, or the other creature-comfort; you will answer: Aye, true, I want friends, I want money, I want credit. Oh! but yet, there is a fulness in Jesus Christ, and there is enough in him; and this fulness, through the Lord's mercy, I have received. Oh, what a drawing, what a drawing argument is here! Methinks the stoutest sinner in all the