their great Mafters: And men have fo cleaved to the perfons of men, that they have catched all breds that have falne from them with admiration and refolution to follow them. This hath beene very offenfive: it hath ftagned the dead and corrupted the living. It is not therefore alwaies fafe to truft pofthume writings, and to fay, This fuch a man held, because we finde it in theBooks published under his name when hee is dead. Yet is there an excellent use of fuch Workes of good men, may truely bee affirmed to be theirs; though time have brought them forth,when their owners have inhabited their eternity.

as

Now Books are of excellent worth not to fatisfic fome greedy Tradefmen, who know how to value them for themselves, though otherwife they care not two pence for the Author, when their owne turne is ferved) but to take up and gaine, the eyes,hearts and times of many who would reade none,except they can read new ones.

This here prefented is certainly the Authors pretended though not for every word (for I cannot promife that, from a Cappy which bath Paffed

paßsed through many hands yet for the full fubStance and fence: and it is as certaine that it is new and fo, apt to invite unto it as a new fahion. It is wondred that it is fo new, when many of the fame Authors are fo old. It furely might have beene fet in the front both for age, and worth. It was preached before many of the reft, and favours of the Authors Learning, Modefty, Piety and Affections to Iefus Christ, and his Church with us. But though it hath beene formerly neglected yet now it is tendred in the Authors owne words and hearty affections, fo neare as I could. You may fee in it a glimpse of the full glory of Chrift, and of that ufe which we make of him as we must receive him to falvation. If it may doe any Service in the Church, 1,into whofe hands it hath falne, am glad. If not yet I beseech you, accept of my good meaning, and be to me as I am to you a Chriftian, aiming more at the glory of Chrift, and peace of the Church, than at my owne profit, Farewell.

J. S.

The

The Summe of this Sermon is this.

1. It propounds the fulneffe of Chrift.

In refpect of his Perfons uncreated. 2 In refpect of his Offices created. 15 As a Prophet,

2 Asa Pricft.

3 As a King.

3 In refpect of his righteoufneffe.

4In refpect of his effects.

2 It maintaines it above the fulneffe in the Saints. 3 It applyes it by foure Corrallaries. Therefore We must be invited to come to him.

2 We must anfwer it with full affections.
3 We must be fatisfied with full Chrift.
4) We mult comfort our felves with the ful

neffe of Chrift,against the fulnelle offin.
4 It propounds the fulneffe of Chrift for us,
Which we must receive if ever we have it.
5 It applyes it for direction of

Judgements above the receite of Grace.
2.Practife.

I(In not deferring our Repentance.
In not being idle though wee are recei-

3

vers.

In going to him from whom we receive. 4 In being affected as receivers.

I (With thankfulneffe for all receits. 2With humility because we are receivers. 3With begging grace by prayers both Private, Liturgics.

Publick Setformes.

wherof Efteeme ofthem.

THE

The Fulneffe of

Chrift for Us.

Or a Sermon upon
JOHN 1. 16.

Of bis Fulneffe wee have all received
grace for grace.

Detonare ab

AINT Auguftine seemes to stand amazed at the mystery which appeares in this Chapter. Calvine faith, that Goddoth heare Thunder from on high. elto. Iunius faith, that he was never ftrucke with an apprehenfion of the Deity, till he read this Chapter: affirming it to bee the first, and chiefest cause of his converfion from Atheisme, to a fincere imbracing of Chriftianity. And in all this Chapter, I

finde no richer and fuller fentence than this, which defcribes Chrifts fulneffe for us: of his fulneffe we have all received grace for grace.

You may be pleased to obferve with me three parts.

1fA fulneffe given to Chrift.

2 Not a repletive fulneffe here, but a defusive fulneffe: that is,not shut up in his owne bankes, but running over for our benefit and ufe.

3 Thefe receites are amplified from the variety ofthem,Grace for Grace.

That is,Chrift hath given us for all the graces which he received of his Father for us,graces anfwerable. As the Seale is faid to give to the Waxe Print for Print, Character, for Character: or as the Father is faid to give to the childe limbe for limbe, member for member, (though not of the fame bigneffe and proportion) fo doth Chrift to us in grace and truth. So that here is a full fhop and many buyers and receivers; choyfe of Wares and precious Commodities: or rather (to ufe the Scriptures phrafe) a full Table, many Guests and variety of Dishes, of his fulnesse have we all received grace for grace.

Note firft, that fulneffe is given to Chrift, and Fulneffe is gi that in foure refpects: In regard of his perfon, of of his offices, of his righteoufneffe, and of his effects.

ven to Chrift,

In regard ofhis perfon he is full, with an uncreatedfulneffe. Mofes could have no communion with this fulneffe, but with his Backe-parts, the

effects