Jesus； he saw in Him far more than mind could conceive； or tongue could
tell。 What he precisely intended must necessarily be matter of
conjecture。 But it may be useful to set down in detail some of the
things which most probably were in his mind。 It may； it must； it ought
to be useful。 For after all； let us remember； these 〃riches of Christ〃
are riches which you and I need in England just as much as St。 Paul；
and； best of all； these 〃riches〃 are treasured up in Christ for you and
me as much as they were 1900 years ago。 They are still there。 They are
still offered freely to all who are willing to have them。 They are
still the property of everyone who repents and believes。 Let us glance
briefly at some of them。
（a） Set down； first and foremost； in your minds that there are
unsearchable riches in Christ's person。 That miraculous union of
perfect Man and perfect God in our Lord Jesus Christ is a great
mystery； no doubt； which we have no line to fathom。 It is a high thing；
and we cannot attain to it。 But； mysterious as that union may be； it is
a mine of fort and consolation to all who can rightly regard it。
Infinite power and infinite sympathy are met together and bined m
our Saviour。 If He had been only Man He could not have saved us。 If He
had been only God （I speak with reverence） He could not have been
〃touched with the feeling of our infirmities；〃 nor 〃suffered Himself
being tempted。〃 （Heb。 ii。 18； iv。 15。） As God； He is mighty to save；
and as Man； He is exactly suited to be our Head； Representative； and
Friend。 Let those who never think deeply； taunt us； if they will； with
squabbling about creeds and dogmatic theology。 But let thoughtful
Christians never be ashamed to believe and hold fast the neglected
doctrine of the Incarnation； and the union of two natures in our
Saviour。 It is a rich and precious truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is
both 〃God and Man。〃
（b） Set down； next； in your minds that there are unsearchable riches in
the work which Christ acplished for us； when He lived on earth；
died； and rose again。 Truly and indeed； 〃He finished the work which His
Father gave Him to do。〃 （John xvii。 4）the work of atonement for sin；
the work of reconciliation； the work of redemption； the work of
satisfaction； the work of substitution as 〃the just for the unjust。〃 It
pleases some men； I know； to call these short phrases 〃man…made
theological terms； human dogmas；〃 and the like。 But they will find it
hard to prove that each of these much…abused phrases does not honestly
contain the substance of plain texts of Scripture； which； for
convenience sake； like the word Trinity； divines have packed into a
single word。 And each phrase is very rich。
（c） Set down； next； in your minds that there are unsearchable riches in
the offices which Christ at this moment fills； as He lives for us at
the right hand of God。 He is at once our Mediator； our Advocate； our
Priest； our Intercessor； our Shepherd； our Bishop； our Physician； our
Captain； our King； our Master； our Head； our Forerunner； our Elder
Brother； the Bridegroom of our souls。 No doubt these offices are
worthless to those who know nothing of vital religion。 But to those who
live the life of faith； and seek first the kingdom of God； each office
is precious as gold。
（d） Set down； next； in your minds that there are unsearchable riches in
the names and titles which are applied to Christ in the Scriptures。
Their number is very great； every careful Bible…reader knows； and I
cannot of course pretend to do more than select a few of them。 Think
for a moment of such titles as the Lamb of Godthe bread of lifethe
fountain of living watersthe light of the worldthe doorthe
waythe vinethe rockthe corner stonethe Christian's robethe
Christian's altar。 Think of all these names； I say； and consider how
much they contain。 To the careless； worldly man they are mere 〃words；〃
and nothing more； but to the true Christian each title； if beaten out
and developed； will be found to have within its bosom a wealth of
blessed truth。
（e） Set down； lastly； in your minds that there are unsearchable riches
in the characteristic qualities； attributes； dispositions； and
intentions of Christ's mind towards man； as we find them revealed in
the New Testament。 In Him there are riches of mercy； love； and
passion for sinnersriches of power to cleanse； pardon； forgive； and
to save to the uttermostriches of willingness to receive all who e
to Him repenting and believingriches of ability to change by His
Spirit the hardest hearts and worst charactersriches of tender
patience to bear with the weakest believerriches of strength to help
His people to the end； notwithstanding every foe without and
withinriches of sympathy for all who are cast down and bring their
troubles to Himand last； but not least； riches of glory to reward；
when He es again to raise the dead and gather His people to be with
Him in His kingdom。 Who can estimate these riches？ The children of this
world may regard them with indifference； or turn away from them with
disdain； but those who feel the value of their souls know better。 They
will say with one voice； 〃There are no riches like those which are laid
up in Christ for His people。〃
For； best of all； these riches are unsearchable。 They are a mine which；
however long it may be worked； is never exhausted。 They are a fountain
which； however many draw its waters； never runs dry。 The sun in heaven
has been shining for thousands of years； and giving light； and life；
and warmth； and fertility to the whole surface of the globe。 There is
not a tree or a flower in Europe； Asia； Africa； or America which is not
a debtor to the sun。 And still the sun shines on for generation after
generation； and season after season； rising and setting with unbroken
regularity； giving to all； taking from none； and to all ordinary eyes
the same in light and heat that it was in the day of creation； the
great mon benefactor of mankind。 Just so it is； if any illustration
can approach the reality； just so it is with Christ。 He is still 〃the
Sun of righteousness〃 to all mankind。 （Malachi iv。 2。） Millions have
drawn from Him in days gone by； and looking to Him have lived with
fort； and with fort died。 Myriads at this moment are drawing from
Him daily supplies of mercy； grace； peace； strength； and help； and find
〃all fulness〃 dwelling in Him。 And yet the half of the riches laid up
in Him for mankind； I doubt not； is utterly unknown！ Surely the Apostle
might well use that phrase； 〃the unsearchable riches of Christ。〃
Let me now conclude this paper with three words of practical
application。 For convenience sake I shall put them in the form of
questions； and I invite each reader of this volume to examine them
quietly and try to give them an answer。
（1） First； then； let me ask you what you think of yourself？ What St。
Paul thought of himself you have seen and heard。 Now； what are your
thoughts about yourself？ Have you found out that grand foundation…truth
that you are a sinner； a guilty sinner in the sight of God？
The cry for more education in this day is loud and incessant。 Ignorance
is universally deplored。 But； you may depend； there is no ignorance so
mon and so mischievous as ignorance of ourselves。 Yes： men may know
all arts； and sciences； and languages； and political economy； and
state…craft； and yet be miserably ignorant of their own hearts and
their own state before God。
Be very sure that self…knowledge is the first step towards heaven。 To
know God's unspeakable perfection； and our own immense imperfectionto
see our own unspeakable defectiveness and corruption； is the A B C in
saving religion。 The more real inward light we have； the more humble
and lowly…minded we shall be； and the more we shall understand the
value of that despised thing； the Gospel of Christ。 He that thinks
worst of himself and his own doings is perhaps the best Christian
before God。 Well would it be for many if they would pray； night and
day； this simple prayer〃Lord； show me myself。〃
（2） Secondly； what do you think of the ministers of Christ？ Strange as
that question may seem； I verily believe that the kind of answer a man
would give to it； if he speaks honestly； is very often a fair test of
the state of his heart。
Observe； I am not asking what you think of an idle； worldly；
inconsistent clergymana sleeping watchman and faithless shepherd。 No！
I ask what you think of the faithful minister of Christ； who honestly
exposes sin； and pricks your conscience。 Mind how you answer that
question。 Too many； nowadays； like only those ministers who prophesy
smooth things and let their sins alone； who flatter their pride and
amuse their intellectual taste； but who never sound an alarm； and never
tell them of a wrath to e。 When Ahab saw Elijah； he said； 〃Hast thou