4.  They might hereby likewise be freed from that dreadful plague and evil of jealousy, whereby the soul is oft kept back from coming to Christ:  For they fear he will not make them welcome; they doubt of his love and tenderness, and question his pity and compassion; yea, their jealousy maketh them to doubt of his faithfulness; so that the faith of this truth would cure this jealousy, and deliver the soul therefrom, and open a way for the soul to come forward with boldness and confidence.

5.  They might also be hereby helped to wait with patience, and to be still and quiet under the Lord’s various dispensations; so as they would not fret nor repine against him, knowing that he would prove himself to be Life, even the Life, in his own good time; so that the soul would patiently wait at his door, till he were pleased to look out, and with his look convey life into their dead soul.

6.  They might be preserved hereby from looking out to or expecting any help from any other quarter:  knowing that he alone is the Life; and so that help can no where else be had.  The faith of this truth would guard from any sinistrous ways which the soul, in a time of strait, is ready to run to for relief:  for hereby would it see that neither instruments nor means, nor outward administrations, nor any thing of that kind, can quicken their dead soul; and that he, and he alone must breathe in life into them, as at first, so now again.

II.  May we not see and observe here great matter of admiration at the goodness and rich bounty of God towards his people, who hath found out and condescended upon such a sure, safe, and satisfying way, whereby he becometh all things to his people which they stand in need of; and that notwithstanding,

1.  That we are most unworthy of any such dispensation of grace at his hands.

2.  That we too oft are too desirous of other guests in our hearts beside him:  O how much corruption, sin and death lodge within our souls! and how more desirous are we ofttimes of death than of life!

3.  That we little improve the noble advantages for life which we have granted unto us; yea, many a time we abuse them; and this he did foresee, and yet notwithstanding would condescend unto us.

4.  That we do little express our thankfulness for such mercies.

But not for our sakes hath he done this, but for his own name’s sake:  For noble and holy ends hath he resolved on this course; as,

(1.) That he might be “all in all,” Col. iii. 11, and they nothing; that he alone might fill all in all, Eph. i. ult., and they be empty and nothing without him.

(2.) That he might wear the glory of all; “for of him, and through him, and to him are all things,” Rom. xi. 36, and that no man might share therein.

(3.) That man might be his everlasting debtor, and cast down, in testimony thereof, his crown at his feet, “who sitteth on the throne,” as those did, Rev. iv. 10, and might cry out with these same elders, ver. 11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power,” &c.; and with those, chap. v. 12, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and blessing.”