All this he did of mere good-will, and offers the benefit thereof unto thee freely.  Yea, he comes unto thee in the word of the gospel, with the blood running down from his head upon his face, with his tears abiding upon his cheeks, as with the holes fresh in his hands and his feet, and as with the blood still bubbling out of his side, to pray thee to accept of the benefit, and to be reconciled to God thereby.

By this we may see his love, in that as a forerunner he is gone into heaven to take possession thereof for us; there to make ready and prepare for us our summer-houses, our mansions and dwelling-places; as if we were the lords, and he the servant.  Oh, this love!

Thou Son of the Blessed, what grace was manifest in thy condescension!  Grace brought thee down from heaven; grace stripped thee of thy glory; grace made thee poor and despicable; grace made thee bear such burdens of sin, such burdens of sorrow, such burdens of God’s curse as are unspeakable.

O Son of God, grace was in all thy tears; grace came bubbling out of thy side with thy blood; grace came forth with every word of thy sweet mouth; grace came out where the whip smote thee, where the thorns pricked thee, where the nails and spear pierced thee.  O blessed Son of God, here is grace indeed! unsearchable riches of grace! unthought of riches of grace! grace to make angels wonder, grace to make sinners happy, grace to astonish devils!

And what will become of them that trample under foot this Son of God?

Christ is the desire of nations, the joy of angels, the delight of the Father.  What solace then must that soul be filled with, that hath the possession of him to all eternity.

Who can tell how many heart-pleasing thoughts Christ had of us before the world began?  Who can tell how much he then was delighted in that being we had in his affections, as also in the consideration of our beings, believings, and being with him afterwards?

Christ was never so joyful in all his life, that we read of, as when his sufferings grew near; then he takes the sacrament of his body and blood into his own hands, and with thanksgiving bestows it among his disciples; then he sings a hymn, then he rejoices, then he comes with a “Lo, I come.”  O the heart, the great heart that Jesus had for us to do us good!  He did it with all the desire of his soul.

When a man shall not only design me a purse of gold, but shall venture his life to bring it to me, this is grace indeed.  But, alas, what are a thousand such short comparisons to the unsearchable love of Christ?

Christ Jesus has bags of mercy that were never yet broken up or unsealed.  Hence it is said, he has goodness laid up; things reserved in heaven for his.  And if he breaks up one of these bags, who can tell what he can do?

It is not exaltation, nor a crown, nor a kingdom, nor a throne that shall make Christ neglect his poor ones on earth; yea, because he is exalted and on the throne, therefore it is that such a river of life, with its golden streams, proceeds with us.  And it shall proceed, to be far higher than ever were the swellings of Jordan.  Rev. 22:1.