be contemptible, yet the matter is comfortable: I hope none will blow out fuch a candle upon earth, by the light of which, themselves may fee the way to heaven; if God had given in more of himself to me, I fhould have given more out to thee, but he looks not for what he gives not: If God may have glory, and the Church edification by these labours of mine, I fhall have my end. Now the good Lord bring thy heart more and more in love with Chrift, who is altogether lovely, that fhortly thou mayeft enjoy enlefs felicity in his bofom. This fhall be his prayer for thee that is,

Thy Servant in CHRIST,

WILLIAM DYER.

SER

SERMON I

The DESIRE of all NATIONS.

CANTICLES, V. 16.

He is altogether Lovely.

UT of the lyon of the tribe of Judah, comes better and fweeter honey, than out of Samplon's lyon: That is the sweetest honey which we fuck out of Chrift's hive: For the face of none is fo comely in a faint's eye, as the face of Chrift; and the voice of none is fo pleasant in a faint's ear, as the voice of Chrift. O chriflians! the God whom thou ferveft is fo excellent, that no good can be added to him, and fo infinite, that no good can be diminished in him: He makes happy, and yet is not the lefs happy; he fhews mercy to the full, yet remains full of mercy: O come eat, and drink abundantly. O there is no fear of excefs here, though one drop of Christ be fweet, yet the deeper the fweeter.

The wine that Chrift draws, is the best wine that a chriflian drinks. This whole book of Canticles is befpangled with the praifes of Chrift. The fubject matter of this book, is a declaration of the mutual intercourse of

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2

The Defire of all Nations.

love and affection between Chrift and his church; what fpiritual entertainment is given on both fides, with the fweet content they have in each others beauty: Here you may fee the king in his glory; the spouse in her beauty: Here you may fee Chrift giving her fweet promises, adorning her with fundry excellencies, communicating his love, and commending her graces. Here you may fee the church even ravished with the confideration and contemplation of Chrift's love and beauty; his beauty is taking, his love is ravishing, his voice is pleafing, his goodness is drawing, his manifeftations are enriching, he is the beloved fon, and the fon of love, he is nothing but love to thofe, who are his love.

But I fhall no longer detain you with a crumb at the door, but carry you to the chapter out of which my text is taken, and so lead you to the cabinet where the jewel lieth.

Brethren and beloved, you have a glorious defcription of Jefus Chrift in this chapter, and that from verie 10th to 16th, where the fpoufe is fetting forth the riches, the dignity, the excellency, the beauty, the majesty, the glory, the precioufnefs, and loveliness of Jefus Chrift: He is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand, his head is as the moft fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven; his eyes are as the eyes of doves, by

the

the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly fet; his cheeks are as a bed of Spices, as fweet flowers; his lips like lilies, dropping Sweet Smelling myrrh; his hands are as gold rings, fet with beryl; his belly is as bright ivory, overlaid with fapphires; his legs are as pillars of marble, fet upon fockets of fine gold; his countenance is as Lebenon, excellent as the cedars. And thus fhe fets forth her beloved; and at laft winds up all with this rare expreffion, He is altogether lovely.

The text is a facred cabinet, which contains in it,

1. The jewel, Chrift, in this word He. 2. The price of this jewel, alltogether lovely. The obfervation or doctrine is this, That Fefus Chrift is infinitely and fuperlatively lovely. He is the most amazing and delightful object: The very name of Jefus Chrift is a precious ointment poured forth. 'Tis faid, that the letters of his name were found engraven upon Ignatius's heart. Jefus Chrift is in every believer's heart, and nothing can do better there; for He is all together lovely. That Jefus Chrift is thus tranfcendently lovely, will appear four manner of ways:

1. By Titles. 2. By Types- 3. By Refembelance. 4. By Demonftrations. I fhall fpeak only to the first of these: Our Lord Jefus hath feven famous titles, which are as fo many jewels of his crown.

1. The

1. The defire of all nations. 2. King of Kings. 3. The mighty God. 4. The everlafting Father. 5. The Prince of peace. 6. The Elect precious. 7. Wonderful. We will begin with the first of these famous titles, viz. The defire of all nations. This title you have in Haggai, ii. 7. And the defire of all nations fhall come. But you will fay, how is Chrift the defire of all nations? Do not all the nations abhor him, and fay, We will not have this man to rule over us, the kings of the earth fet themselves, and the rulers take counfel together against the Lord, and his anointed, Plal. ii. 2. The Kings of the earth are afraid, left Christ's government fhould unking them. The rulers are jealous, left it fhould depofe them from their dignities; even the refor mers that have adventured all to fet it up, are jealous left it fhould encroach upon their power and privileges. Kings are afraid of it, and think themfelves but half, kings, where Chrift doth fet up his word and difcip-line. Lawyers are afraid left it fhould take. away their gains, and the laws of Chrift fhould over top the laws of the land. The people are afraid of it, left it fhould compel them them to fubjection, to that law and way which their fouls abhor. O how long hath the world rebelled against Jefus Christ, and his government!

But tell me, have the people gained any