THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS. HE IS ALTOGETHER LOVELY.-Canticles 5, last verse.

Out of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, comes bet-> ter and sweeter honey, than out of Sampson's lion; that is the sweetest honey which we suck out of Christ's hive: for the face of none is so comely in a saint's eye, as the face of Christ; and the voice of none is so pleasant, in a saint's ear, as the voice of Christ: O Christian, the God whom thou servest" = is so excellent, that no good can be diminished in him. He makes happy, and is not the less happy; he shows mercy to the full, and yet remains full of mercy. O come, eat and drink abundantly! O beloved, there is no fear of excess here, though one drop of Christ be sweet, yet the deeper the sweeter.

The wine that Christ draws, is the best wine that a Christian drinks: this whole book of Canticles is bespangled with the praises of Jesus Christ: the subject of this book, is a declaration of the mutual intercourse of love and affection between Christ and his church: what spiritual entertainment is given on both sides, with the sweet content that they have ineach other's beauty: here you may see the King in his glory, the Spouse in her beauty: here you may see Christ giving her sweet promises, adorning her with sundry excellencies; communicating his love, and commending her graces: here you may also see the charch even ravished with the consideration and

contemplation of Christ's love and beauty: His beauty is taking, his love is ravishing, his voice is pleasing, his goodness is drawing, his manifestation is enticing; he is the beloved Son, and the Son of love; he is nothing but love to those that are his love.

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

Brethren and Beloved, you have a glorious de-. scription of Christ in this chapter, and that from v. 10 to 16, where the Spouse is setting forth the riches, the dignity, the excellency, the beauty, the ma→ jesty, the glory, the preciousness and loveliness of Jesus Christ, "He is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers; his lips like lillies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl; his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold: His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars." And thus she sets forth her beloved, and at last concludes with this rare expression, "He is altogether lovely."

This text is a sacred cabinet, which contains in

FIRST, The jewel Christ, in this word HE; SECONDLY, The price of the jewel, altogether lovely.

The observation or doctrine is this, That Jesus. Christ is infinitely and superlatively lovely. He is the most amazing and delightful object. The very name of Jesus Christ is as precious ointment poured forth. It is said that the letters of his name were found engraven on the heart of Ignatius. Jesus. Christ is in every believer's heart, and nothing can do better there, for he is altogether lovely. That Jesus Christ is transcendently lovely, will appear four manner of ways: First, By titles.

Secondly, By types.
Thirdly, By resemblances.
Fourthly, By demonstrations.

I shall speak only to the first of these. Our Lord Jesus hath seven famous and lovely titles which are as so many jewels of his crown.

First. The desire of all nations.
Secondly, The King of Kings.
Thirdly, The everlasting Father
Fourthly, The Mighty God.
Fifthly, The Prince of Peace.
Sixthly, The Elect Precious.
Seventhly, Wonderful.

We will begin with the first of these famous titles, viz: The desire of all nations.

This you have in the second of Haggai and 7th verse. And the desire of all nations shall come.

But you shall say how is Christ the desire of all nations? Do not all the nations abhor him, and say We will not have this man to rule over us? The kings of the earth set themselves; and rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed, Psal. ii, 2. The kings of the earth are afraid least the government of Christ should unking them; the rulers are jealous least it will depose them from their dignities, even the reformers that have adventured all to set it up, are jealous least it will encroach upon their power and privileges; kings are afraid of it, and think themselves but half kings where Christ doth set up his word and discipline; lawyers are afraid of it, least it should compel them to subjection to the law and way which their souls abhor. Oh, how long hath the world rebelled against Jesus Christ, and his government!

But tell me, have the people gained any thing by resisting Christ, his gospel and government, by hating his servants, and by scorning his holy ways; or doth it make the crown sit faster on the heads of kings? I shall leave you to judge of this.

But beloved, for all this, Jesus Christ is the desire of all nations.

And all that I shall show you in five paticulars. Though Jesus Christ be not actively desired by all nations, yet he is rightly stiled, The desire of of all nations.

First, Because he is most desirable in himself, and all things that are desirable are in him.

Beauty is in Christ, bounty is in Christ, riches and honor are in Christ, Prov. viii. 18.

Jesus Christ is the treasure hid in the gospel, the pearl of great price; he is the sun in the firmament of the scripture, whom to know is everlasting life: He is a spring full of the water of life, and hive of sweetness, a magazine of riches, a river of pleasures, wherein you may bathe your souls to all eternity.

The chiefest

O! He is fulness and sweetness. among ten thousand, Cant. v. 10. He is more

precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to him, Prov. iii. 15.

Alas! what are all the crowns and kingdoms of the world, all the thrones and sceptres of kings to Christ? I say, what are the treasures of the east, the gold of the west, the spices of the south, and the pearls of the north to him? This, or whatsoever. thou dost imagine are not to be compared unto the blessed Jesus; beloved, the glories and excellencies. of Christ excel all others. As all waters meet in the sea, and as all the lights meet in the sun; so all the perfectness and excellencies of all the saints and angels meet in Christ. Nay, sirs, Christ hath not only the holiness of angels, the loveliness of Saints, and the treasure of heaven, but also the fulness of the Godhead, of the riches of the Deity are in him Col. i. 9. For it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; fulness of grace, fulness of knowledge, fulness of love, fulness of glory. He is lovely to the father, lovely to the angles, lovely to the saints, and lovely to the soul. And therefore he may well be called the desire of all nations, for all desirable things are in him.