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operation of God; or, in other words, that he might attain to the resurrection of the dead, or walk by faith as one alive from the dead-justified from all things in Christ, who is his living Head, "the righteousness of the law being fulfilled in him, (in Paul himself,) as walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit:*" in a new spirit, in the spirit of liberty, or of the same mind with the Lord Jesus, for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty;" in the Spirit of his Lord and Master, even in a double portion of his Spirit, if he could have his wish as Elisha had; seeing that "the law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, had made him free from the law of sin and death."

And this is the true doctrine of perfection, a point so much in controversy in the last century, and which does not appear to be well understood, even by Mr. Wesley's opponents: "That I may know him," said

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Paul, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death; if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead: not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.*" Paul wanted to apprehend that perfect state of freedom wherewith Christ, by his resurrection from the dead, had made him free; and for this grand end he was apprehended by Christ: he was taken hold of in effectual calling for this purpose, he was "called to the fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord," and he was "called to liberty." He had not as yet attained this point; but he has dropped a hint that there were some of the church to whom he wrote who were thus perfect: but even these he exhorts to forget the things that are behind, to look

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not so much even at this desirable point in experience, but to reach forth unto those things which are before, to press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION.

THOUGHTS ON THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST.

The unsearchable riches of Christ. Ephes. 3.

Unto you, therefore, which believe, he is precious.

1 Peter 2.

THIS is a subject that, to be properly discussed, would exhaust all the faculties of men and angels to all eternity. To preach or to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ could not, properly speaking, be done, no more than one can know what passeth knowledge. When Paul prayed that the saints at Ephesus might know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, it was that they might know something of the wonderful nature of that love, which in its full extent

could not be known-both are his comprehensive way of speaking. Christ, the riches of Christ, the unsearchable riches of Christ,* is a beautiful climax, the lowest degree of which is far beyond the highest stretch of the human capacity, unaided by a superior power, to declare; therefore Paul says that he and his fellow ambassadors had "this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power might be of God, and not of them.+"

The Lord Jesus Christ is so rich, that when for his people's sakes it pleased him to become poor, his very poverty hath

*The Church of England has this great excellency in her service, that there is much of the word of God introduced at different times. The late Dr. Conyers, of Deptford, in the course of his ministry, in reading the Epistle for the Epiphany, was forcibly struck with these words, and asked himself these solemn questions: Have I ever preached the unsearchable riches of Christ? Have I ever preached the riches of Christ? Have I ever preached Christ to my people? The Holy Ghost was pleased to bless the reading this Epistle to the opening of his eyes.

† 2 Cor. 4.

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