good, namely, "the kingdom of God and his righteousness." And when
God had searched the whole world, (to speak with reverence of his glorious
Majesty, who needs not inquire into secret things,) when he had looked
through all the works of his hand, he sets these apart from all the rest,
to be given to the men whom the King shall honour. This kingdom is the
substance and accomplishment of heaven's eternal counsel and purpose of
grace, which was given in Christ before the world, and it is the end of
the Son's redemption of a sinful world, and his intercession for them at
God's right hand. "Father," says he, (John xvii. 24), "I will that those
whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold the
glory which thou hast given me," and for other things he makes them as the
stones of the field.

Now I say, as this kingdom of God and his righteousness are suitable
expressions of his love, according to his magnificence, so they are also
suited to our condition and necessities. No question but he would permit
us to seek great things in this world, if these things were really great
and good, and if they did become such great immortal spirits as we have.
Your souls are above all these things. But this kingdom, and this only, is
above the soul. Now then, if ye go out to seek these earthly things, ye
must go down from the throne of eminency that God hath set your souls upon
by creation, and abuse your spirits by stooping to the very dust of your
feet, to embrace these things, and, which is worse, ye put yourselves out
of that high throne of dignity that ye are exalted to by Christ's
redemption, which we may call a second creation. Jesus declared by the
infinite ransom he gave, when he offered himself a sacrifice without spot
to God, (Heb. ix. 14) and laid down his life for us, what the worth of
your souls was. "None of them," saith the Psalmist, "can by any means
redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, for the redemption
of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever," Psal. xlix. 6-10.
Call and assemble all the creatures in heaven and earth, summon gold,
silver, precious stones, houses, cities, kingdoms, places of trust and
dignity, great learning and parts, and every other thing ye can imagine,
let them all convene in a parliament, and consult how men shall be
ransomed. All of them combined together, though they make one purse,
cannot do it. They cannot pay the least farthing. The Lord Jesus Chris