2. This exceedingly endears the souls of the saints to
him, and constrains them to put a due valuation upon him, his love,
his righteousness, and grace. When they find, and have the daily use of
it, then they do it. Who would not love him? “I have been with the Lord
Jesus,” may the poor soul say: “I have left my sins, my burden, with him;
and he hath given me his righteousness, wherewith I am going with boldness
to God. I was dead, and am alive; for he died
for me: I was cursed, and am blessed; for he was made a
curse for me: I was troubled, but have peace;
for the chastisement of my peace was upon him. I knew not what to
do, nor whither to cause my sorrow to go; by him have I received
joy unspeakable and glorious. If I do not love him, delight in
him, obey him, live to him, die for him, I am worse than the devils in
hell.” Now the great aim of Christ in the world is, to have a high place
and esteem in the hearts of his people; to have there, as he
hath in himself, the pre-eminence in all things, — not to be jostled up and
down among other things, — to be all, and in all. And thus are the saints
of God prepared to esteem him, upon the engaging themselves to this
communion with him.