strong burning language
From Ryle's paper on 'The Unsearchable Riches of Christ' in his book Holiness, first published 1879. He gives five things which might have been in the apostle's mind when he used that phrase in Ephesians 3. There are unsearchable riches, he says, in Christ's person, in the work which Christ accomplished for his people, in the offices which Christ at this moment fills, as he lives for us at the right hand of God, and in the names and titles which are applied to Christ in the scriptures. Finally he says this.
Set down, lastly, in your minds that there are unsearchable riches in the characteristic qualities, attributes, dispositions and intentions of Christ's mind towards man, as we find them revealed in the New Testament.
In him there are riches of mercy, love and compassion for sinners; riches of power to cleanse, pardon, forgive, and to save to the uttermost; riches of willingness to receive all who come to him repenting and believing; riches of ability to change by his Spirit the hardest hearts and worst characters; riches of tender patience to bear with the weakest believer; riches of strength to help his people to the end, notwithstanding every foe without and within; riches of sympathy for all who are cast down and bring their troubles to him and, last but not least, riches of glory to reward, when he comes again to raise the dead and gather his people to be with him in his kingdom.
Who can estimate these riches? The children of this world may regard them with indifference, or turn away from them with disdain; but those who feel the value of their souls know better. They will say with one voice, 'There are no riches like those which are laid up in Christ for his people.'
For, best of all, these riches are unsearchable. They are a mine which, however long it may be worked, is never exhausted. They are a fountain which, however many draw its waters, never runs dry. The sun in heaven above us has been shining for six thousand years, and giving light and warmth and fertility to the whole surface of the globe. There is not a tree or a flower in Europe, Asia, Africa or America which is not a debtor to the sun. And still the sun shines on for generation after generation, and season after season, rising and setting with unbroken regularity, giving to all, taking from none, and to all ordinary eyes the same in light and heat that it was in the day of creation.
Just so it is, if any illustration can approach the reality, just so it is with Christ. He is still 'the Sun of righteousness' to all mankind (Mal 4:2). Millions have drawn from him in days gone by, and looking to him have lived with comfort, and with comfort died. Myriads at this moment are drawing from him daily supplies of mercy, grace, peace, strength and help, and find 'all fullness' dwelling in him. And yet the half of the riches laid up in him for mankind, I doubt not, is utterly unknown! Surely the apostle might well use that phrase, 'the unsearchable riches of Christ.'
Phrases such as 'the unsearchable riches of Christ' are, says Ryle, "the strong burning language of one who always remembered his debt to Christ's mercy and grace, and loved to show how intensely he felt it by his words. ... He is not content to say, 'Grace is given me to preach Christ.' No, he amplifies his subject. He calls it 'the unsearchable riches of Christ.'" This is from p277-280 of my copy (Holiness, Evangelical Press 1995)
Set down, lastly, in your minds that there are unsearchable riches in the characteristic qualities, attributes, dispositions and intentions of Christ's mind towards man, as we find them revealed in the New Testament.
In him there are riches of mercy, love and compassion for sinners; riches of power to cleanse, pardon, forgive, and to save to the uttermost; riches of willingness to receive all who come to him repenting and believing; riches of ability to change by his Spirit the hardest hearts and worst characters; riches of tender patience to bear with the weakest believer; riches of strength to help his people to the end, notwithstanding every foe without and within; riches of sympathy for all who are cast down and bring their troubles to him and, last but not least, riches of glory to reward, when he comes again to raise the dead and gather his people to be with him in his kingdom.
Who can estimate these riches? The children of this world may regard them with indifference, or turn away from them with disdain; but those who feel the value of their souls know better. They will say with one voice, 'There are no riches like those which are laid up in Christ for his people.'
For, best of all, these riches are unsearchable. They are a mine which, however long it may be worked, is never exhausted. They are a fountain which, however many draw its waters, never runs dry. The sun in heaven above us has been shining for six thousand years, and giving light and warmth and fertility to the whole surface of the globe. There is not a tree or a flower in Europe, Asia, Africa or America which is not a debtor to the sun. And still the sun shines on for generation after generation, and season after season, rising and setting with unbroken regularity, giving to all, taking from none, and to all ordinary eyes the same in light and heat that it was in the day of creation.
Just so it is, if any illustration can approach the reality, just so it is with Christ. He is still 'the Sun of righteousness' to all mankind (Mal 4:2). Millions have drawn from him in days gone by, and looking to him have lived with comfort, and with comfort died. Myriads at this moment are drawing from him daily supplies of mercy, grace, peace, strength and help, and find 'all fullness' dwelling in him. And yet the half of the riches laid up in him for mankind, I doubt not, is utterly unknown! Surely the apostle might well use that phrase, 'the unsearchable riches of Christ.'
Phrases such as 'the unsearchable riches of Christ' are, says Ryle, "the strong burning language of one who always remembered his debt to Christ's mercy and grace, and loved to show how intensely he felt it by his words. ... He is not content to say, 'Grace is given me to preach Christ.' No, he amplifies his subject. He calls it 'the unsearchable riches of Christ.'" This is from p277-280 of my copy (Holiness, Evangelical Press 1995)
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