The Select Works of Thomas Brooks Author:Thomas Brooks General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1824 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST. EPHESIANS III. 8. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. INTRODUCTION. UNTO me, who am less than the least of all saints. The Greek is a comparative made of a superlative. Less than the least of all saints is a double diminutive, and signifies less than the least, if less may be. Here you have the greatest apostle descending down to the lowest step of humility. Great Paul is least of saints, last of the a'pos- tles, and greatest of sinners. The choicest buildings have the lowest foundations; the best balsam sinks to the bottom ; those ears of corn and boughs of trees that are most filled and best laden, bow lowest: so do those souls that are most laden with the fruits of paradise. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints. Is this grace given; or, in the Greek, was this grace given. The word that is here rendered grace is taken in scripture not only for the favour of God, but also for his gracious gifts; and so you are to understand it in this place. Grace is taken for the gifts of grace, and they are two-fold, common and special. Some are common to believers and hypocrites ; as knowledge, tongues, a gift of prayer: some are special and peculiar to the saints, as fear, love, faith. Now Paul had all these, the No. Xl. B better to fit him for that high and noble service to which he was called. That I should preach; that is, declare good news or glad tidings. The Greek word answers to the Hebrew word which signifies good news, glad tidings, and a j...« less