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Oh! Wealthy box: more golden far than gold
A case more worth than wealth: a richer delph
Than rubies; cabinet than pearls here told
A purse more glittering than glory ‘tiself
A golden storehouse of all fullness: shelf
Of heavenly plate. All fullness in thyself.
The box which holds the fullness of Christ, then must be Christ himself. He compares Christ to a box, a case, a cabinet, a purse, a storehouse, a shelf. For each compared container, Christ is worth more than any earthy good which could be placed into the container; of more worth than gold, rubes, pearls, silver.
Delph would be variant of a delft, a decorative box.
Oh! Godhead fullness! There doth in thee flow
All wisdom’s fulness, fulness of all strength:
Of justice, truth, love, holiness also
And grace’s fulness to its upmost length
Do dwell in thee. Yea and thy Father’s pleasure
Thou art their cabinet and they thy treasure.
This stanza makes two points. First, it details the elements of the fullness, which is a summary of biblical statements about Christ. Second, there is a statement of the Father’s pleasure in the Son.
This stanza is then linked up to the preceding argument by use of the word “cabinet”. Christ is the “cabinet” in which these virtues reside. And the Father then takes pleasure in the cabinet filled with treasure, which is the Son incarnate.
Wisdom:
Colossians 2:1–3 (ESV)
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Strength:
1 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
Justice:
Matthew 12:18–21 (ESV)
18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
Truth:
John 1:17 (ESV)
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Holiness:
Romans 1:4 (ESV)
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Grace
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Pleasure:
Mark 1:9–11 (ESV)
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”