Looking Unto Jesus, Book 5 · Chapter 5 · Section 1
SECT. I. Of knowing Jeſus, as carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his Life.
FRom the Object conſidered, that we may paſs to the Act.—
1. Let us know Jeſus, carrying on the great work of our ſalvation during his life. We have many Books of the lives of men, of the lives of heathens, of the lives of Chriſtians, and by this we come to know the Generations of old; Oh but above all, read over the Life of Jeſus, for that is worth thy knowing. To this purpoſe we have four Evangeliſts, who in Bleſſed harmony ſet forth his life; and to this purpoſe we have the Book of the generation of Jeſus Chriſt. Now theſe ſhould be read over and over;Mat. 1.1. Hoſ. 6.3. Then ſhall we know (ſaith the Prophet) if we follow on to know the Lord. Ah my ſoul! that which thou knoweſt of Chriſt already, it is but the leaſt part of what thou art ignorant of; We know but in part, ſaith Paul of himſelf and others; the higheſt knowledg,1 Cor 13 9. which the moſt illuminate Saints have of Jeſus Chriſt, is but defective and imperfect. Come then, and follow on to know the Lord: ſtill inquire after him; imitate the Angels who ever deſire to ſtoop down, and to pry into the actings of Chriſt for us men,1 Pet. 1.12. and for our Salvation; it is their ſtudy, yea it is their delight and recreation; Paul ſeemed to imitate them, when he ſaid, I determine not to know any thing among you, but Jeſus Chriſt: 1 Cor. 2.2.if there be any thing in the world worth the knowing, this it is. And for thy better knowledg that it may not be confuſed, but diſtinct; 1. Study over thoſe paſſages in the firſt year of Chriſts miniſtry; as the preaching of John, the Baptiſme of Chriſt, his faſting and temptation in the Wilderneſs, his firſt manifeſtation by his ſeveral Witneſſ…s, his whipping of the buyers and ſellers out of the Temple. 2. Study over thoſe paſſages in the ſecond year of Chriſt's Miniſtry; as thoſe ſeveral Sermons that he Preached; and becauſe his Miracles were as ſignals of his Sermons, ſtudy the ſeveral Miracles that he wrought: thou haſt but a few Inſtances in compariſon of all his Miracles, and yet how fruit-are they of ſpiritual inſtructions? 3. Study over thoſe paſſages in the third year of Chriſts Miniſtry: as his commiſſionating his Apoſtles to call ſinners in, his readineſs to receive them that would but come in; and his ſweetning the wayes of Chriſtianity to them that are come in; For his yoak is eaſie, and his burthen is light. 4. Study over thoſe paſſages in the laſt year of his Miniſtry; as the holineſs of his nature, and the holineſs of his Life, which appeared eſpecially in the exerciſes of his Graces, of Charity, and ſelf-denial, and mercy, and bounty, and meekneſs, and pity, and humility, and obedience. O what rare matter is here for a Chriſtians ſtudy! Some have took ſuch pains in the ſtudy of theſe things, that they have writ large volumes; men have been writing and preaching a thouſand ſix hundreth years of the Life of Chriſt, and they are writing, and preaching ſtill; O my ſoul! if thou doſt not write, yet ſtudy what is written; come with fixed thoughts, and beat thy brains on that bleſſed ſubject, that will make thee wiſe unto Salvation; Paul accounted all things but dung, or dogs meat,Phil. 3.8. for the excellency of the knowledg of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord; if thou didſt truly underſtand the excellency of this knowledg, thou couldſt not but account all things loſs in compariſon of this one neceſſary thing.