Looking Unto Jesus, Book 5 · Chapter 5 · Section 9
SECT. IX. Of conforming to Jeſus in that reſpect.
9. LEt us conform to Jeſus, as he acted for us in his Life. Looking to Jeſus intends this eſpecially; we muſt look as one looks to his Pattern; as Mariners at Sea, that they may run a right courſe, keep an eye on that Ship that bears the Light: ſo in the Race that is ſet before us, we muſt have our eye on Jeſus, our bleſſed Pattern. This muſt be our conſtant Query, Is this the courſe that Jeſus ſteered? Or that I may enlarge,—
In this Particular I ſhall examine theſe three Queries: 1. Wherein we muſt conform? 2. Why we muſt conform? 3. How we muſt conform to this Life of Jeſus?
For the firſt, wherein we muſt conform? I anſwer;
1. Negatively: we muſt not, cannot conform to Chriſt in thoſe works proper to his Godhead; as in working Miracles: I deny not but that the works of Miracles were by way of priviledge, and temporary diſpenſation granted to the Apoſtles, and ſome others; but this was but for Miniſtry and Service, not for their Sanctity or Salvation; nor muſt we conform to Chriſt in thoſe works of mediation, as in redeeming ſouls, in ſatisfying Divine Juſtice for our ſin: No man can redeem his Brother, Pſal. 49.7.nor give to God a ranſom for him. There is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Chriſt Jeſus: Nor muſt we conform to Chriſt in thoſe works of his Government, and influence into his Church; as in diſpenſing of his Spirit, in quickning of his Word, in ſubduing of his enemies, in collecting of his Members; all theſe are perſonal honours, which belong unto Chriſt, as he is Head of the Church; and to theſe works, if we ſhould endeavour to conform, we ſhould Crack our Sinews, diſſolve our ſilver cords, and never the nearer.—Nor need we to conform to Chriſt in ſome other Particulars; in his voluntary poverty; he became poor for our ſakes, 2 Cor. 8.9. In his Ceremonial performances, as in going up to Jeruſalem at the Feaſts; in his perpetual grave deportment; we never read that Jeſus laughed; and but once or twice that he rejoyced in ſpirit. Alas! the declenſions of our Natures cannot come up to this Pattern: nor do I look at theſe paſſages as any acts of moral obedience at all.
2. Affirmatively, or poſitively; we muſt conform to Chriſt's life.
1. In reſpect of his Judgment, Will, Affections, Compaſſions. Look we at his Spirit, obſerve what mind was in Jeſus Chriſt, and therein do we endeavour to conform: Let the ſame mind be in you (ſaith the Apoſtle) which was in Chriſt, Phil. 2.5.Phil. 2.5. And we have the mind of Chriſt (ſaith the Apoſtle) 1 Cor. 2.16.1 Cor. 2.16.
2. In reſpect of his Virtues, Graces, habitual Holineſs.Mat. 11.29. Learn of me (ſaith Chriſt) for I am meek and lowly in heart: Chriſt was of a meek and gentle Spirit.2 Cor. 10.2. I beſeech you, by the meekneſs and gentleneſs of Chriſt, ſaith Paul. And Chriſt was of an humble and lowly Spirit. Being in the form of God, Phil. 2.6, 7.he thought it no robbery to be equal with God; yet he made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a Servant. I might inſtance in all other Graces; for he had them all in fulneſs:John 1.16. And of his fulneſs have all we received, Grace for Grace.
3. In reſpect of his words, talk, ſpiritual and heavenly Language. The very Officers of the Prieſts could ſay of Chriſt, Never man ſpake like this man: John 7.46.and ſometimes they all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth: Luke 4.22.He never ſinned in word; neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, 1 Pet. 2.22, 23reviled not again: The Apoſtle ſpeaking thus of Chriſt, he tells us, that herein Chriſt left us an example, that we ſhould follow his ſteps.Ver. 21.
4. In reſpect of his Carriage, Converſation, Cloſe-walking with God. The Apoſtle ſets forth Chriſt as an high Prieſt, who was holy, harmleſs, undefiled, Heb. 7.26. 1 Pet. 2.9.and ſeparate from ſinners; and in like manner, ſaith Peter, Ye are a choſen generation, a royal Prieſthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the virtues of him, who hath called you out of darkneſs into his marvellous light: that ye ſhould ſhew forth the virtue] (i.e.) that in your lives and converſations you ſhould expreſs thoſe graces and virtues which were ſo eminent and exemplary in Jeſus Chriſt; that you ſhould not only have them, but that you ſhould hold them forth; foreign, the word ſignifies properly to preach; ſo clearly ſhould we expreſs the virtues of Chriſt, as if our lives were ſo many Sermons of the life of Chriſt.
In reſpect of all his acts, practiſes, duties of moral obedience; we find in the life of Chriſt many particular carriages, and acts of obedience to his heavenly Father; whereof ſome were moral, and ſome ceremonial: now all theſe are not for our imitation, but only ſuch moral acts, as concerning which, we have both his pattern and precept. Come, let us mark this one Rule, and we need no more; Whatſoever he commanded, and whatſoever he did, of preciſe Morality, we are therein bound to follow his ſteps. I join together his Commands and Deeds, becauſe in thoſe things which he did, but commands not, we need not to conform; but in thoſe things which he both did and commanded, we are bound to follow him; in ſuch a caſe his Laws and Practice differ, but as a Map and guide, a Law, a Judge, a Rule, and Precedent.
In reſpect of all theſe particulars, and eſpecially in reſpect of Chriſt's moral obedience, the whole life of Chriſt was a Diſcipline, a living, ſhining, and exemplary precept unto men; and hence it is that we find ſuch names given to him in Scripture, as ſignifies not only preheminence, but exemplarineſs; thus he was called a Prince, Dan. 9.25. a Leader, Iſa. 55.4. a Governour, Mat. 2.6. a Captain, 2.10. a chief Shepherd, 1 Pet. 5.4. aforerunner or conduct into glory, Heb. 2.20. a light to the Jews, Exod. 13.21. a light to the Gentiles, Luke 2.3. a light to every man that entreth into the world, John 1.9. All which titles, as they declared his dignity, ſo his exemplarineſs, that he was the Author and pattern of holineſs to his people. And as for all other Saints, though they are imitable, yet with limitation unto him, only ſo far as they expreſs his life in their converſation:1 Cor 11.1. Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Chriſt.
For the ſecond; why we muſt conform? upon what Motives? I anſwer, 1. Becauſe Chriſt hath done and ſuffered very much to that end and purpoſe? Sometimes I have wondred why Chriſt would do ſo much, and ſuffer ſo much as the Evangeliſts in their hiſtories relate. This I believe, that Jeſus was perfect God, and perfect man; and that every action of his life, and but one hour of his Paſſion and death might have been ſatisfactory, and enough for the expiation and reconcilement of ten thouſand worlds; but now I am anſwered, that all thoſe inſtances of holineſs, and all thoſe kinds of virtues, and all thoſe degrees of paſſion, and all that effuſion of his blood, was partly on this account, that he might become an example to us, that he might ſhine to all the ages and generations of the world, and ſo be a guiding ſtar, and a pillar of fire to them in their journey towards heaven: O my ſoul, how doth this call on thee to conform to Chriſt? What? that a ſmaller expence ſhould be enough to thy juſtification, and yet that the whole Magazine ſhould not procure thy ſanctification? that at a leſſer ſum of obedience God might have pardoned thy ſin, and yet at a greater ſum thou wilt not ſo much as imitate his holineſs? In a dark night, if an Ignis Fatuus go before thee, thou art ſo amuzed with that little flame, that thou art apt to follow it, and loſe thy ſelf; and wilt thou not follow the glories of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, who by ſo many inſtances calls upon thee, and who will guide thee into ſafety, and ſecure thee againſt all imaginable dangers? God forbid! If it had not been for thy imitation, I cannot think that Chriſt would have lived on earth ſo many years, to have done ſo many gracious and meritorious works. O think of this!
2. Becauſe Chriſt is the beſt and higheſt Exemplar of holineſs that ever the world ever had: hence we muſt needs conform to Chriſt (as the Apoſtle argues) becauſe he is the firſt-born among many Brethren; Rom. 8.29.the firſt in every kind is propounded as a pattern of the reſt; now Chriſt is the firſt-born. Chriſt is the head of all the predeſtinate, as the firſt-born was wont to be the head in all Families. The old ſaying is, Regis ad exemplar, &c. A very deformity was ſometimes counted an honour, if it were in imitation of the Prince. It is ſtoried of Nero, that having a wry neck, there was ſuch an ambition in men to follow the Court, that it became the faſhion and Gallantry of thoſe times, to hold their necks awry; and ſhall not Chriſt, the King of Saints, be much more imitated by his Saints?Col. 1.18. Chriſt is the head of the body, the beginning, the firſt-born from the dead, in all things he hath the preheminence; and the rule is general, that, that which is firſt and beſt in any kind, is the rule and meaſure of all the reſt. Why ſuch is Chriſt; O then let him be the guide of our life, and of our manners.
3. Becauſe Chriſt doth not only give us an example, but he doth cheriſh, ſuccour, and aſſiſt us by its eaſineſs, complacency, and proportion to us. Some ſweetly obſerve, that Chriſt's piety (which we muſt imitate) was even, conſtant, unblameable, complying with civil ſociety, without any affrightment of precedent, or without any prodigious inſtances of actions, greater than the imitation of men. We are not commanded to imitate a life, whoſe ſtory tells us of extaſies in prayer, of abſtractions of ſenſes, of extraordinary faſtings to the weakning of our ſpirits, and diſabling of all animal operations; no, no; but a life of juſtice, and temperance, and chaſtity, and piety, and charity, and devotion; ſuch a life as without which humane ſociety cannot be conſerved;— And it is very remarkable, that beſides the eaſineſs of this imitation, there is a virtue and efficacy in the life of Chriſt; a merit, and impetration in the ſeveral paſſages of Chriſt's life, to work out our imitation of him. In the Bohemian hiſtory it is reported that Winceſlaus their King, one winters night going to his devotion in a remote Church, his ſervant Podavivus, who waited on his Maſter, and endeavoured to imitate his Maſters piety, he began to faint through the violence of the ſnow, and cold; at laſt the King commanded him, to follow him, and to ſet his feet in the ſame footſteps which his feet ſhould mark, and ſet down for him; the ſervant did ſo, and preſently he fancied, or found a cure; thus Chriſt deals with us; it may be we think our way to Heaven is troubleſome, obſcure, and full of objection; well, ſaith Chriſt, But mark my footſteps; come on, and tread where I have ſtood, and you ſhall find the vertue of my example will make all ſmooth, and eaſie; you ſhall find the comforts of my company, you ſhall feel the vertue and influence of a perpetual guide.
4. Becauſe Chriſt in his Word hath commanded us to follow his ſteps: Learn of me, Mat. 11.19. John 13.13.14, 15.for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye call me Maſter, and Lord, and ye ſay well, for ſo I am; if I then your Lord and Maſter have waſhed your feet, ye alſo ought to waſh one anothers feet, for I have given you an example, that ye ſhould do as I have done to you. —Put on therefore bowels of mercies, kindneſs, humbleneſs of mind, meekneſs, Col. 3.12.13.longſuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel againſt any; even as Chriſt forgave you, ſo alſo do ye. 1 Pet. 1.15, 16.—And as he which hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of converſation; becauſe it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy.—Againſt this ſome object, how can we be holy as Chriſt is holy, firſt, the thing is impoſſible; and ſecondly, if we could, there would be no nee… of Chriſt. But I anſwer to the firſt; the thing if rightly underſtood, is not impoſſible; we are commanded to be holy as Chriſt is holy, not in reſpect of equality, as if our holineſs muſt be of the ſame compaſs with the holineſs of Chriſt; but in reſpect of quality, our holineſs muſt be of the ſame ſtamp, and truth, as the holineſs of Chriſt; as when the Apoſtle ſaith, That we muſt love our neighbor as our ſelf; the meaning is,Rom. 13.9. not that our love to our neighbor ſhould be Mathematically equal to the love of our ſelf, for the Law doth allow of degrees in love, accordingly to the degrees of relation in the thing beloved.Rom. 12.9. Do good unto all men, ſpecially to thoſe of the houſhold of faith; love to a friend may ſafely be greater than love to a ſtranger; or love to a wife, or child, may ſafely be greater than to a friend; yet in all our love to others, it muſt be of the ſelf ſame nature, as true, as real, as cordial, as ſincere, as ſolid as that to our ſelves; We muſt love our neighbor as our ſelves (i.e.) unfeignedly, and without diſſimulation.—Again, I anſwer, to the ſecond, Chriſt is needful notwithſtanding our utmoſt holineſs in two reſpects. 1. Becauſe we cannot come to full and perfect holineſs, and ſo his grace is requiſite to pardon and cover our failings. 2. Becauſe that which we do attain unto, it is not of, or from our ſelves, and ſo his ſpirit is requiſite to ſtrengthen us unto his ſervice. We muſt be holy as Chriſt is holy, yet ſtill we muſt look at the holineſs of Chriſt, as the ſun, and root, and fountain; and that our holineſs is but as a beam of that ſun, but as a branch of that root, but as a ſtream of that fountain.
For the third, how we muſt conform to this life? I anſwer;
1. Let us frame to our ſelves ſome Idea of Chriſt, let us ſet before us the life of Chriſt in the whole, and all the parts of it, as we find it recorded in God's Book. It would be a large picture if I ſhould draw it to the full, but for a taſte I ſhall give it in few lines. Now then ſetting aſide the conſideration of Chriſt as God, or as Mediator, or as Head of his Church.
1. I look at the mind of Chriſt, at his judgment, will, affections; ſuch as love, joy, delight, and the reſt; and eſpecially at the compaſſions of Jeſus Chriſt. O the dear affections, and compaſſions which Chriſt had towards the ſons of men! this was his errand from Heaven, and while he was upon the earth he was ever acting it, I mean his pitifulneſs,Luke 4.18. Pſal. 147.3. I mean his affections, and compaſſion in healing broken hearts; ſo the Pſalmiſt, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds; it is ſpoken after the manner of a Chirurgion, he had a tender heart towards all broken hearts; he endeavoured to put all broken bones into their native place again; nor ſpeak I thus only of him in reſpect of his office; but as he was man, he had in him ſuch a mind, that he could not but compaſſionate all in miſery; O what bowels! what ſtirrings, and boylings, and wreſtlings of a pained heart, touched with ſorrow, was ever, upon occaſion, in Jeſus Chriſt?Matth. 14.1. Mark 6.34. peruſe theſe texts, and Jeſus went forth, and ſaw a great multitude, and he was moved with compaſſion towards them, and he healed their ſick.—And Jeſus when he came out, ſaw much people, and was moved with compaſſion towards them, becauſe they were as ſheep not having a ſhepherd.Mark 1.40, 41.—And there came a leper to him, and kneeling down to him, and ſaying to him, if thou wilt, thou canſt make me clean, and Jeſus moved with compaſſion, put forth his hand, and touched him, ſaying, I will, be thou clean.—Then Jeſus called his diſciples unto him, Mat. 15.32.and ſaid, I have compaſſion on the multitude. And for the two blind men that cried out, Have mercy on us O Lord, thou ſon of David, Matth. 20.34. Luke 15.20.it is ſaid, that Jeſus ſtood ſtill,—and he had compaſſion on them, and touched their eyes. And the poor prodigal returning, When he was yet a great way off, his Father ſaw him, and had compaſſion, and ran and fell on his neck and kiſſed him. How ſweet is this laſt Inſtance! that our ſenſe of ſinful weakneſs, ſhould be ſorrow and pain to the bowels and heart of Jeſus Chriſt! you that are Parents of young Children, let me put the caſe; if ſome of you ſtanding in the relation of a Father, ſhould ſee his Child ſweat, and wreſtle under an over-load, till his back were almoſt broken, and that you ſhould hear him cry, Oh I am gone, I faint, I ſinck, I dye; would not your bowels be moved to pity? and would not your hands be ſtretched out to help? or if ſome of you ſtanding in the relation of a Mother, ſhould ſee your ſucking Child fallen into a pit, and wreſtling with the water, and crying for help, would you not ſtir, nor be moved in heart, nor run to deliver the Child from being drowned? Surely you would, and yet all this pity and compaſſion of yours is but as a ſhadow of the compaſſions and dear affections that were, and that are in the heart of Jeſus Chriſt; O he had a mind devoid of ſin, and therefore it could not but be full of pity, mercy, and tender bowels of compaſſion.
2. I look at the grace in Chriſt; O he was full of grace, yea, full of all the graces of the Spirit;Cant. 1.13, 14. A bundle of Mirrh, is my well-beloved to me:—My Beloved is unto me as a cluſter of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi: a bundle of Myrrh, and a cluſter of camphire denote all the graces of the Spirit; as many flowers are bound together in a noſegay, ſo the variety of the graces of the Spirit, concenter'd in the heart of Jeſus Chriſt, ex. gr.
Matth. 21.5.1. In him was meekneſs, He cometh unto thee meek: he had a ſweet command and moderation of his anger;Num. 12.3. he was meek as Moſes, nay, though Moſes was very meek, and very meek above all the men that were upon the face of the earth, yet Chriſt's meekneſs exceeded Moſe's, as the body doth exceed the ſhadow.
2. In him was humility, he ſaved not the world by his power, but by his humility; in his incarnation, Chriſt would be humble; and therefore he was born of a poor Virgin, in a common Inn; in his life, his way on earth was a continual lecture of humility; a little before his death he gave ſuch an example of humility as never was the like, He poured water into a baſon, John 13.5.and began to waſh the diſciples feet. O ye Apoſtles, why tremble ye not at the wonderful ſight of this ſo great humility? Peter, what doſt thou? wilt thou ever yield that this Lord of Majeſty ſhould waſh thy feet? methinks I hear Peter, ſaying, What Lord, wilt thou waſh my feet? art not thou the Son of the living God? the Creator of the world, the beauty of the heavens; the Paradiſe of Angels, the Redeemer of men, the brightneſs of the Fathers glory? and I, what am I, but a worm, a clod of earth, a miſerable ſinner? and wilt thou notwithſtanding all this waſh my feet? leave Lord, O leave this baſe office for thy ſervants; lay down thy towel, and put on thy apparel again; beware that the heaven, or the Angels of heaven be not aſhamed of it, when they ſhall ſee that by this ceremony thou ſet'ſt them beneath the earth; take heed leaſt the daughter of King Saul deſpiſe thee not, when ſhe ſhall ſee thee girded about with this towel, after the manner of a ſervant, and ſhall ſay, that ſhe will not take thee for her beloved, and much leſs for her God, whom ſhe ſeeth to attend upon ſo baſe an office. Thus may I imagine Peter to beſpeak his Maſter, but he little knew what glory lay hid in this humility of Chriſt; it was for us, and our example; an humble Chriſt, to make humble Chriſtians.
3. In him was patience; O when I think of Chriſt's labours in preaching, wearineſs in travelling, watchfulneſs in praying, tears in compaſſionating, and then I add to all theſe his ſubmiſſion of Spirit, notwithſtanding all the affronts, injuries, and exprobrations of men; how ſhould I but cry out, O the patience of Chriſt! 1 Pet. 2.23.the Apoſtle tells us that when he was reviled, he reviled not again, when he ſuffered, he threatned not, but committed himſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly,—I have already given a touch of theſe graces in Chriſt, which now I may ſet before me.—In him was wiſdom, and knowledge, and juſtice, and mercy, and temperance, and fortitude, and every vertue, or every grace that poſſibly I can think of, A bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me, as a cluſter of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
3. I look at the converſation of Chriſt in word and deed; for his words, they were gracious. Not an idle word ever came out of the lips of Chriſt; himſelf tells us that of every idle word we muſt give an account; O then how free was Chriſt of every idle word?Mat. 12.36. he knew the times and ſeaſons when to ſpeak, and when to be ſilent; he weighed every word with every Circumſtance, time, and place, and manner, and matter;Eccleſ. 3.7. There's a time to keep ſilence, and a time to ſpeak, ſaid Solomon, when he returned again to his wiſdom; and hence we read that ſometimes Jeſus being accuſed, he held his peace; Mat. 26.63.27, 12.and when he was accuſed of the chief Prieſts and Elders, he anſwered nothing; but other whiles he pours out whole Cataracts of holy inſtructions; he takes occaſion of vines, of ſtones, of water, and ſheep, to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon; he is ſtill diſcourſing of the matters of the Kingdom of Heaven; and he ſpeaks ſuch words as give grace unto all the hearers round about him; ſo for his deeds and actions they were full of grace and goodneſs; the Apoſtle Peter gives him this character (which I look upon as a little deſcription of Chriſt's life) who went about doing good; Acts 10.38.it was his meat and drink to do all the good he could; it was as natural to him to do good, as it is for a fountain to ſtream out, he was holy and heavenly, unſpotted every way; O the ſweet converſation of Chriſt! how humbly carries he it amongſt men? how benignly towards his Diſciples? how pitiful was he towards the poor? to whom (as we read) he made himſelf moſt like,2 Cor. 8.9. He became poor, that we might be made rich; he deſpiſed, or abhorred none; no not the very Leapers, that were eſchewed of all; he flattered not, the rich and honourable; he was moſt free from the cares of the world; his preſcriptions were, Care not for the things of the morrow; and in himſelf he was never anxious of bodily needs; above all, he was moſt ſolicitous of ſaving ſouls.—Much more I might add, if I ſhould go over the particulars in the Goſpel; but by theſe few expreſſions of Jeſus Chriſt we may conceive of all the reſt.—
2. Let us be humbled for our great inconformity to this copy; what an excellent pattern is here before us? and how far, how infinitely do we come ſhort of this bleſſed pattern? O alas! if Chriſt will not own me, unleſs he ſee his Image written upon me, what will become of my poor ſoul? why Chriſt was meek, and humble, and lowly in ſpirit; Chriſt was holy, and heavenly; Chriſt ever went about doing good; and now when I come to examine my own heart according to this original, I find naturally a meet antipathy, a contrariety, I am as oppoſite to Chriſt as Hell and Heaven. 1. For my thoughts, within I am full of pride, and malice; I am full of the ſpirit of the world; what is there in my heart but a world of paſſions, rebellions, darkneſs, and deadneſs of ſpirit to good? and, 2. If the fountain be ſo muddy, can I expect clear ſtreams? what words are theſe, that come many a time from me? Chriſt would not ſpeak an idle word, but how many idle, evil, ſinful words come daily flowing from my lips? Out of the abundance of the mouth the heart ſpeaketh; and if I may gueſs at my heart by my words, where was my heart this Sabbath, and the other Sabbath, when my diſcourſe was all on my calling, or on the world, or it may be on my luſts, or on my Dalilah's, on my right-hand-ſins, or on my right-eye-ſins? and, 3. What actions are theſe ſo frequently performed by me? if I muſt read my ſtate by my converſation, Whoſe image and ſuperſcription is this? the laſt oath I ſware, the laſt blaſphemy I belched out, the laſt act of drunkenneſs, idolatry, adultery I committed, (or if theſe ſins are not fit to be named) the laſt piece of wrong I did my neighbour, the laſt prank of pride I played on this ſtage of the world, the laſt expence of time when I did no good in the world, neither to my ſelf nor others, the laſt omiſſion of good, as well as commiſſion of evil; O my ſoul, whoſe Image is this? is it the Image of Chriſt, or of Sathan? If the worſt Scholar in the School ſhould write thus untowardly after his copy, would he not be aſhamed? if in my heart and life I obſerve ſo many blots and ſtains, ſo great inconformity, and diſſimilitude to the life of Chriſt, how ſhould I but lie in the duſt? O woe is me! what a vaſt diſproportion is betwixt Chriſt's life and mine? why thus, O my ſoul, ſhouldſt thou humble thy ſelf; each morning, each prayer, each meditation, each ſelf examination, ſhouldſt thou fetch new, freſh, clear, particular cauſes, occaſions, matters of humiliation: as thus; loe there the evenneſs, gravity, graciouſneſs, uniformity, holineſs, ſpiritualities, divineneſs, heavenlineſs of Jeſus Chriſt; loe there the fragrant zeal, dear love, tender pity, conſtant induſtry, unwearied pains, patience, admirable ſelf-denial, contempt of the world in Jeſus Chriſt; loe there thoſe many, yea continual devout, divine breathings of ſoul after God his Fathers glory, after the ſpiritual and immortal good of the precious ſouls of his redeemed ones; Oh all the admirable meekneſs, mercifulneſs, clemency, charity, with all other excellent temperance, rare compoſure, wonderful order of his bleſſed ſoul! O the ſweet expreſſions, gracious converſation! O the glorious ſhine, bleſſed luſtre of his divine Soul! Oh the ſweet countenance, ſacred diſcourſe, raviſhing demeanour, winning deportment of Jeſus Chriſt! and now I reflect upon my ſelf, on alas! Oh the total, wide, vaſt, utter difference, diſtance, diſproportion of mine there from! I ſhould punctually anſwer, perfectly reſemble accurately imitate, exactly conform to this life of Chriſt; but ah my unevenneſs, lightneſs, vanity! Ah my rudeneſs, groſsneſs, deformity, odiouſneſs, ſleightneſs, contemptibleneſs, execrableneſs! Ah my ſenſuality, brutiſhneſs, deviliſhneſs! how clearly are theſe, and all other my enormities diſcovered, diſcerned, made evident, and plain by the bleſſed and holy life of Jeſus? ſo true is that rule, Contraria juxta ſe poſita magis eluceſcunt.
Pſal. 103.1.3. Let us quicken, provoke, and incenſe our ſluggiſh, drouſie ſouls to conform to Chriſt. If we will but ſtrictly obſerve our hearts, we ſhall find them very backward to this duty, and therefore let us call upon our ſouls as David did, Bleſs the Lord O my ſoul, Rom. 8.29.and let all that is within me bleſs his holy Name; let us work upon our ſouls by reaſoning with our own hearts, as if we diſcourſed with them thus, O my heart, or O my ſoul, if in the deep counſels of eternity this was Gods great deſign to make his Son like thee, that thou alſo mighteſt be like his Son, how then ſhouldeſt thou but endeavour to conform? and what ſayes the Apoſtle? For whom he did foreknow, he alſo did predeſtinate, to be conformed to the Image of his Son: this was one of his great purpoſes from eternity; this law God ſet down, before he made the world, that I ſhould conform to his Son: and what, O my ſoul, would'ſt thou break the eternal bands of predeſtination? O, God forbid! Again, if this was one of the ends of Chriſt's coming, to deſtroy the works of the devil, to deface all Sathan's works, eſpecially his work in me, his Image in me, and to ſet his own ſtamp on my ſoul; how then ſhould I but endeavour to conform? I read but of two ends of Chriſt's coming into the world in relation to us, whereof the firſt was to redeem his people, and the other was to purifie his people; He gave himſelf for us, Tit. 2.14.that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himſelf, a peculiar people, zealous of good works: the one is the work of his merit▪ which goeth upward, to the ſatisfaction of his Father; the other is the work of his Spirit and grace, which goeth downwards to the ſanctification of his Church▪ in the one he beſtoweth his righteouſneſs on us by imputation, on the other he faſhioneth his Image in as by renovation; and what, O my ſoul, would'ſt thou deſtroy the end of Chriſt's coming in the fleſh? or would'ſt thou miſs of that end for which Chriſt came in relation to thy good; O, God forbid! Again, conſider the example of the Saints before thee; if this was their holy ambition to be like their Jeſus, emulate them in this, for this is a bleſſed emulation; it is obſervable how the heathens themſelves had learnt a rule very near to this; Seneca Senec. Ep. 11.adviſed that every man ſhould propound to himſelf, the example of ſome wiſe, and vertuous perſonage, as Cato, or Socrates, or the like; and really to take his life as the direction of all their actions; but is not the life of Jeſus far more precious, and infinitely more worthy of imitation? we read in hiſtory of one Cecilia a Virgin, who accuſtomed her ſelf to the beholding of Chriſt for imitation, and to that purpoſe ſhe ever carried in her breaſt ſome pieces of the Goſpel, which ſhe had gathered out of all the Evangeliſts, and thereon night and day ſhe was either reading, or meditating; this work ſhe carrried on in ſuch a circulation, that at laſt ſhe grew perfect in it, and ſo enjoyed Chriſt and the Goſpel, not only in her breaſt, but alſo in the ſecrets of her heart; as appeared by her love of Chriſt, and confidence in Chriſt, and familiarity with Chriſt,Cant. 1.13. as alſo by her contempt of the world, and all its glory, for Chriſt his ſake; There is ſome reſemblance of this in the Spouſe, when ſhe reſolved of Chriſt, He ſhall lye all night betwixt my breaſt; q. d. he ſhall be as near me as near may be, my meditation of him (and by conſequence my imitation of him) ſhall be conſtant and continual; not only in the day, but He ſhall lye all night betwixt my breaſts. What, O my ſoul, was this the practiſe of the Saints? and wilt thou not be of that communion? O God forbid! thus let us quicken and provoke our ſouls to this conformity; let us excite, rouze, incenſe, awake, and ſharpen up our wretched, ſluggiſh, drouzy, lazy, ſouls; our faint, feeble, ſl…gging faultering, drooping languiſhing affections, deſires, endeavours! let us with enlarged induſtry engage, and encourage our backward and remiſs ſpirits to fall upon this duty of conformity, again and again; let us come up higher towards it, or if poſſibly we may compleatly to it, that the ſame mind, and mouth, and life may be in us that was in Jeſus Chriſt, that we may be found to walk after Chriſt, that we may tread in the very prints of the feet of Chriſt, that we may climb up after him, into the ſame h…ven! Kingdom, that we may aſpire continually towards him, and grow up to him, even to the meaſure of the ſtatu…e of the fulneſs of Chriſt.
4. Let us regulate our ſelves by the life of Chriſt; whatſoever action we go about, let us do it by this rule, what? Would Chriſt have done this? or at leaſt, Would Chriſt have allowed this? It is true, ſome things are expedient and lawful with us, which were not ſutable to the Perſon of Chriſt, Marriage is honourable with all men, and the bed undefiled; but it did not befit his Perſon, who came into the world only to ſpiritual purpoſes, to beget ſons and daughters; writing of books is commendable with men, becauſe like Abel, being dead, they may ſtill ſpeak, and teach thoſe who never ſaw them, but it would have been derogatory to the Perſon and office of Chriſt, for it is his Prerogative to be in the midſt of the ſeven golden Candleſticks, to be preſent to all his Members, to teach by power, and not by miniſtry, to write his Law in the hearts of his people, and to make them his Epiſtle. Contrition, Compunction, Mortification, Repentance,Acts 11.18. for ſin, are acts and duties neceſſary to our ſtate and condition; for we are ſinners, and ſinners of the Gentiles; To whom God alſo hath granted repentance unto life; but theſe were in no ſort agreeable to Chriſt, for, he was without ſin, and needed not to repentance, nor to any part of it. The ſeveral ſtates of men, as of Governours, Kings, Judges, Lawyers, Merchants, &c. are convenient for us, otherwiſe what ataxye,John 18.36. and confuſion would there be in the world? and yet Jeſus never put himſelf into any of theſe ſtates; My Kingdom (ſayes he) is not of this world. Now as in theſe things we muſt only reſpect the Allowance of Chriſt, ſo in other things we muſt reflect upon the example of Chriſt; as, 1. In ſinful acts eſchewed by Chriſt. 2. In moral duties that were done by Chriſt.
1. In ſinful acts eſchewed by Chriſt, as when I am tempted to ſin, then am I to reaſon thus with my ſelf, would my bleſſed Saviour if he were upon earth doth thus and thus? when I am tempted to looſeneſs and immoderate living, then am I to ask conſcience ſuch a queſtion as this, would Chriſt have done thus? would he have ſpent ſuch a life upon earth as I do? when I am moved by my own corruption, or by Sathan to drunkenneſs, gluttony, ſinful and deſperate ſociety, to ſwearing, curſing, revenge, or the like, then am I to ask, is this the life that Chriſt led? or if he were to live again, would he live after this manner? when I fall into paſſion, peeviſhneſs, raſh words, or if it be but idle words, then am I to conſider, O but would Chriſt ſpeak thus? would this be his language? would ſuch a rotten or unprofitable ſpeech as this drop from his honey lips?
2. In caſe of moral obedience, concerning which we have both his pattern, and precept, I look upon Chriſt as my rule; and I queſtion thus, did Chriſt frequently pray both with his Diſciples, and alone by himſelf? and ſhall I never in my family, or in my cloſet think upon God? did Chriſt open his wounds for me? and ſhall not I open my mouth to him? did Chriſt ſerve God without all ſelf-ends, meerly in obedience, and to glorifie him? and ſhall I make God's worſhip ſubordinate to my aims and turns? did Chriſt ſhew mercy to his very enemies? and ſhall I be cruel to Chriſt's very Members? O my ſoul, look in all thy ſins, and in all thy duties to thy original, and meaſure them by the holineſs of Chriſt▪ whether in avoiding ſin, or in doing duty, think, What would my bleſſed Saviour do in this caſe? Or what did he in the li…e caſe, when he was upon earth? If we had theſe thoughts every day, if Chriſt were continually before our eyes, if in all we do or ſpeak we ſhould ſtill muſe on this, What would Jeſus Chriſt ſay if he were here? I believe it would be a bleſſed means, of living in comfort, and ſpiritual conformity to the Commands of God, yea, of acting Chriſt's life (as it were) to the life.
5. Let us look fixedly on Jeſus Chriſt, let us keep our ſpiritual eyes ſtill on the pattern, untill we feel our ſelves conforming to it: it is a true ſaying, that Objects and moving reaſons kept much upon the mind by ſerious thoughts, are the great engine, both appointed by nature and grace, to turn about the ſoul of man. If I may deliver it in fewer terms, Objects conſidered much, or frequently, do turn the ſoul into their own nature. Such as the things are we muſt think of, and conſider of, ſuch will be our ſelves; or if we be not ſo, it is not through any imperfection in the object (eſpecially in ſuch an object as Jeſus Chriſt is) but becauſe it is not well applied, and by conſideration held upon the heart, till it may work there; indeed the manner of this working may be ſecret, and inſenſible, yet if we follow on, we ſhall feel it in the iſſue; the beholding of Chriſt is a powerful beholding; there is a changing, transforming vertue goes out of Chriſt, by looking on Chriſt; can we think of his humility, and not be humble? can we think of his meekneſs and gentleneſs of Spirit, and yet we continue in our fierceneſs, roughneſs, frowardneſs of Spirit? can a proud fierce heart apprehend a meek, and ſweet, and lowly Jeſus? no, no; the heart muſt be ſuitable to the thing apprehended, it is impoſſible otherwiſe; certainly if the look be right, there muſt be a ſuitableneſs betwixt the heart and Chriſt. Sight works upon the imagination in brute creatures; as Laban's Sheep, when they ſaw the party-coloured Rods, they had Lambs ſuitable; now will ſight work upon imagination, and imagination work a real change in nature? and is not the eye of the mind (eſpecially the eye of faith) more ſtrong and powerful? if I but write after a copy, I ſhall in a while learn to write like it, if I ſeriouſly meditate on any excellent ſubject, it will leave a print behind it on my ſpirit; if I read but the life and death of ſome eminently gracious and holy man, it molds, and faſhions, and tranſforms, and conforms my mind to his ſimilitude; even ſo, and much more is it in this caſe; ſince the eye of faith works in the matter, which in it ſelf is operative and effectual, and therefore it cannot but work more, than where is only ſimple imitation, or naked meditation; O then let us ſet the coppy of Chriſt's life (as before deſcribed) in our view, and let us look upon it with both eyes, with the eye of reaſon, and with the eye of faith.
But how ſhould we keep the eye of our faith on this bleſſed object, until we feel this conformity in us? I anſwer.—
1. Let us ſet apart ſome times on purpoſe to act our faith in this reſpect; There is a time for all things under the Sun, Eccleſ. 3.1.ſaith Solomon. It may be ſometimes we are in our civil employments, but then is not the time; yet when they are done, and the day begins to cloſe, if together with our cloſet prayer we would fall on this duty of looking unto Jeſus by lively faith, how bleſſed a ſeaſon might this be? I know not but that ſome Chriſtians may do it occaſionally, but for any that ſets ſome time apart for it every day, and that in conſcience, as we do for prayer, where is he to be found?
2. Let us remove hinderances; Sathan labours to hinder the ſoul from beholding Chriſt with the duſt of the world, The God of this world blinds the eyes of men; O take heed of fixing our eyes on this worlds vanity! our own corruptions are alſo great hinderances to this view of Chriſt; away, away with all carnal paſſions, baſe humours, ſinful deſires; unleſs the ſoul be ſpiritual, it can never behold ſpiritual things.
3. Let us fix our eyes only on this bleſſed Object; a moving, rolling eye ſees nothing clearly;1 Pet. 1.12. When the Angels are ſaid to look into theſe things, the word ſignifies that they look into them narrowly, as they who bowing or ſtooping down do look into a thing, ſo ſhould we look narrowly into the life of Chriſt; our eye of faith ſhould be ſet upon in a ſteady manner, as if all the world could not move us, as if we forgot all the things behind, and had no other buſineſs in the world but this.
4. Let us look wiſhingly and cravingly; there is affection, as well as viſion in the eye;Acts 3.5. as the lame man that lay in Solomon's porch looked wiſhly on Peter and John, expecting to receive ſomething of them, ſo let us look on Chriſt with a craving eye, with an humble expectation to receive a ſupply of grace from Chriſt, Why Lord thou art not only anoynted with the the oyl of gladneſs above thy fellows, but for thy fellows; I am earthly minded, but thou art heavenly; I am full of luſts, but the Image of God is perfect in thee; thou art the fountain of all grace, an head of influence, as well as of eminence; thou art not only above me, but thou haſt all grace for me, and therefore O give me ſome portion of thy meekneſs, lowlineſs, heavenly-mindedneſs, and of all other the graces of thy Spirit. Surely thou art an heaven of grace, full of bright ſhining ſtars, Oh that of that fulneſs thou wouldſt give me to receive even grace for grace; I pray Lord with an humble expectation of receiving from thee; Oh let me feel the dropping of the two-olive trees into the golden candleſticks, yea even into my ſoul.
5. Be we aſſured that our prayer (if it be in faith) is even now heard; never any came to Chriſt with ſtrong expectations to receive grace, or any benefit prayed for, that was turned empty away; beſides Chriſt hath engaged himſelf by promiſe to write his Law in our hearts; to make us like himſelf; As he which hath called us is holy, 1 Pet. 1.15.ſo ſhould (yea, and ſo ſhall) we be holy in all manner of converſation. Oh let us build on his gracious promiſe; Heaven and earth ſhall paſs away before one jot or title of his Word ſhall fail; only underſtand we his promiſe in this ſence, that our conformity muſt be gradual, not all at once, We all with open face, beholding as in a glaſs, 2 Cor. 3.18.the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image from glory to glory (i.e.) from grace to grace; or from glory inchoate in obedience, to glory conſumate, in our heavenly inheritance.
6. If notwithſtanding all this, we feel not for the preſent this conformity in us, at leaſt in ſuch a degree; let us act over the ſame particulars again and again; the gifts of grace are therefore communicated by degrees, that we might be taken off from living upon a received ſtock of grace; and that we might ſtill be running to the ſpring, and drink in there; why alas, we have a continual need of Chriſt's letting out himſelf, and grace into our hearts, and therefore we muſt wait at the well-head, Chriſt; we muſt look on Chriſt as appointed on purpoſe by his Father to be the Beginner and Finiſher of our holineſs; and we muſt believe that he will never leave that work imperfect, whereunto he is ordained of the Father. We may be confident (ſaith the Apoſtle) of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in us, will perform it, or finiſh it, until the day of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 1.6. Oh then be not weary of this work until he accompliſh the deſires of thy ſoul.
I have now done with this ſubject: only before I finiſh, one word more. Sometimes I have obſerved that many precious ſouls, in their endeavours after grace, holineſs, ſanctification, have been frequent in the uſe of ſuch and ſuch means, duties, ordinances; wherein I cannot ſay, but they have done well; and for their help I therefore compoſed that piece called Media; but of all the ordinances of Chriſt, this Looking unto Jeſus is made leaſt uſe of, though it be chief of all: It is Chriſt (when all is done) that is that great Ordinance appointed by God for grace and holineſs; and certainly thoſe ſouls which trade immediately with Jeſus Chriſt, will gain more in a day, than others in a monethmonth, in a year. I deny not other helps, but amongſt them all, if I would make choice which to fall upon, that I may become more and more holy, I would ſet before me this glaſs, (i.e.) Chriſt's holy life, the great examplar of holineſs; we were at firſt created after his Image in holineſs, and this Image we loſt through our ſin, and to this Image we ſhould endeavour to be reſtored by imitation; And how ſhould this be done, but by looking on Chriſt as our pattern? by running through the ſeveral Ages of Chriſt, and by obſerving all his graces, and gracious actings? in this reſpect I charge thee, O my ſoul (for to what purpoſe ſhould I charge others, if I begin not at home, and with thee?) that thou make conſcience of this practical Evangelical duty; O be much in the exerciſe of it! not only in the day intend Chriſt, but when night comes, and thou lyeſt down on thy bed, let thy pillow be as Chriſt's boſom, in which John the beloved Diſciple was ſaid to lean; there lean thou with John; yea, lye thou between his breaſt; and Let them lye all night betwixt thy breaſts; thus mayeſt thou lye down in peace and ſleep, Cant. 1.13. Pſal. 4.8.and the Lord only will make thee to dwell in ſafety; and when day returns again, have this in mind, yea, in all thy thoughts, words, and deeds, even look unto Jeſus as thy holy examplar; Say to thy ſelf, If Chriſt my Saviour were now upon earth, would theſe be his thoughts, words, and deeds? would he be thus diſpoſed as I now feel my ſelf? would he ſpeak theſe words that I am now uttering? would he do this that I am now putting my hand unto? O let me not yield my ſelf to any thought, word, or action, which my dear Jeſus would be aſhamed to own! yea (if it were poſſible for thee to be ſo conſtant in this bleſſed duty) going and ſtanding, ſitting and lying, eating and drinking, ſpeaking and holding thy peace, by thy ſelf or in company, caſt an eye upon Jeſus; for by this means thou canſt not chuſe but love him more, and joy in him more, and truſt in him more, and be more and more familiar with him, and draw more and more grace and vertue, and ſweetneſs from him; O let this be thy wiſdom, to think much of Chriſt; ſo as to provoke thee to the imitation of Chriſt! then ſhalt thou learn to contemn the world, to do good to all, to injure no man, to ſuffer wrong patiently, yea, to pray for all thoſe that deſpightfully uſe thee, and perſecute thee; then ſhalt thou learn to condeſcend to the weak, to condole ſinners caſes, to embrace the penitent, to obey Superiours, to miniſter to all; then ſhalt thou learn to avoid all boaſting, bragging, ſcandal, immoderate eating and drinking; in a word, all ſin. Then ſhalt thou learn to bear about in thy body the dying of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that the life alſo of Jeſus may be made manifeſt in thy body: So the Apoſtle, For we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jeſus ſake, that the life alſo of Jeſus might be made manifeſt in our mortal fleſh, 2 Corinth. 4.10, 11. Why this is to follow Chriſt's ſteps, he deſcended from heaven to earth for thy ſake; do thou trample on earthly things, Seek after the Kingdom of God, and his righteouſneſs, for thy own ſake; though the world be ſweet, yet Chriſt is ſweeter; though the world prove bitter, yet Chriſt ſuſtained the bitterneſs of it for thee: and now he ſpeaks to thee, as he did to Peter, Andrew, James, and John, Come, follow me; O do not faint in the way, leſt thou loſe thy place in thy Country, that Kingdom of glory.
Thus far we have looked on Jeſus as our Jeſus in his life, during the whole time of his Miniſtry; our next work is to look on Jeſus, carrying on the great work of man's ſalvation, during the time of his ſuffering and dying on the croſs, until his reſurrection from the dead.