Looking Unto Jesus, Book 7 · Chapter 2 · Section 8
SECT. VIII. Of Calling on Jeſus in that Reſpect.
8. LEt us Call on Jeſus; that is to ſay —
1. Let us pray that Chriſt's reſurrection may be ours, and that we may be more and more aſſured of it.Phil. 3.10. Let us ſay with the Apoſtle, O that I may know him, and the power of his reſurrection; O that I may find the working of that power in my ſoul, which was ſhewed in the reſurrection of Chriſt from the dead; O that the Spirit of holineſs, which quickened Chriſt from the dead; would by the ſame glorious power beget holineſs, and faith, and love, and all other graces in my poor ſoul, O that Chriſt would by his reſurrection apply his active, and paſſive obedience to me; O that he would be to me the Lord of the living, and the Prince of life, that he would overcome in me the death of ſin, and that he would regenerate, quicken, renew, and faſhion me by the power of godlineſs to become like himſelf. O that all the vertue, power, priviledges, and influences of Chriſt's reſurrection might be conferred on me, and that I might feel them working in me every day more and more.
2. Let us praiſe God for Chriſt's reſurrection, and for all the priviledges flowing from Chriſt's reſurrection into our ſouls,1 Pet. 1.3. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath begotten us again by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead. Chriſt is riſen, by his reſurrection he hath juſtified, ſanctified, quickened, ſaved our ſouls; and therefore, Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; ſurely God requires a thouſand thouſand Hallelujah's, and that we ſhould bleſs him upon a thouſand-ſtringed inſtrument: here is fewel enough, the Lord kindle a great fire in every one of our hearts, to burn out all our luſts, and to enflame all our hearts with a love to Jeſus Chriſt. Can we ever too much praiſe him for all his actings in our behalf? are not all God's creatures called upon to rejoyce with us, and to bleſs God for his redeeming of us? Sing O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it, ſhout ye lower part of the earth, Iſa. 44.23.break forth into ſinging ye mountains, O forreſt, and every tree therein, for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himſelf in Iſrael. This is the duty we ſhall do in heaven, and I believe we are never more in heaven (whiles on earth) then when we are in this exerciſe of praiſing God, and bleſſing God for Jeſus Chriſt. Come, let us praiſe God for Chriſt, and eſpecially on this day, called therefore the Lord's day, becauſe of the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt: it is the deſign of God, to glorify Chriſt redeeming us, as much, or more than he glorified himſelf creating us; and therefore he purpoſely unhinged the Sabboth from the laſt day to the firſt day of the week, that it might be ſpent as a weekly day of praiſe and thankſgiving for the more glorious work of our redemption; that love might not only be equally admired with power, but even go before it. It is the advice of a godly Divine, that we ſhould improve the happy opportunity of the Lord's day wholly to devote our ſelves to his work. And he adviſeth Miniſters and others, that They ſpend more of thoſe days in praiſe and thanksgiving, Baxters method of peace and comfort.and be briefer in their confeſſions and lamentations; — that they would make it the main buſineſs of their ſolemn aſſemblies on thoſe days to ſound forth the high praiſes of their Redeemer, and to begin here the praiſes of God and the Lamb: which they muſt perfect in heaven for ever.—That they would ſpend a greater part of thoſe days in Pſalms, and ſolemn Praiſes to their Redeemer: — & that ſome Hymns and Pſalms might be invented as fit for the ſtate of the Goſpel-Church, and worſhip to laud the Redeemer, come in the fleſh, as expreſly as the work of grace is now expreſſed. O that theſe directions were but in practice? O that our Churches, and Families would make our ſtreets to reſound with the Eccho's of our praiſes! O that this were the burthen of each duty on theſe dayes. Now bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead.