Chap. 5. SeCl. t • IL.rolttng nntp jjefus. Book IV. 207 C H A l'. V. S E C T. I. Of f<.noiving Jejiu as carrying on the great worl{_ of 011r Jalvdtion in his life. .F·' Rorrirhe object confidered, rbar we may pafs ro the aCl:.--- l· Lerus ~ow Jefas carrying on _rhe great work of our. falvationduringhis life. We have many books of the hves of men , of the hves of heathens, of the lives of Chriftians; :ind by this we come to know the generations of old ; Oh but above all read overthelife of Jefus, for that is worth thy knowing. To this purpofe we have four Evangelifts, who in bleffed ·harmony fetforthhis life; and to this purpofe we have the book... of the genera;um of JeJtu Chrijf. Now thefe lhould be read Mat. r. 1 • over and over ; Then fh•ll we kpow (fanh the Prophet ) •f we f•ilow on to lz.now the Lord. Hof. 6. 3· Ah my foul! that which thoti knowell: of Ch:ifl: already, _it is but the leaJl: part of_what . thou art ignorant of; We k,.nowbut in part, fmh Pa11l of h1mfelf arid others; the h1gheft r Cor. 'io 9. knowledge which the moll: illuminate Saints have of Jefus_ Chrift,_ is but d_efeCl:iye .and imperfeCl:, Come then and follow on to kpow the Lord: l1:rll en_qutre after ~tm; tmttate the Angels who ever deftre to ftoop down, and to pry tnto the aCl:tngs ofChr1£Hor us men , 1 Pet. 1 • 12 • and for ourfalvation; it is their fl:udy, yea it is their delight and recreation; p.u.l _ feemed to imitate them when he faid, I determine not tokzt•'lfl anything 11mong y011, but 1 Cor. '· 2 ' {ifmCh-rift: if there be any thing in the world worth the ~n.owing, this it is. And for thy better knowledge that tt may not be confufed, bur difhnCl:. . l. Study over thofe paffages in the 6rfr year of Chrill:'sMinifrry; as tile preaching of '/shn, the baptifm of Chrill:, his fafl:ing and temptation in the Wildernefs, his fir£\ manifefration by his feveral Wirneffes, his whipping of the buyers and fellers oat of the Temple. 2. Study over thofe pa£\"ages in the fetond year of Chrifr's MiHlftry; as thofe feveral Sermons that he preached; and becaufe his Miracles were as lighals of. his Sermons, f!udy the feveral Miracles tha.t he wrought : thou haft but a few Inftances in comparifon of all his Miracles, and yet how fruitful are they offpiritnal.'infrructions? 3. Study over thofe paffages in the third year of C hrifr's Minill:ry : as liis commiffionating his Apoftles ro call !inners in, his readinefs to receive them that would but come in; and his fweerning the wayes of Chri!lianity to them thaf are comein·; For hi< yoak... i< eafte, and hi< burthert i< ligbt. 4· Study over thofe paffages in the !aft year of his Miniftry ; as rhe holinefs of his nature, and the holinefs of his life, which appeared efpecially in the exercifes of his graces, of charity, and felf-denial , and mercy, and bounty, and meeknefs, and jOity, and humility, and obedienee. 0 what rare matter is here for a Chrifrians ll:udy! Some have took fuch paim in the fl:udy of thefe things, that they have writ large Volumes ; men have been writing and preaching a thoufand fiK hut!dretli years of the life_ of Chrift, and they are writing, and preaching llill ; 0 my foul! if thou doll: not write, yet fiudy what is written; come with lixed tboughts, and beat rhy brains on that blelfed fubjeC!, that will make thee wife unto falvation. paut :recounted all things but dung or dogs-meat, for the excellency of the kpmiedg~ ;f Chrift ?efus our Lord; if .• thou dtdO: t:uly under!\and the 'excellency of this knowledge, thou couldll: nor but ac" Ph 1· 3••• coum all thtngs lofs incompari~on of this one neceffary thing. · :F f SECT.
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