.. "' Book lV, Chap,,..Sed. t CHAP. II. · SEcT . I. ofknowing 1efus as carrying on tkegreat work Qfour[.t!v.r- . . tiorJ in his birth. Hat Look[ng] compreht:nds,you have heard before: And that we 111ay have an inward experimental look_. on him, .whom out! fouls pant after, let us practice all thefe particulars. AsI. Let us k(zow Jrfm, Carrying on the great work ofour falvation in hisfu·ft ' coming, .or incar:. n_ ~. x nation. Com~, let us learne what he did.for us, when be came amongft us. Thell'e is not Ol'le palfage in his firft appearing, but it is ofmighty concernment unto us: Is it poffible that the great God of heaven and earth fhould fo infinitely condefcen~ (as we have heard) but on fome great deligne? and what deligne could thn:e b~,but only his glory, and the creatures good.? 0 my foul! if thou haft any intereft in Chrifr, all this concernes thee; the Lord Jefus in thefe very tranfaCl:ions had an eye to thee ; be was incarnate for thee; he was conceived, and borne for thee; look . not on thefc things as notionals, or generals ; look not on the bare bifrory of things, for that is but unprofitable ; the maine duty is iri eying the end, the meaning, and intent of Chrifr; and efpecially as it relates tothee, not to others, but to thy felfe. Alas ! what comfort were it to a poor prifoner, if he fhould heare that the King or Prince of his meere grace and love vifited all the prifoners in this & that dungeon ,and that be made a goaledelivery, and fet all free , but he never came near the place.where he poor wretch lies bo'und in fetters, and cold Irons? or fuppofe he gives a vifit to that very man, and offers him the tenders of grace and freedome, if he will but accept of it; and (becaufe of his waywardncfs) perfwades, intreats, commands him to come out, and take his libe.rty, and yet he will not regard, or apply it to himfelfe, what comfort can he have ? what fruit, what benefic
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