Ch1p. z.Sect. 2 Looking unto 1tfos. - Book lV. · benefic fhall he receive ? Deare foul, this is thy cafe, if thou art not in Chriil, if thou haft not heard the offer, and imbraced and do fed with it, then what i> Chrills incarnation, conception, nativity unto thee ? Come! learne l not meerely as a fcholar to gaine fome notional knowledge, but as a Chriftian, as one thac feeles vertue coming out of Chrift in every ofthefe refpecl:s; ftudy clofe this·great tranttCtion in reference to thy felf. I know not how it happens, whether out of the generality of fome Preachers handling this fubjeet, or whether our ofthe fupe rftition of the time wherein it ufually hath been .handled, it either favours not with [orne Chriftians, or it is feldomethought ofby the moil:; 0 God fvrbid we fhould throw out of the dores, fuch a blelfed necelfary truth! if rightly applyed, it is a Chrifl:ians joy, behold Luk. 1 , 10 ,11 ; ' I bring 7ou glad tydings of great JOJ that jbali b.e t9 all people, for untopu u borne in the Citpf JJaviCI, a Saviour, which is Chri.ft the Lord. Sure the birth of Chrift i5 of mighty concernment unto thee, unto us a child is borne,untous aSm is given, there is 1( 6 not any piece of this tranfaCl:ion, but•tisoffpecial ufe, ·and worth a. 9 ' • thy paines; How many break their braines, and waile their fpirits in lludying Arts and Sciences, things in comparifon of no value; whereas Pauf otherwife determined not to ~ow any thing among 1 C r z :. · you but 'Jt/m Chrift? co know JefusChri£1: in every pieceanCI 0 ' ' • point, whether in birth, or life, or death, it is faving knowledge: 0 ftand not upon coil:, -whether paines or ftudy; teares or prayers; peace or wealth; ·goods or name; life or liberty; fell ali for this pearle : Chiiil: is ofchat worth and ufe, that thou canft ·never over-buy him, though thou gaveil thy felfe and all the world for him ; the ilud, ofChriil is the ftudy of fl:udies; the knowledge of C..hrift is the knowledge of every thing that is necelfary, either for this world, or for the world to come. 0 iludy Chriil in every of the forefaid refpeCl:s. SECT. 2. 0 f conjidering :Jefus in that refpd1•. 2. LEt us c~njider 'j~fm: carryi?g on thi~ great ~vork o_f our £1lvatton at hts firfi: commg, or mcarnat!On. It ts not .: enouoh . b:;. •
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