p6 Book. IV. Looking emto :Jefus. chap.5. sea. 9 ~---------------- fort;ar.d fpiritual conformity to the commandsofGod, yea of aeting Chrdls ltfe (as it were) to the life. . 5. Let us look fixedly on Jefus Chrift, let us keep our fpiritual eyes fttll on the patterne, untill we feel our fdves conforming to it : it is a true faying, that objerts and moving reafins ~pt much upon the mind byferious thoughts,are the great engine, both appointed ' by nature and grace, to turne about the foul ofman. Ifi may deliver it in fewer termes, objeEts confidered much, or frequently, do tttrne the fot:l into theil' own nature. Such as the things are we moO: think of, and confider of, fuch will be our felves; .or if we be not fo, it is not through any imperfection in the object (!!fpecially in fuch an objed:as Jefus ChriO: is) but becaufe it is not well applyed, and by confideration held. upon the 'heart, till it may worl; there; indeed the manner of this working may be fecret, and infenfible, yet ifwe follow on, we {hall feele it in the iifue; the beholding of Chrift is a powerful beholding ; there is a changing, transforming vertue goes out ofChrift,by looking on Chrifl:; can we think of his humility, and not be humble? can we think of his meekneife and gentlene ife of Spirit, and yet we continue in our fierceneife, roughneife, frowardneife of fpirit ? can a proud fierce heart apprehend a meek, and fweet, and lowly Jefus? no, no ; the heart muft be fuitable to the thing apprehended, it is impoffible otherwife; certainly if the look_ be right, there mull: be a fuitablencife betwixt the heart and Chrift. Sight works upon rhe imagination in bruit creatures; as La bam fheep, when they faw the party-colourerl rods, they had lambs fuitable; now wtll light work npon imagination, and imagination work a real change in nature? and is not the eye of the minde · ( efpecially the eye offaith) more ftrong and powerful ? if I but write after a copy, I ilia II in a while learne to write like it, ifl fetiouOy meditate on ·any excellent fubjeet, it willleav~ a print behind it on my fpirit ; if I read but the life and death of fome eminently gracious and holy man, it molds, and fafl'libns, and transforme9~ and conformes my mind~ to his Gmilitude ; even fo, and mucl1 more is it in this cafe; finct: the eye of faith works in the matter; which in it felfe is operat•ve and effectual , and therefore it cannot but work more, than where is only limple imitation, or naked medication; 0 then lee us fet the c,opy of Chriitslife, ens before defcri&ed)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=