Lo~king unto j.ejttS. · Book I. which t~ey nave that are in the exercife ot this duty. Wou~d you know wherein lies the power ofChrifi? I anfwer, in cafiing down the {hong holds of finne, in overthrowing Sa tan, in humbling mem hearts, in fanaifying their fouls , in purifyir.g their co , fciences , in bringing their thoughts to the obedience of . Chrifl:, in making them able to endure affl!d ions,in caufing them to grow and encreafe in all heavenly graces ; and this power they partake of, who rightly and experimentally /<)()~ up to Chrifr. But if this duty be neglected, there is no fuch thing ; hence we call this the duty of duties,theichief duty, t h-e eff;eci:d dutj; and for all other d;•ties, 1imme:s, ordinances, if ~h':ift be · not in themthey are nothmg worth; In every duty thLs 1s the -etfential part, that we fool( through all, unto 'fe[UJ; it is onely ' from Chrifi that vertue, and efficacie is communicated in fpiritual Ordinances; the·re were many people in a throng about Chrifi, but the infirme woman that touched him, was fhe alune that fdt efficacie come from him; we fee many attend the Ordinances, frequent the Affemblies, but fome few onely fin de the "inward power ofChrift derived unto their-fouls. They that rieg- ·lect, or are groffely ignorant ofthis great myfl:ery of !ookjng Ptn· to 'fefm, are no better then ftrangers to the power of Chrift. 6. They have not that fenfe of the worth and excellency of Chrifl:, that are umcquainted with this duty; they are not fo ·ravifhed wicht1is beauty, they are not fo taken with the fweetnetfe and pleafantnefsofrhe face ofChrift;he is not the faireft of ten thoufands in their eyes ;·and hence it is that they do not plea- .fare, long after, deHght or joy themfe!ves in Chrift : indeed thefe . affections are the Evidences of our high efl:eeme ;/ they th~c rejoyce not in Chrifi, nor have any longings after Chritt, they put a very unworthy pric~ upon Chrift. 7· They have notthat fenfe either of their own wants, or of · tl1~ worlds vanity, who are not in the practice of this duty. In thtsgla1fe we fee that man is blinde, and no ·~unne but Chrift can ,illighten him; that man is naked,and no garment but Chri{h can ' do~th h!m; that man is poor, and no treafure but Chrifi can ·· ennch !11m; · that man is indebted and none but Chrift can make ' fatisfaction for him; that man is'ernpty , and .none but Chrifl: ;can fill him ; that man is diftre1fed, perplexed, tormented, and ·none but Chrift can quiet him. Why all this, and much more 'i f 2 - · - 'then 35
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=