to droTOfie SAINTS. thought to know Jefus Chrift fo long a time, yet they do not know him. Chrift takes this very ill, as he told Philip, Have l been fo long time with you, and haft thou nor known me,Philip ? Joh. t 49. Chrift could be even angry with him, for learning him no better : what little fpirit is there in Chriftians now allays l a figne,though they have been a long time a learning Chrift, yet they hardly know him : For if we knew him, Brethren, we could not bee at enmity with the holy Spirit. We do not look up to Chrift. You will fay, what is it to look up to Chrift in all your wayes ? I Anfwer, It is to follow Chrift, as where John faid,Be. hold the Lamb of god that takes away the fnnesof the world. The Text fayes,77mt two of his Dif ciples went away and fol- lowed after Jefus, Joh. 1.36,37. 0 thought they, is he the Lambe of God, does hee take away the fins of the world, we will follow him then. John bade them look at him, and they followed after him, that is, they lookt at him in- deed, as a man looks at one whom he followes : when a man fo looks up to Chrift, that he followes him ; when a man fees him his onely meanes to bee happy , and godly, and in the favour of God , the oncly meanes to doe well, and to be well, and delires indeed to follow after him, this is to look up to Chrill , when a man labours fincerely to fol- low the counlell and direction of Chrift, in all his wayes; He bids him to deny himfelfe, and that is the thing that he labours for ; He bids him to repent of all his finnes, and to ply himfelf to all Gods holy paths, and to rely opon him for ftrength and acceptance,and mercy and pardon,and every bit fling. What -ever thing hee looks for at the hands of God, he Pets himfelfe to follow Chrifts counfell, and to expeá it in him. If he fees his finnes,he looks up to Chrift, and there bee fees his death to defray them ; when he fees what power they have over him , he looks up to Chrift for his Spirit to fubdue them , in the ale of all thofe means that he bath appointed ; Prayer, Meditation, Watchfulneffe, Striving, Purpofing, Endeavouring,andFighting againft all the 87
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