BOOK 1. THE SUBJECT.
CHAPTER 3.
1.3.3. Use of Reproof.
Use of Reproof.
Well then, is inward experimental "looking unto Jesus" a choice, an high gospel-ordinance? How may this reprove thousands? How many are there that mind not this duty? The truth is, that as "the whole world lies in wickedness," 1 John v. 19. So the eyes of the whole world are misplaced; there is few that have a care of this choice, of this high gospel-ordinance. I shall therefore reprove both the ungodly, and godly.
1. First for the ungodly, "not God, nor Christ, is in all their thoughts," Psal. x. 4. Alas! they never heard of such a duty as this they cannot tell what it means to look unto Jesus. Nor speak I only of poor Indians, and other savages of the unchristian world, whose souls are overclouded with the blackest mists of irreligion, that the prince of darkness can possibly in wrap them in, who came into the world, not knowing wherefore, and go out of the world, not knowing whither, an heavy case, which cannot sufficiently be bewailed with tears of blood: but I speak of such as live within the paradise of the Christian church, that have nothing to distinguish them from these Indian miscreants, but an outward conformity, outward formalities, the charity of others, and their own slight imaginations. Why, alas! these are they, that the Lord complains of, that "they have eyes, and see not; my people have forgotten me days without number," Jer. ii. 32. They have negligently suffered me to be out of their minds, and that for a long time. You will say. Is there any such here? Can I tax any of you, that you should not look up to Jesus? Are not your eyes towards Christ in your prayers, praises, soliloquies, public and private duties? Nay, are not you now in the duty, whilst I am speaking, and you hearing?
I answer, however you may deem, that you do this, or that; yet God reckons it as a thing not done in these respects.
(a). When it is not done to purpose, as if our look to Christ, makes us not like Christ; a man may give a thousand glances every day towards Christ, yet if there be no effectual impression upon the heart, Christ takes it, as if he had never looked towards him at all.
(b). When it is done unwillingly. Sometimes men think of Christ, but they know not how to shun it : the Lord breaks in upon their spirits, whether they will or no, whereas their own temper is to follow, and to pursue other objects: thus you drop into our assemblies out of custom, or fashion, or for some sinister end, and here is Christ lifted up upon the pole, he is discovered in his beauties, graces, sweetnesses, excellencies, but when you see him, you say, "He hath no form nor comelinesss, there is no beauty, that we should desire him," Isa. liii. 2. Let no man deceive himself, though he cast his eves towards heaven all the day long, if he love not this work, he doth nothing, he looks not at Jesus.
(c). When it is not done according to the rule, "This is not to eat the Lord's supper," said Paul to his Corinthians, 1 Cor. xi. 20. No question they did eat it, but because it was not done after its due manner, he said "This is not to eat the Lord's supper." Many think of Christ, and look up to Jesus, but because their thoughts are not holy, awful and subjecting to the Spirit, in no way proportionable to the goodness and glory of the Son of God, they look loosely, carelessly and carnally upon him, he therefore reckons it as not done, this is not to look unto Jesus.
(d). When a man makes it not his course and trade to look unto Jesus. A man may come into a carpenter's house, and take up his tools, and do something at his work, but this makes him riot a carpenter, because it is not their trade. The best saints sin, yet because it is not their trade and course, they are said not to sin, "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not," 1 John v. 18. And so ungodly men may look, and muse, and meditate, and think of Christ, but because this is not their course and trade, they make it not their work to look to Christ, they are therefore said, not to look to him.
Why, now consider, you that plead that you are Christians, and that you mind Christ at this very instant, that you are in the duty, even whilst I am speaking of it, and yet you neither do it to purpose, nor willingly, nor according to rule, nor as it is your trade; it is not with you, as it was with them of whom Christ spake, Matth. vii. 22, 23. "Many will say to me at that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many -wonderful works?" They will plead at the last day as you plead now, but for all that, you know the answer, "I never knew you, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity." Surely Christ will say to you one day, I know you not, I was a stranger to you upon earth, I could not have an eye from you, but when your lazy idle spirits pleased; and now out of my sight, I will never own you, nor look upon you more.
2. For the godly, are not they careless of this duty. O their excursions from God! Sad dejections of Spirit! Inordinate affections of the world! And in the meanwhile, O the neglect of this gospel-ordinance even amongst saints themselves! I know not whether through want of skill, or through want of will, but sure I am this duty lies dormant, neglected of most of the people of God: their faults I may express in these respects.
(a). In not sending out their understandings, in not pointing their minds towards Jesus. "I write unto you," saith the apostle "to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance," 2 Peter iii. 1. It is in the original, (egeioein,) "to awaken your pure minds," and it was but need. See how David calls upon himself, "Awake, my glory!" Psal. lvii. 8. And see how Deborah calls upon herself, "Awake, awake, Deborah, awake, awake, utter a song," Judg. vii. 12. Awaking, is a word that imparts rousing, as birds that provoke their young ones by flight, to make use of their wings. Now, how few are there, that thus call upon themselves? It was the prophet's complaint, "No man stirs up himself to take hold of God," Isa. lxiv. 7. O what a shame is this! Is it fit that our understandings, which God hath entrusted us withal, should be no more improved? Is it fit, that our minds (those golden cabinets, which God hath given us to be filled with heavenly treasure) should either be empty, or stuffed with vanity, nothing, worse than nothing? O! that such glorious creatures as our souls, should lacquey after every creature, which should be an attendant upon Christ, which should be like angels, waiting and standing in the presence of our God! O that such glorious things as our immortal spirits, should run after vanity, and so become vain; which if rightly improved, should wake with angels, should lodge themselves in the bosom of the glorious God! Do we not see, how Christ is sending out to us continually? The thoughts of his heart are love, eternal love; and shall not we send out our thoughts towards him? Shall not we let our minds run out towards him?
(b). In not bending of their minds to this work. It may be the mind looks up, but it is so feeble, that, like an arrow shot from a bow weakly bent, it reacheth not the mark, it is the wise man's counsel, "Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might," Eccl. ix. 10. O that God's people should be so lazy, dull, sluggish, slothful in this spiritual work! As Jesus said to the multitudes concerning John, "What went ye out into the wilderness to see?" Matth, xi. 7. So may I ask believers in their looking unto Jesus. What went ye out to see? When ye crawl, and move, as if ye had no hearts, nor spirits within you, whom go ye forth to see? What, him that is the Lord of glory? What, him that is "the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person," Heb. i. 3. What, are such heavy and lazy aspects fit to take in such a glory as this is? You see in what large streams your thoughts fly forth to other things, and are you only languishing, weak and feeble in things of so great concernment? Oh that Christians should be so cold in spirituals, and hot in the pursuit of earthly temporal things?
(c). In not binding of their minds to this object, in not staying the eye on Jesus Christ. Some may give a glance at Christ, but they are presently wheeled off again: but why, doth not the eyes abide there, at least till it come to some profitable issue? Is not Christ worthy on whom oar souls should dwell? Certainly, if we love our Jesus, that love will hold us: Christ then will be in our thoughts and minds, and we cannot be off him. As the load-stone having drawn the iron, it keeps it fast to itself, so, if love draw our hearts, it holds them fast to the object loved. Christ himself acknowledged! such an operation of love upon himself, "Turn away thine eyes, for they have overcome me. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse, with one of thine eyes," Cant. vi. 5. iv. 9. Christ was held in the galleries, and captivated with love to his people, so that his eye, was ever upon them. Nay, he could not get his eyes off them, "Can a mother forget her child? No more can I forget you, "Isa. xlix. 14. And is Christ so tender in his love towards us, that he ever minds us, and shall our minds be so loose to him? so fluttering, and fleeting? Shall there be no more care to bind ourselves in cords of love to him, who hath bound himself in such cords of love to us?
(d). In not daily exercising this blessed duty: it may be now and then they are awakened, and they get up into heaven to see their Jesus, but it is not daily. Oh consider! Is this now and then going to heaven within the veil, to live the life of friends? Is this to carry ourselves as children? What, to be so strange at home? But now and then? Once in a month, in a year? There to be seldom, where we should always be? Is Jesus Christ such a mean thing, that a visit now and then should serve the turn? The queen of Sheba hearing Solomon's wisdom. Oh! said she, "Blessed are those thy servants, that always stand before thee, and hear thy wisdom," 1 Kings x. 3. If she was so taken with Solomon, remember, "That a greater than Solomon is here and shall we deprive ourselves of that blessedness, which we might enjoy, by standing always in the presence of Christ, to hear his wisdom, and to behold his glory? Oh! my brethren, let us take shame to ourselves, that to this day we have been so careless in sending, bending, binding our minds to this blessed object Jesus Christ: yea, let us blush that we have not made it our daily business. David describes the blessed man by his "delighting in the law of the Lord," and by his "meditating on that law day and night," Psal. i. 2. How then is he to be reproved, that neither meditates on the law of the Lord, nor on the Lord the lawmaker, day and night? O alas! we keep not a constant course, we are not daily in the exercise of viewing Jesus. Nay, I fear we look upon this duty of looking unto Jesus, as a questionable thing; it seems to many as a duty unknown, unheard of, unthought of, it is not in their notice, and how should it be in their practice? But I leave this first use.