BOOK 3. THE PROMISE.
CHAPTER 2.
3.2.1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation from the Creation until his first Coming.
Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation from the Creation until his first Coming.
Looking comprehends knowing, considering, desiring, etc. as you have heard; and accordingly that we may practise.
We must know Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation in the beginning, and from the beginning of the world; come let us learn what he did for us so early in the morning of this world: he made it for us, and he made us more especially for his own glory; but presently after we were made, we sinned and marred the image wherein God made us; this was the saddest act that ever was: it was the undoing of man, and (without God's mercy) the damning of all souls both of men and women to all eternity; O my soul! "Know this for thyself," thou was in the loins of Adam at that same time, so that what he did, thou didst; thou was partaker of his sins, and thou wast to partake with him in his punishment: but well mayest thou say, "Blessed be God for Jesus Christ," at the very instant when all should have been damned, Christ intervened; a covenant of grace is made with man, and Christ is the foundation, in and through whom we must be reconciled unto God: come, soul, and study this covenant of grace in reference to thyself. Had not this been, where hadst thou been? Nay, where had all the world been at this day? Surely it concerns thee to take notice of this great transaction. After man had fallen by sin, Christ is promised; and that all the saints might partake of Christ, a covenant is entered; this at the beginning of the world was more dim, but the nearer to Christ's coming in the flesh, the more and more clearly it appeared: howsoever dimly, or clearly, thus it pleased God in Christ to carry on the great work of our salvation at that time, viz. By a promise of Christ, and by a covenant in Christ: and for thy better knowledge of it, study the promise made to Adam, and Abraham, and Moses, and David, and Israel. Come, soul, study these several breakings out of the covenant of grace; it is worth thy pains, it is "a mystery which hath been hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to the saints," Col. i. 26 . Here lies the first and most firm foundation of a Christian's comfort; if thou canst but study this and assure thyself of thy part in this, thou art blessed forever. O how incomparably sweet and satisfying is it to a self-studying Christian, to know the faithful engagements of the Almighty God, through that Son of his loves, in a covenant of grace.