BOOK 5. THE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER 5.
5.5.1. Of Knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his Life.
Of Knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his Life.
From the object considered, that we may pass to the act.
Let us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation during his life. We have many books of the lives of men, of the lives of Heathens, of the lives of Christians, and by this we come to know the generations of old: Oh, but above all, read over the life of Jesus, for that is worth thy knowing. To this purpose we have four evangelists, who, in blessed harmony, set forth his life; and to this purpose, we have "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ," Matth. i. 1. Now these should be read over and over, Hos. vi. 3. "Then shall we know, (saith the prophet) if we follow on to know the Lord." Ah, my soul! that which thou knowest of Christ already, it is but the least part of what thou art ignorant of, 1 Cor. xiii. 9. "We know but in part," saith Paul of himself and others: the highest knowledge which the most illuminate saints have of Jesus Christ, is but defective and imperfect. Come then, and "follow on to know the Lord;" still enquire after him, imitate the angels, 1 Pet. ii. 12. Who ever "desire to stoop down, and to pry into the actings of Christ for us men, and for our salvation; it is their study, yea, it is their delight and recreation; Paul seemed to imitate them, when he said, 1 Cor. ii. 2. "I determine not to know anything among you but Jesus Christ." If there be anything in the world worth the knowing, this is it. And for thy better knowledge, that it may not be confused, but distinct; --
1. Study over those passages in the first year of Christ's ministry, as the preaching of John, the baptism of Christ, his fasting and temptation in the wilderness, his first manifestation by his several witnesses, his whipping of the buyers and sellers out of the temple.
2. Study over those passages in the second year of Christ's ministry, as those several sermons that he preached; and because his miracles were as signals of his sermons, study the several miracles that he wrought; thou hast but a few instances in comparison of all his miracles, and yet how fruitful are they of spiritual instructions?
3. Study over those passages in the third year of Christ's ministry: As his commissioning his apostles to call sinners in, his readiness to receive them that would but come in: and his sweetening the ways of Christianity to them that are come in; "For his yoke is easy, and his burden is light."
4. Study over those passages in the last year of his ministry; as the holiness of his nature, and the holiness of his life, which appeared, especially in the exercises of his graces of charity, and self-denial, and mercy, and bounty, and meekness, and pity, and humility, and obedience. Oh, what rare matter is here for a Christian's study? Some have taken, such pains in the study of these things, that they have written large volumes; men have been writing and preaching a thousand six hundred years of the life of Christ, and they are writing and preaching still. O my soul, if thou dost not write, yet study what is written; come with fixed thoughts, and beat thy brains on that blessed subject, that will make thee wise unto salvation. Paul accounted all things but dung, or dog's meat, "For the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord," Phil. iii. 8. If thou didst truly understand the excellency of this knowledge, thou couldst not but account all things loss in comparison of this one necessary thing.