BOOK 5. THE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER 5.
5.5.9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that Respect.
Of Conforming to Jesus in that Respect.
Let us conform to Jesus, as be acted for us in his life. Looking to Jesus intends this especially; we must look as one looks to his pattern; as mariners at sea, that they may run a right course, keep an eye on that ship that bears the light; so, in the race that is set before us, we must have our eye on Jesus, our blessed pattern. This must be our constant query, "Is this the course that Jesus steered?" Or that I may enlarge. --
In this particular I shall examine these three queries: First, Wherein we must conform? Second, Why we must conform? Third, How we must conform to this life of Jesus.
For the First. Wherein we must conform? I answer, --
1. Negatively, We must not, cannot conform to Christ, in these works proper to his Godhead, as in working miracles. I deny not but that the works of miracles were by way of privilege, and temporary dispensation granted to the apostles and some others, but this was but for ministry and service, not for their sanctity or salvation; nor must we conform to Christ in those works of his mediation, as, in redeeming souls, in satisfying divine justice for our sin, Psal. xlix. 7. "No man can redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him," 1 Tim. ii. 5. "There is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." Nor must we conform to Christ in those works of his government, and influence unto his church, as in his dispensing of his Spirit; in quickening of his word; in subduing of his enemies; in collecting of his members: all these are personal honours, which belong unto Christ, as he is head of the church: and to these works, if we should endeavour to conform, we should crack our sinews, dissolve our silver cords, and never the nearer. Nor need we to conform to Christ in some other particulars, in his voluntary poverty, "he became poor for our sakes," 2 Cor. viii. 9. In his ceremonial performances, as going up to Jerusalem at the feasts in his perpetual grave deportment: we never read that Jesus laughed, and but once or twice he rejoiced in spirit. Alas! the declensions of our natures cannot come up to this pattern, nor do I look at these passages as any acts of moral obedience at all.
2. Affirmatively or positively, we must conform to Christ's life:
(a). In respect of his judgment, will, affections, compassions. Look we at his Spirit, observe what mind was in Jesus Christ, and therein do we endeavour to conform, Phil. ii. 5. "Let the same mind be in you (saith the apostle) which was in Christ; and "we have the mind of Christ," (saith the apostle) 1 Cor. ii. 16.
(b). In respect of his virtues, graces, habitual holiness. Matt. xi. 29. "Learn of me (saith Christ) for I am meek and lowly in heart," Christ was of a meek and gentle spirit, "I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ," saith Paul, 2 Cor. x. 2. And Christ was of an humble and lowly spirit, Phil. ii. 6, 7. "Being in the form of God, he thought it no robbery to be equal with God: yet he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant." I might instance in all other graces, for he had them all in fulness, "And of his fulness have we all received, grace for grace," John i. 16.
(c). In respect of his words, talk, spiritual and heavenly language. The very officers of the priests could say of Christ, "Never man spake like this man" John vii. 46. And sometimes they "all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth," Luke iv. 22. He never sinned in word, "neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again," 1 Pet. ii. 22, 23. The apostle, speaking thus of Christ, he tells us. "That herein Christ left us an example, that we should follow his steps," verse 21.
(d). In respect of his carriage, conversation, close walking with God. The apostle sets forth Christ as an high priest, who "was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners," Heb. vii. 26 . And in like manner, saith Peter, "Ye area chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye would show forth the virtues of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light," 1 Pet. ii. 9. That ye should show forth the virtue, (i.e.) That in your lives and conversations, you should express those graces and virtues which were so eminent and exemplary in Jesus Christ: that you should not only have them, but that you should hold them forth; (euangelein,) the word signifies properly to preach, so clearly should we express the virtues of Christ, as if our lives were so many sermons of the life of Christ.
(e). In respect of all his acts, practices, duties of moral obedience: we find in the life of Christ many particular carriages, and acts of obedience to his heavenly Father, whereof some were moral, and some ceremonial. Now, all these are not for our imitation, but only such moral acts, as concerning which we have both his pattern and precept: come let us mark this one rule, and we need no more, whatsoever he commanded, and whatsoever he did, of precise morality, we are therein bound to follow his steps. I join together his commands and deeds, because in those things which he did, but commands not, we need not to conform; but in those things which he both did, and commanded, we are bound to follow him. In such a case, his laws, and practice differ, but as a map and guide, a law, a judge, a rule and precedent.
In respect of all these particulars, and especially in respect of Christ's moral obedience, the whole life of Christ was a discipline, a living, shining and exemplary precept unto men; and hence it is that we find such names given to him in scripture, as signifies not only pre-eminence, but exemplariness; thus he was called "A prince, Dan. ix. 25. A leader, Isa. lv. 4. A governor, Matth. ii. 6. A captain, Heb. ii. 10. A chief shepherd, 1 Pet. v. 4. A forerunner or conductor into glory, Heb. ii. 20. A light to the Jews, Exod. xiii. 21. A light to the Gentiles, Luke ii. 3. A light to every man that entereth into the world, John i. 9." All which titles, as they declared, his dignity, so his exemplariness, that he was the author and pattern of holiness to his people. And as for all other saints, though they are imitable, yet with limitation unto him, only so far as they express his life in their conversation, 1 Cor. xi. 1. "Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ."
For the Second. Why we must conform? Upon what motives? I answer;
1. Because Christ hath done and suffered very much to that end and purpose. Sometimes I have wondered why Christ would do so much, and suffer so much, as the evangelists, in their histories, relate. This I believe, that Jesus was perfect God, and perfect man; and that every action of his life, and but one hour of his passion and death, might have been satisfactory, and enough for the expiation and reconcilement of ten thousand worlds. But now I am answered, that all those instances of holiness, and all those kinds of virtues, and all those degrees of his passion, and all that effusion of his blood, was partly on this account, that he might become an example to us, that he might shine to all the ages and generations of the world, and so be a guiding star, and a pillar of fire to them in their journey towards heaven. O my soul! how doth this call on thee to conform to Christ? What? that a smaller expense should be enough to thy justification: and yet that the whole magazine should not procure thy sanctification? That, at a lesser sum of obedience, God might have pardoned thy sin; and yet, at a greater sum, thou wilt not so much as imitate his holiness? In a dark night, if an ignis fatuus go before thee, thou art so amused with that little flame, that thou art apt to follow it, and lose thyself; and wilt thou not follow the glories of the Sun of righteousness, who by so many instances calls upon thee, and who will guide thee into safety, and secure thee against all imaginable dangers? God forbid! If it had not been for thy imitation, l cannot think that Christ should have lived on earth so many years to have done so many gracious meritorious works, O think of this!
2. Because Christ is the best and the highest exemplar of holiness that ever the world had; hence we must needs conform to Christ, (as the apostle argues) because "he is the first born among many brethren," Rom. viii. 29 . The first in every kind is propounded as a pattern of the rest; now Christ is the first born, Christ is the head of all the predestinate, as the first born was wont to be the head in all families. The old saying is, Regis ad examplar, etc. A very deformity was sometimes counted an honour, if it were an imitation of the prince. It is storied of Nero, that having a wry neck, there was such an ambition in men to follow the court, that it became the fashion and gallantry of those times, to hold their necks awry; and shall not Christ the king of saints be much more imitated by the saints? Christ is "the head of the body, the beginning, the first born from the dead, in all things he hath the pre-eminence," Col. i. 18. And the rule is general, that, "That that which is first, and best in any kind, is the rule and measure of all the rest." Why, such is Christ, O then let him be the guide of our life, and of our manners.
3. Because Christ doth not only give us an example, but he doth cherish, succour, and assist us by its easiness, complacency, and proportion to us. Some sweetly observe, that "Christ's piety (which we must imitate) was even, constant, unblameable, complying with civil society, without any affrightment of precedent, or without any prodigious instances of actions, greater than the imitation of men." We are not commanded to imitate a life, whose story tells us of ecstasies in prayer, of abstractions of senses, of extraordinary fastings to the weakening of our spirits, and disabling of all animal operations; no, no; but a life of justice, and temperance, and chastity, and piety, and charity, and devotion: such a life as without which human society cannot be conserved: -- And it is very remarkable, that besides the easiness of this imitation, there is a virtue in the life of Christ; a merit and impetration in the several passages of Christ's life, to work out our imitation of him. In the Bohemian history, it is reported, that Winceslaus their king, one winter's night going to his devotion in a remote church, his servant Pedavivus, who waited on his master, and endeavoured to imitate his master's piety: he began to faint through the violence of the snow, and cold; at last the king commanded him to follow him, and to set his feet, on the same footsteps which his feet should mark, and set down for him; the servant did so, and presently he fancied, or found a cure. Thus Christ deals with us; it may be we think our way to heaven is troublesome, obscure, and full of objection; well, saith Christ, "But mark my footsteps; come on and tread where I have stood, and you shall find the virtue of my example will make all smooth, and easy; you shall find the comforts of my company, you shall feel the virtue and influence of a perpetual guide."
4. Because Christ in his word hath commanded us to follow his steps, Matt, xi, 29. "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart," John xiii. 13, 14, 15, "And ye call me Master, and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am: If I then your Lord and master have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet, for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you," Col. iii. 12 , 13. "Put on therefore bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; if any man have a quarrel against you, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye," 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. "And as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy." -- Against this same object. How can we be holy as Christ is holy? first, the thing is impossible; and, secondly. If we could, there would be no need of Christ? But I answer to the first; the thing if rightly understood, is not impossible: we are commanded to be holy as Christ is holy, not in respect of equality, as if our holiness must be of the same compass with the holiness of Christ: but in respect of quality, our holiness must be of the same stamp, and truth, as the holiness of Christ; as when the apostle saith, Rom. xiii. 9. "That we must love our neighbour as ourselves:" the meaning is not, that our love to our neighbour should be mathematically equal to the love of ourselves, for the law doth allow of degrees in love, according to the degrees of relation in the thing beloved, Rom. xii. 9. "Do good unto all men, especially to those of the household of faith." Love to a friend may safely be greater than love to a stranger; or love to a wife, or child, may safely be greater than love to a friend: yet in all our love to others, it must be of the self same nature, as true, as real, as cordial, as sincere, as solid as that to ourselves; "We must love our neighbour as ourselves," (i.e.) unfeignedly and without dissimulation. -- Again, I answer, to the second, Christ is needful, notwithstanding our utmost holiness, in two respects: First: Because we cannot come to full and perfect holiness, and so his grace is requisite to pardon and cover our failings. Second: Because that which we do attain unto, it is not of, or from ourselves, and so his Spirit is requisite, to strengthen us unto his service. We must be holy as Christ is holy, yet still we must look at the holiness of Christ, as the sun, and root, and fountain; and that our holiness is but as a beam of that sun, but as a branch of that root, but as a stream of that fountain.
For the Third. How must we conform to this life? I answer;
1. Let us frame to ourselves some idea of Christ, let us set before us the life of Christ in the whole, and all the parts of it, as we find it recorded in God's book. It would be a large picture if I should draw it to the full, but for a taste, I shall give it in few lines. Now then, setting aside the consideration of Christ as God, or as Mediator, or as head of his church; --
(a). I look at the mind of Christ, at his judgment, will, affections; such as love, joy, delight, and the rest; and especially at the compassions of Jesus Christ. O the dear affections and compassions which Christ had towards the sons of men! this was his errand from heaven, and while he was upon the earth he was ever acting it, I mean his pitifulness, I mean his affections, and compassion "in healing broken hearts," Luke iv. 18. So the Psalmist, Psal. cxlvii. 2. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." It is spoken after the manner of a chirurgeon: he had a tender heart towards all broken hearts: he endeavours to put all broken bones into their native place again: nor speak I thus only of him in respect of his office; but as he was man, he had in him such a mind, that he could not but compassionate all in misery: O what bowels, what stirrings and boilings, and wrestlings of a pained heart, touched with sorrow, was ever, upon occasion, in Jesus Christ! peruse these texts. Matt. xiv. 14. "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and he was moved with compassion towards them, and he healed their sick," Mark vi. 34. "And Jesus when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion towards them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd," Mark i. 40, 41, "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean: and Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean," Matt, xv. 32. "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude." And for the two blind men that cried out, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David it is said, that "Jesus stood still, and he had compassion on them, and touched their eyes," Matt, xx. 34. And the poor prodigal returning, Luke xv. 20. "When he was yet a great way off; his Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." How sweet is this last instance! that our sense of sinful weakness should be sorrow and pain to the bowels and heart of Jesus Christ? You that are parents of young children, let me put the case, If some of you standing in the relation of a father, should see his child sweat and wrestle under an overload, till his back were almost broken, and that you should hear him cry, "Oh I am gone, I faint, I sink, I die: would not your bowels be moved to pity: And would not your hands be stretched out to help? Or, if some of you standing in the relation of a mother, should see your sucking child fallen into a pit, and wrestling with the water, and crying for help, would you not stir, nor be moved in heart, nor run to deliver the child from being drowned? Surely you would, and yet all this pity and compassion of yours is but as a shadow of the compassions and dear affections that were and are in the heart of Jesus Christ: O he had a mind devoid of sin, and therefore it could not but be full of pity, mercy, and tender bowels of compassion.
(b). I look at the grace in Christ; O he was full of grace, yea, full of all the graces of the Spirit, Cant i. 13, 14. "A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved to me; -- My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi." A bundle of myrrh and a cluster of camphire denote all the graces of the Spirit; as many flowers are bound together in a nosegay, so the variety of the graces of the Spirit concentered in the heart of Jesus Christ, Ex. gr.
(i). In him was meekness. Matt. xxi. 5. "He cometh unto the meek;" he had a sweet command and moderation of his anger; he was meek as Moses; nay, though Moses was very meek, "and very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth," Numb. xii. 3. Yet Christ's meekness exceeded Moses,' as the body doth exceed the shadow.
(ii). In him was humility: he saved not the world by his power but by his humility: in his incarnation Christ would be humble; and therefore he was born of a poor virgin, in a common inn: in his life, his way on earth was a continual lecture of humility: a little before his death, he gave such an example of humility as never was the like, John xiii. 5. "He poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet." O ye apostles, why tremble ye not at the wonderful sight of this so great humility? Peter, what dost thou? Wilt thou ever yield, that this Lord of majesty should wash thy feet? Methinks I hear Peter saying, "What, Lord, wilt thou wash my feet? Art not thou the Son of the living God, the Creator of the world, the beauty of the heavens, the paradise of angels, the Redeemer of men, the brightness of the Father's glory? And I, what am I, but a worm, a clod of earth, a miserable sinner? and wilt thou, notwithstanding all this, wash my feet? Leave, Lord, O leave this base office for thy servants; lay down thy towel and put on thy apparel again; beware that the heavens, or the angels of heaven be not ashamed of it, when they shall see that by this ceremony thou settest them beneath the earth; take heed least the daughter of king Saul despise thee not, when she shall see thee girded about with this towel after the manner of a servant, and shall say, That she will not take thee for her beloved, and much less for her God, whom she seeth to attend upon so base an office." Thus may I imagine Peter to bespeak his master, but he little knew what glory lay hid in this humility of Christ; it was for us, and our example: an humble Christ to make humble Christians.
(iii). In him was patience; O when I think of Christ's labours in preaching, weariness in travelling, watchfulness in praying, tears in compassionating; and when I add to all these his submission of Spirit, notwithstanding all the affronts, injuries, and exprobrations of men: How should I but cry out, "O the patience of Christ!" The apostle tells us, 1 Pet. ii. 23. that "when he was reviled, he reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened net, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." -- I have already given you a touch of the graces of Christ, which now I may set before me. In him was wisdom, and knowledge and justice, and mercy, and temperance, and fortitude, and every virtue, or every grace that possibly I can think of: "A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved unto me, as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi."
(c). I look at the conversation of Christ in word and deed; for his words they were gracious. Not an idle word ever came out of the lips of Christ; himself tells us, that "of every idle word we must give all account," Matt. xii. 36. O then how free was Christ of every idle word? He knew the times and seasons when to speak, and when to be silent; he weighed every word with every circumstance, time and place and manner and matter, Eccles. iii. 7. "There is a time to keep silent, and a time to speak," said Solomon, when he returned again to his wisdom; and hence we read, that sometimes Jesus being accused, he held his peace, and when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing, Matt. xxvi. 63. and xxvii. 12. But other whiles he pours out whole cataracts of holy instructions: he takes occasion of vines, of stones, of waters, and sheep, to speak a word in season; he is still discoursing of the matters of the kingdom of heaven, and he speaks such words as give grace unto all the hearers round about him; so for his deeds and actions they were full of grace and goodness. The apostle Peter gives him this character, (which I look upon as a little description of Christ's life) "who went about doing good," Acts x. 38. It was his meat and drink to do all the good he could; it was as natural to him to do good, as it is for a fountain to stream out; he was holy and heavenly, unspotted every way; O the sweet conversation of Christ! How humbly carries he it among men? How benignly towards his disciples? How pitiful was he towards the poor? To whom, (as we read) he made himself most like, 2 Cor. viii. 9. "He became poor, that we might be made rich," he despised or abhorred none, no not the very lepers that were eschewed of all; he flattered not the rich and honourable, he was most free from the cares of the world, his prescriptions were, "Care not for the things of the morrow and in himself he was never anxious of bodily needs, above all, he was most solicitous of saving souls. Much more I might add, if I should go over the particulars in the gospel; but by these few expressions of Jesus Christ, we may conceive of all the rest.
2. Let us be humbled for our great unconformity to this copy: what an excellent pattern is here before us! And how far, how infinitely do we come short of this blessed pattern? O alas! if Christ will not own me, unless he sees his image written upon me, what will become of my poor soul? Why, Christ was meek, and humble, and lowly in spirit; Christ was holy and heavenly, Christ ever went about doing good: and now when I come to examine my own heart according to this original, I find naturally a mere antipathy, a contrariety, I am as opposite to Christ, as hell and heaven;
(a). For my thoughts; within I am full of pride and malice; I am full of the spirit of the world; what is there in my heart but a world of passions, rebellions, darkness and deadness of spirit to good? And,
(b). If the fountain be so muddy, can I expect clear streams? What words are these that come many a time from me? Christ would not speak an idle word, but how many idle, evil, sinful words come daily flowing from my lips? "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." And if I may guess at my heart by my words, where was my heart this sabbath, and the other sabbath, when my discourse was all on my calling, or on the world, or, it may be, on my lusts, or on my Dalilahs, on my right hand sins, or on my right eye sins? And,
(c). What actions are these so frequently performed by me? If I must read my state by my conversation, "Whose image and superscription is this?" The last oath I sware, the last blasphemy I belched out, the last act of drunkenness, idolatry, adultery I committed: (or if these sins are not fit to be named) the last piece of wrong I did my neighbour, the last prank of pride I played on this stage of the world, the last expense of time when I did no good in the world, neither to myself nor others, the last omission of good as well as commission of evil: O my soul, whose image is this? Is it the image of Christ or of Satan? If the worst scholar in the school should write thus untowardly after his copy, would he not be ashamed? If in my heart and life I observe so many blots and stains, so great inconformity and dissimilitude to the life of Christ, how should I but lie in the dust? O woe is me! What a vast disproportion is betwixt Christ's life and mine? Why thus, O my soul shouldst thou humble thyself; each morning, each prayer, each meditation, each self-examination, shouldst thou fetch new, fresh, clear, particular causes, occasions, matters of humiliation: as thus, Lo, there the evenness, gravity, graciousness, uniformity, holiness, spiritualities, divineness, heavenliness of Jesus Christ: Lo, there the fragrant zeal, dear love, tender pity, constant industry, unwearied pains, patience, admirable self-denial, contempt of the world in Jesus Christ; lo, there those many, yea, continual devout, divine breathings of soul after God, his Father's glory, after the spiritual and immortal good of the precious souls of his redeemed ones: Oh! All the admirable meekness, mercifulness, clemency, charity, with all other excellent temperature, rare composure, wonderful order of his blessed soul! O the sweet expressions, gracious conversation! O the glorious shine, blessed lustre of his divine soul! Oh the sweet countenance, sacred discourse, ravishing demeanor, winning deportment of Jesus Christ! And now I reflect upon myself. Oh, Alas! Oh the total, wide, vast, utter difference, distance, disproportion of mine therefrom! I should punctually answer, perfectly resemble, accurately imitate, exactly conform to this life of Christ, but ah my unevenness, lightness, vanity! Ah my rudeness, grossness, deformity, odiousness, slightness, contemptibleness, execrableness! Ah my sensuality, brutishness, devilishness! how clearly are these, and all other my enormities discovered, discerned, made evident, and plain by the blessed and holy life of Jesus? So true is that rule, Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt.
3. Let us quicken, provoke, and incense our sluggish drowsy souls to conform to Christ. If we will but strictly observe our hearts, we shall find them very backward to this duty, and therefore let us call upon our souls as David did, Psal. ciii. 1. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all that is within me bless his holy name:" let us work upon our souls by reasoning with our own hearts, as if we discoursed with them thus, "O my heart," or, "O my soul," if in the deep councils of eternity this was God's great design to make his Son like thee, that thou also mightest be like his Son, how then shouldst thou but endeavour to conform? And what says the apostle? Rom. viii. 29. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son;" this was one of his great purposes from eternity; this law God set down before he made the world, that I should conform to his Son; and what, O my soul, wouldst thou break the eternal bands of predestination? O, God forbid! Again, if this was one of the ends of Christ's coming to destroy the works of the devil, to deface all Satan's works, especially his work in me, his image in me, and to set his own stamp my soul; how then should I but endeavour to conform; I read but of two ends of Christ's coming into the world in relation to us, whereof the first was to redeem his people, and the other to purify his people, Titus ii. 14. "He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." The one is the work of his merit, which goeth upward, to the satisfaction of his Father: the other is the work of his Spirit and grace, which goeth downwards to the sanctification of his church; in the one he bestoweth his righteousness on us by imputation, on the other he fashioneih his image in us by renovation; and what, O my soul, wouldst thou destroy the end of Christ's coming in the flesh? Or wouldst thou miss of that end for which Christ came in relation to thy good? O, God forbid! again, consider the example of the saints before thee; if this was their holy ambition to be like their Jesus, emulate them in this; for this is a blessed emulation. It is observable how the heathens themselves had learned a rule very near to this; "Seneca advised, that every man should propound to himself the example of some wise and virtuous personage, as Cato, or Socrates, or the like." (Senec. ep. 11.) And really to take his life as the direction of all their actions; but is not the life of Jesus far more precious, and infinitely more worthy of imitation? We read in history of one Cecilia a virgin, who accustomed herself to the beholding of Christ for imitation, and to that purpose she ever carried in her breast some pieces of the gospel which she had gathered out of all the evangelists, and thereon night and day she was either reading or meditating; this work she carried on in such a circulation, that at last she grew perfect in it, and so enjoyed Christ and the gospel, not only in her breast, but also in the secrets of her heart; as appeared by her love of Christ, and confidence in Christ, and familiarity with Christ; as also by her contempt of the world, and all its glory, for Christ's sake; there is some resemblance of this in the spouse, when she resolved of Christ, Cant. i. 13. "He shall lie all night betwixt my breasts," q.d. He shall be as near me as near may be; my meditation (and by consequence my imitation) of him shall be constant and continual; not only in the day, but he "shall lie all night betwixt my breasts." What, O my soul, was this the practice of the saints? And wilt thou not be of that communion? O, God forbid? Thus let us quicken and provoke our souls to this conformity; let us excite, rouse, incense, awake, and sharpen our wretched, sluggish, drowsy, lazy souls; our faint, feeble, flagging, faultering, drooping, languishing affections, desires, endeavours! let us with enlarged industry, engage and encourage our backward and remiss spirits to fall upon this duty of conformity, again and again; let us come up higher towards it, or, if possible, we may, completely to it, that the same mind, and mouth, and life, may be in us that was in Jesus Christ, that we may be found to walk after Christ, that we may tread in the very prints of the feet of Christ, that we may climb up after him into the same heavenly kingdom, that we may aspire continually towards him, and grow up to him, even "to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
4. Let us regulate ourselves by the life of Christ: whatsoever action we go about, let us do it by this rule, what, would Christ have done this, or at least, would Christ have allowed this? It is true, some things are expedient and lawful with us, which were not suitable to the person of Christ. "Marriage is honourable with all men, and the bed undefiled: but it did not befit his person, who came into the world only to spiritual purposes, to beget sons and daughters. Writing of books is commendable with men, because like Abel, being dead, they may still speak, and teach these who never saw thorn, but it would have been derogatory to the person and office of Christ, for it is his prerogative to be in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, to be present to all his members, to teach by power, and not by ministry, to write his law in the hearts of his people, and to make them his epistle. Contrition, compunction, mortification, repentance for sin, are acts and duties necessary to our state and condition; for we are sinners, and sinners of the Gentiles, "To whom God also hath granted repentance unto life," Acts xi. 18. But these were in no sort agreeable to Christ; for he was without sin, and needed not repentance, nor to any part of it. The several states of men, as of governors, kings, judges, lawyers, merchants, etc. are convenient for us, otherwise what a tax and confusion would there be in the world? And yet Jesus never put himself into any of these states, John xviii. 36. "My kingdom (says he) is not of this world." Now, as in these things we must only respect the allowance of Christ, so in other things we must reflect upon the example of Christ; as, (a). In sinful acts eschewed by Christ. (b). In moral duties that were done by Christ.
(a). In sinful acts eschewed by Christ, as when I am tempted to sin, then am I to reason thus with myself; would my blessed Saviour if he were upon earth, do thus and thus; When I am tempted to looseness and immoderate living, then am I to ask conscience such a question as this, would Christ have done thus; Would he have spent such a life upon earth as I do? When I am moved by my own corruption, or by Satan, to drunkenness, gluttony, sinful and desperate society, to swearing, cursing, revenge, or the like; then am I to ask. Is this the life that Christ led! Or, if he were to live again, would he live after this manner! When I fall into passion, peevishness, rash words, or if it be but idle words, then am I to consider, O but would Christ speak thus? Would this be his language? Would such a rotten or unprofitable speech as this drop from his honey lips?
(b). In case of moral obedience, concerning which we have both his pattern and precept, I look upon Christ as my rule, and I question thus. Did Christ frequently pray both with his disciples, and alone by himself? And shall I never in my family, or in my closet think upon God! Did Christ open his wounds for me, and shall I not open my mouth to him? Did Christ serve God without all self ends, merely in obedience and to glorify him? And shall I make God's worship subordinate to my aims and turns? Did Christ show mercy to his very enemies? And shall I be cruel to Christ's very members? O my soul, look in all thy sins, and in all thy duties to thy original; and measure them by the holiness of Christ, Whether in avoiding sin, or in doing duty; think, What would my blessed Saviour do in this case; Or, what did he do in the like case when he was upon earth? If we had these thoughts every day, if Christ were continually before our eyes, if in all we do or speak, we should still muse on this. What would Jesus Christ say if he were here? I believe it would be a blessed means of living in comfort and spiritual conformity to the commands of God, yea, of acting Christ's life (as it were) to the life.
5. Let us look fixedly on Jesus Christ, let us keep our spiritual eyes still on the pattern, until we feel ourselves conforming to it: it is a true saying, "That objects and moving reasons kept much upon the mind by serious thoughts, are the great engine, both appointed by nature and grace to turn about the soul of man." If I may deliver it in fewer terms, "Objects considered much, or frequently do turn the soul into their own nature." Such as the things we are most thinking of and consider of, such will be ourselves: or if we be not so, it is not through any imperfection in the object, (especially in such an object as Jesus Christ is) but because it is not well applied, and by consideration held upon the heart till it may work there, indeed the manner of this working may be secret and insensible, yet if we follow on we shall feel it in the issue. The beholding of Christ is a powerful beholding: there is a changing, transforming virtue goes out of Christ, by looking on Christ; Can we think of his humility and not be humble? Can we think of his meekness and gentleness of spirit, and yet we continue in our fierceness, roughness, frowardness of spirit? Can a proud fierce heart apprehend a meek, and sweet, and lowly Jesus? No, no, the heart must be suitable to the thing apprehended; it is impossible otherwise, certainly if the look be right, there must be a suitableness betwixt the heart and Christ. Sight works upon the imagination in brute creatures; as Laban's sheep, when they saw the party-coloured rods, they had lambs suitable: Now, will sight work upon imagination, and imagination work a real change in nature; and is not the eye of the mind, (especially the eye of faith) more strong and powerful! If I but write after a copy, I shall in a while learn to write like it: If I seriously meditate on any excellent subject, it will leave a print behind it on my spirit: if I read but the life and death of some eminently gracious and holy man, it moulds, and fashions, and transforms, and conforms my mind to his similitude; even so, and much more is it in this cage, since the eye of faith works in the matter, which in itself is operative and effectual, and therefore it cannot but work more than where there is only simple imitation, or naked meditation. O then let us set the copy of Christ's life (as before described) in our view, and let us look upon it with both eyes, with the eye of reason, and with the eye of faith.
But how should we keep the eye of our faith on this blessed object, until we feel conformity in us? I answer, --
1. Let us set apart sometimes on purpose to act our faith in this respect, Eccl. iii. 1. "There is a time for all things under the sun," saith Solomon. It may be sometimes we are in our civil employments, but then is not the time: yet when they are done, and the day begins to close, if together with our closet prayer we would fall on this duty of looking unto Jesus by lively faith; how blessed a season might this be? I know not but that some Christians may do it occasionally, but for any that sets some time apart for it every day, and that in conscience, as we do for prayer, where is he to be found?
2. Let us remove hinderances; Satan labours to hinder the soul from beholding Christ with the dust of the world, "The god of this world blinds the eyes of men." O take heed of fixing our eyes on this world's vanity! our own corruptions are also great hinderanccs to this view of Christ; away, away with all carnal passions, base humours, sinful desires; unless the soul be spiritual, it can never behold spiritual things.
3. Let us fix our eyes only on this blessed object: a moving rolling eye sees nothing clearly, 1 Pet. i. 12. "When the angels are said to look into these things," the word signifies, that they look into them narrowly, as they who bowing or stooping down, do look into a thing; so should we look narrowly into the life of Christ; our eye of faith should be set upon it in a steady manner, as if all the world could not move us, as if we forgot all the things behind, and had no other business in the world but this.
4. Let us look wishingly and cravingly; there is affection as well as vision in the eyes; as the lame man that lay in Solomon's porch looked wishfully on Peter and John, "Expecting to receive something of them," Acts iii. 5. So let us look on Christ with a craving eye, with an humble expectation to receive supply of grace from Christ, "Why, Lord, thou art not only anointed with the oil of gladness above thy fellows, but for thy fellows; I am earthly-minded, but thou are heavenly; I am full of lusts, but the image of God is perfect in thee; thou art the fountain of all grace, an head of influence, as well as of eminence: thou art not only above me, but thou hast all grace for me; and therefore, O give me some portion of thy meekness, lowliness, heavenly-mindedness, and of all other the graces, of thy Spirit. Surely thou art an heaven of grace, full of bright shining stars. Oh that of that fulness thou wouldst give me to receive even grace for grace: I pray, Lord, with an humble expectation of receiving from thee: Oh let me feel the droppings of the two olive trees into the golden candlesticks; yea even into my soul."
5. Be we assured that our prayer (if it be in faith) is even now heard: never any came to Christ with strong expectations to receive grace, or any benefit prayed for, that was turned empty away. Besides, Christ hath engaged himself by promise to write his law in our hearts: to make us like himself; "As he which hath called us is holy, so should, (yea, and so shall) we be holy in all manner of conversation," 1 Pet. i. 15. Oh let us build on this gracious promise: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, before one jot or tittle of his word shall fail:" only understand we his promise in this sense, that our conformity must be gradual, not all at once, 2 Cor. iii. 18. "We all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory," (i.e.) from grace to grace, or from glory inchoate in obedience, to glory consummate in our heavenly inheritance.
6. If, notwithstanding all this, we feel not for the present this conformity in us, at least in such a degree, let us act over the same particulars again and again: the gifts of grace are therefore communicated by degrees, that we might be taken off from living upon a received stock of grace; and that we might still be running to the spring, and drinking there: why, alas! we have a continual need of Christ's letting out himself and grace into our hearts, and therefore we must wait at the well-head Christ; we must look on Christ, as appointed on purpose by his Father to be the beginner and finisher of our holiness; and we must believe that he will never leave that work imperfect whereunto he is ordained of the Father. "We may be confident, (saith the apostle) of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in us, will perform it, or finish it until the day of Jesus Christ," Phil. i. 6. Oh then, be not weary of this work until he accomplish the desires of thy soul.
I have now done with this subject: only before I finish, one word more. Sometimes I have observed that many precious souls in their endeavours after grace, holiness, sanctification, have been frequent in the use of such and such means, duties, ordinances; wherein I cannot say, but they have done well; and for their help, I therefore composed that piece called Media: but of all the ordinances of Christ, this looking unto Jesus is made least use of, though it be chief of all; it is Christ, (when all is done) that is that great ordinance appointed by God for grace and holiness; and certainly those souls which trade immediately with Jesus Christ, will gain more in a day, than others in a month, in a year. I deny not other helps, but amongst them all, if I would make choice which to fall upon, that I may become more and more holy, I would set before me this glass, (i.e.) "Christ's holy life," the great examplar of that holiness: we were at first created after his image in holiness, and this image we lost through our sin, and to this image we should endeavour to be restored by imitation: and how should this be done, but by looking on Christ as our pattern? By running through the several ages of Christ, and by observing all his graces and gracious actings? In this respect I charge thee, O my soul, (for to what purpose should I charge others, if I begin not at home, and with thee?) that thou make conscience of this practical, evangelical duty; O be much in the exercise of it! not only in the day intend Christ, but when night comes, and thou liest down on thy bed, let thy pillow be as Christ's bosom, in which John the beloved disciple was said to lean: there lean thou with John, yea, lie thou between his breasts, and "let him lie all night betwixt thy breasts," Cant. i. 13. Thus mayest thou "lie down in peace and sleep, and the Lord only will make thee to dwell in safety," Psal. iv. 8. And when day returns again, have this in mind, yea, in all thy thoughts, words and deeds, ever look into Jesus as thy holy examplar, say to thyself, "If Christ my Saviour were now upon earth, would these be his thoughts, words and deeds? Would he be thus disposed as I now feel myself? Would he speak these words that I am now uttering? Would he do this that I am now putting my hand unto? O let me not yield myself to any thought, word or action, which my dear Jesus would be ashamed to own!" Yea, (if it were possible for thee to be so constant in this blessed duty) going and standing, sitting and lying, eating and drinking, speaking and holding thy peace, by thyself, or in company, cast an eye upon Jesus: for by this means thou canst not choose but love him more, and joy in him more, and trust in him more, and become more and more familiar with him, and draw more and more grace and virtue and sweetness from him. O let this be thy wisdom, to think much of Christ, so as to provoke thee to the imitation of Christ! then shalt thou learn to contemn the world, to do good to all, to injure no man, to suffer wrong patiently; yea, to pray for all those that despitefully use thee, and persecute thee, then shalt thou learn to condescend to the weak, to condole sinners cases, to embrace the penitent, to obey superiors, to minister to all: then shalt thou learn to avoid all boasting, bragging, scandal, immoderate eating and drinking: in a word, all sin. Then shalt thou learn to "bear about in thy body the dying of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in thy body:" so the apostle, "for we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh," 2 Cor. iv. 10, 11. Why, this is to follow Christ's steps, he descended from heaven to earth for thy sake; do thou trample on earthly things, "Seek after the kingdom of God and his righteousness," for thy own sake: though the world be sweet, yet Christ is sweeter; though the world prove bitter, yet Christ sustained the bitterness of it for thee; and now he speaks to thee, as he did to Peter, Andrew, James and John, "Come follow me;" do not faint in the way, least thou lose thy place in thy country, that kingdom of glory.
Thus far we have looked on Jesus as our Jesus in his life, during the whole time of his ministry: our next work is to look to Jesus carrying on the great work of man's salvation, during the time of his suffering, and dying on the cross, until his resurrection from the dead.