[ 1250] The great love of Christ, to he at an high esteeem; and why so?
THere is a story of an Elephant,* 1.1 who being fallen down, and unable to help himself, or get up again, by reason of the inflexiblenesse of his legs; a for∣rester comming by, helped him up, wherewith the Elephant (a creature other∣wise docible enough, by the very instinct of nature) was so affected, that he tamely followed the man up and down, would do any thing for him, and never left him till his dying day.* 1.2 Now so it is, that if there be such love exprest by bruit beasts, to those which have done them any good, should not we much more love and prise Christ, that hath done so much for us? For we were fallen, and could not re∣cover or help our selves; and Christ hath lifted us up, and redeemed us with his own most pretious blood, when we were even lost and undone: Let us then think nothing too much to do, too great to suffer, too dear to part withall, for such a Christ, such a Saviour, that thought nothing too much to do, or too grievous to suffer,* 1.3 that so he might accomplish the work of our Redemption: He left Hea∣ven for us, let not us think much to lose Earth for him; He came out of his Fa∣thers bosom for us, let not us be unwilling to leave father, or mother, or friends, or any thing else, for him; He underwent sufferings, reproaches, afflictions, per∣secutions, yea, death it self, for us, let not us repine at, or be impatient under, any trouble or misery we shall meet with here in this world, for h••s sake, but still be praising, blessing, and magnifying the love of God in Christ Iesus, who hath done so much for us.