Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of Jesus as carrying on the great work of mans salvation from first to last / by Isaac Ambrose ...

SECT. II. Of considering Jesus in that respect.

2. LEt us consider Jesus, carrying on this work of our salvation for us in his resur∣rection. It is not enough to know a saving necessary truth, but it is required further that we digest truths, and that we draw forth their strength for the nourish∣ment and refreshing of our poor souls. As a man may in half an hour chew and take into his stomack that meat, which he must have seven or eight hours at least to digest; so a man may take into his understanding more truths in an hour, than he is able well to digest in many; what good those men are like to get by Sermon's or Provi∣dences, who are unaccustomed to this work of meditation, I cannot imagine; it is observed by some, that this is the reason why so much preaching is lost amongst us; why Professors that run from Sermon to Sermon, and are never weary of hearing or reading, have notwithstanding such languish starved souls, because they will not meditate. And therefore God commanded, Joshua, not only to read the Law, but to consider of it, and dwell upon it; This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night; why, this is the duty that I am now pressing to; if thou knowest these things, consider, ••uminate, meditate, ponder on them again, and again. And because this work requires enlargedness of heart and spirit, therefore take it into parts, and consider of each of them apart by it self. As—

1. Consider of the time when Christ rose again. As Christ had his three dayes, and no more, so must thou have the same three dayes like unto his; the first day was called the day of preparation; the second was the Sabbath-day; and the third was the resurrection day; so thy first day is a day of preparation, a day of passion, where∣in thou must strive and struggle against sin, and Satan, wherein thou must suffer all their bitter darts till thou dyest, and give up the Ghost. And thy second day is a day of rest, wherein thy body must lye in the grave, and thy flesh rest in hope; wherein thou shalt enter into peace, and rest in thy bed, until the trumpet sound, and bid thee arise, and come to judgment: And thy third day is a day of resurrection unto glory. It is the first day of the week, or the first beginning of a never ending world. Thus consider the time of Christ's resurrection, and thence mayst thou draw down some use for thy souls nourishment.

2. Consider of the reasons why Christ arose; was it not to confound the Jews? they could not endure to hear of Christ's resurrection, and therefore when Peter and the other Apostles preached that point, They were cut to the heart, and took councel to slay them. It is the case of them to say, We will not have that man to reign over us; they that by their sins crucifie Christ every day, cannot without horror think of his exaltation, it cuts them to the heart that Christ is risen to be their Judge. Again, was it not to confirm the faith of Christ's followers? till he was risen, their faith was but a weak faith; weak in knowledge, weak in assent, weak in confidence, weak in assu∣rance; much ado had Christ with them, many a time had he chid them, Why are ye fearful O ye of little faith? but after he had shewed uimself alive by many infallible proofs, they could then cry it out, My Lord, and my God. Again, was it not to evidence that he had fully satisfied all our debts? the Apostle tells us, that Christ was our Surety; at his death he was arrested, and cast into Prison, whence he could not come till all was payed: and therefore to hear that Christ is risen, and that he hath bro∣kens the bolts and fetters of the grave, it is a clear evidence that God is satisfied, and that Christ is discharged by God himself. Oh what breasts of consolation are here? Again, was it not to conquer sin, death, and devil? now he took from death his sting, and from hell his standard; now he seized upon the hand-writing that was against

us, and nailed to his cross, now he spoiled Principalities and Powers, and carried the keys of death and hell, at his own girdle; now he came out of the grave as a mighty Conqueror, saying as Dehorah did in her song, O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength, thou hast marched valiantly. Again, was it not to become the first-fruits of them that sleep? Christ was the first that rose again from the grave to dye no more; and by vertue of his resurrection (as being the first-fruits) all the Elect must rise again; As in Adam all dye, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; but every man in his own order, Christ the first-fruits, and afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming. Some may wonder, can the resurrection of one, a thousand six hundred years ago, be the cause of our rising? yes, as well as the death of one, five thousand six hundred years ago, is the cause of our dying; Adam, and Christ were two heads, two roots, two first-fruits, either of them in reference to his company whom they stand for. And now O my soul, thou mayst say with Job, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall see him at the last day, not with other, but with these same eyes. If Christ live, then must I live also; if he be risen, then though after my skin worms shall destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God. Again, was it not that he might be declared to be the Son of God? was it not that he might be exalted, and glorified? this is the main rea∣son of all the rest; see thou to this! O give him the glory, and praise of his resurrecti∣on; so muse, and meditate, and consider on this transaction, as to ascribe to his Name all honour, and glory; what, is he risen from the dead? Hath God highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name? O then let every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3. Consider of the manner of Christ's resurrection; he rose as a common person; in which respect his resurrection concerns us no less than himself. We must not think that when Christ was raised, it was no more than when Lazarus was raised; his re∣surrection was the resurrection of us all; it was in the name of us all, and had in it a seed-like vertue to work the resurrection of us all. O the priviledge of this commu∣nion with Christ's resurrection! if I believe this truly, I cannot but believe the resur∣rection of my body, and the life everlasting; why, Jesus Christ hath led the dance, and though of my self I have no right to Heaven or Glory, yet in Christ my Head I have as good right to it as any heir apparent to his lands.—2. He rose by his own pow∣er; and so did none but Jesus Christ; from the beginning of the world it was never heard that any dead man raised himself; Indeed one Instance we have that a dead mans Corps should raise up another dead man, They cast the man into the Sepulchre of Elisha, and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on his feet; dead Elisha raised up a dead man from the grave, but dead Elisha could not raise up himself from the grave; only Christ arose himself, and at the same time he rai∣sed many others; and here was the argument of his God-head, I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it up again; how should we but trust him with our life, who is the resurrection and the life? He that believeth in him though he were dead, yet shall he live. O my soul, he was able to raise himself, much more is he able to raise thee up; only believe, and live for ever.—3. He rose with an earth∣quake; O the power of Christ in every passage! what ayled thee O earth to skip like a Ram? was not the new Tomb hewn out of a Rock? and was not a great stone rolled to the door of the Sepulchre? the ground wherein he lay was firm and solid, and shall the rock be removed out of his place? O yes; the Lord reigneth, and therefore the earth is moved; Oh what a rocky heart is this of mine? how much harder is it than that rock; that moves not, melts not at the presence of God, at the presence of the God of Jacob? the Sun (they say) danced that morning at Christ's resurrection; the earth (I am sure) then trembled; and yet my heart is no way affected with this news; I feel it neither dance for joy, nor tremble for fear; O my soul be serious in this me∣ditation, consider, what a posture wouldst thou have been in, if thou hadst been with those Souldiers that watched Christ; so reallize this Earthquake, as if thou now felt it trembling under thee.

4. An Angel ministred to him at his resurrection; An Angel came, and rolled back the stone from the door, and sate upon it. Angels were the first Ministers of the Go∣spel, the first Preachers of Christ's resurrection; they preached more of Christ than all the Prophets did; they first told the woman that Christ was risen; and they did the first service to Christ at his resurrection, in rolling the stone from the doors mouth; O my soul, that thou wert but like these blessed Angels! how is it that they are so

forward in God's Service, and thou art so backward? One day thou expectest to be equal with the Angels, and art thou now so far behind them? What! to be equal in Reward, and behind them in Service? Here's a Meditation able to check thy Sloath, and to spur thee on to thy Duty. — 5. Many of the Bodies of the Saints arose out of their Graves at His Resurrection; as the Angels ministred, so the Saints waited on Him. In this Meditation, trouble not thy self whether David, Moses, Job, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were some of those Saints, as some conjecture upon some Grounds: It is a better Consideration to look upon them as the Fruit of Christ's Resurrection, and as an Earnest of thy Own: The Vertue of Christ's Resurrection appears immediately, and it will more appear at the general Resurrection Day. As sure as these Saints arose with Him, and went into the Holy City, and appeared unto many; so sure shall thy Body rise again at the Last Day; and (if thou art but a Saint) it shall go with Him into the Heavenly Jerusalem, and appear before God, and His Son Jesus Christ in Glo∣ry. —6. Christ rose again with a true and perfect Body, with an Incorruptible and Powerful Body, with a Spiritual and an Agile Body, with a Glorious Body, brighter than the Sun in his utmost Glory. On these things may the Soul expatiate: O it is a worthy, blessed, soul-ravishing Subject to think upon; and the rather, if we consider that Con∣formity which we believe: We look for a Saviour (saith the Apostle) the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile Bodies, that they may be fashioned unto His Glorious Body. O my Soul, that this Clay of thine should be a Partaker of such Glory! That this Body of Dust and Earth should shine in Heaven like those Glorious Spangles of the Firmament; that this Body that shall rot in Dust, and fall more vile than a Carrion, should rise, and shine like the Glorious Body of our Saviour on Mount Tabor: Surely thou owest much to Christ's Resurrection. O consider of it, till thou feellest the Influence, and comest to the Assurance of this Blessed Change.

4. Consider of the several Apparitions of Jesus Christ, especially of those written by the Evangelist John. As,—

1. Muse on His Apparition to Mary Magdalen: Oh the Grief before He appeared! And, Oh the Joyes when He appeared!— 1. Before, she apprehended nothing, but that some or other had took away her Lord; these were all the words she uttered before he appeared; They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him; so she told Peter and John: And when Two Angels appeared in White, asking her; Wo∣man, Why weepest thou? she gives the same Answer to them; They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. A Soul in desertion knows not what to do, but to weep and cry; Oh my Lord is gone! I have lost my Lord, my God, my Jesus, my King! In this Meditation, consider, O my Soul, as if thou hadst been in Maries Case: Was it not a sad Case, when the Angels of Heaven knew not how to comfort her? Suppose any Son of Consolation had stood by, and had such a one perswaded; O Mary, suppress thy Sadness, refresh thy Heart with this Blessed Vision; thou didst seek but One, and thou hast found Two; a dead Body was thy Errand, and thou hast light on Two alive: Thy Weeping was for a Man, and thy Tears have obtained Angels: Observe them narrowly; the Angels invite thee to a Parley, it may be they had some happy News to tell thee of thy Lord: Remember what they are, and where they sit, and whence they come, and to whom they speak; they are Angels of Peace; neither sent without Cause, nor seen but of Favour; they sit on the Tomb, to shew they are no Strangers to thy Loss: They come from Heaven, from whence all happy News descendeth; they speak to thy self, as if they had some special Em∣bassage to deliver unto thee. No, no; these Cordials are in vain; neither Man nor An∣gel can do her good, or comfort her drooping Soul: Either Christ Himself must come in Presence, or she cryes; Miserable Comforters are ye all! Alas! small is the Light that a Star can yield, when the Sun is down: A sorry Exchange it is, to go & gather Crumbs, after the Loss of the Bread of Life. Oh, What can these Angels do? They cannot perswade me that my Master is not lost; for my own Eyes will disprove them: They can less tell me where He may be found; for they themselves would wait upon Him, if they knew but where: I am apt to think, they know not where He is; and therefore they are come to the Place where He last was, making the Tomb their Heaven, and the Remembrance of His Presence the Fewel of their Joy: Alas! What do Angels here? I neither came to see them, nor desire to hear them: I came not to see Angels, but the Creator of Angels, to whom I owe more than both to Men and Angels.

2. After He appeared, she was filled with Joy; for so it was, that when nothing else would satisfie, or comfort this poor Creature, Jesus Himself appears: At first He is un∣known,

she takes him for the Gardiner of the place, but within a while he utters a voice that opens both her ears, and eyes; And Jesus saith unto her, Mary. It was the sweetest sound that ever she heard; many a time had she been called by that name, but never heard she a voice so effectual, powerful, inward, feeling as at this time; hereby the cloud is scattered, and the Sun of Righteousness appears; this one word Mary, lightens her eyes, dryes up her tears, chears her heart, revives her spirits that were as good as dead. One word of Christ wrought so strange an alteration in her, as if she had been wholly made new, when she was only named. And hence it is that being ravished with his voice, and impatient of delayes, she takes his talk out of his mouth, and to his first and only word Mary, she answers, Rabboni] which is to say, Master, q. d. Master, is it thou? with many a salt tear have I sought thee, and art thou un∣expectedly so near at hand! thy absence was hell, and thy presence is no less than heaven to me: Oh how is my heart ravished at thy sound? if the babe leaped in the womb of Eliza∣beth when she but heard the salutation of Mary, how should my heart but leap at thy sa∣lutation? I feel I am exceedingly transported beyond my self. Instead of my heavy heart and troubled spirit, I feel now a sweet and delightful Tranquility of mind; thou art my solace, and souls delight; whom have I in heaven but thee? and whom desire I upon earth in comparison of thee? and yet I am not satisfied; not only fruition of thee, but union with thee is that which my soul longs after; not only thy presence, but thy embra∣ces, or my embraces of thee can give content; come then, and give me leave, my Lord, my God, to run to the haunt of my chief delights, to fall at thy sacred feet, and to bathe them with my tears of joy; O my Jesus I must needs deal with thee, as the Spouse dealt with thee: Now I have found thee whom my soul loves dearly, I will hold thee, and I will not let thee go.

I know not in all the Book of God a soul more depressed with sorrow, and lifted up with joy: O meditate on this! if Christ be absent, all is night; but if Christ ap∣pear, he turns all again into a lightsome day; there is no sorrow like that which appre∣hends Christ's loss, and therefore in hell it is looked upon as the greatest pain; of the two (say Divines) it is a greater torment to lose God, and to lose Jesus Christ, than to endure all those flaming whips, unquenchable fires, intollerable cold, abominable stench; and on the other side, there is no joy in heaven like to that which apprehends Christ's presence: In thy presence there is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore. I had rather be in hell with Christ (said one) than in heaven with∣out Christ. This is the very top of heavens joy, the quintessence of glory, the high∣est happiness of the Saints; O my soul, seek with Mary, yea seek and weep, and weep and seek, and never rest satisfied till Christ appear. If thou art but in the use of means, he will appear sooner or later; or what if thou never sawest a good day on earth, one sight of Christ in heaven will make amends. Surely if thou knewest the joy of Christ's pre∣sence, thou wouldst run through death and hell to come to Christ: it was Paul's saying, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ which is far better; he cared not for death so he might go to Christ, for that was better than very life it self.

2. Muse on his Apparition to the Ten Disciples, When the doors were shut for fear of the Jews, then came Jesus, and stood in the midst, saying to them, Peace be unto you. Before his Apparitions, sorrow and fear had possessed all their spirits: sometime they walked abroad, and were sad; and sometimes they kept within, and shut the doors upon them, as being exceedingly afraid: In this condition Jesus Christ (that knows best the times and seasons of grace and comfort) comes and stands in the midst of their As∣sembly; he comes in, they know not how; and no sooner he is in, but he salutes them in this manner, Peace be unto you.

This was the prime of all his wishes; no sooner is he risen, but he wisheth peace to all his Apostles; no sooner meets he with them, but the very opening of his lips was with these words; they are the first words, at the first meeting, on the very first day.—A sure sign that peace was in the heart of Jesus Christ; howsoever it is with us, peace, or war; there is a Commonweal where Christ is King; and there is peace, and nothing but peace; come, sift, try, and examine; art thou, O my soul, a mem∣ber of this body? a subject of this Common-weal? hath the influence of Christ's peace (wrought and declared at his resurrection) any force on thee? hast thou peace with God? and peace within? and peace without? dost thou feel that ointment poured upon Aaron's head, and running down to the skirts of his garments? dost thou feel the dew of Hermon, and the dew that descends upon Mount Sion, dropping (as it were) upon

thy heart? doth the spirit assure thee, that Christ the Prince of peace hath made peace and reconciliation betwixt God and thee, betwixt the King and thee, a rebel to his Crown and dignity; O how beautiful upon the mountains would the feet of him be, that should publish peace, that should bring these good tydings, that thou art a Citizen of that Jerusalem, where God is King, and Christ the Prince of peace? where all the buildings are compact together, as a City that is at unity within it self?

3. Muse on his Apparition to all the Apostles, when they were all convened, and Thomas with them. This Apparition was occasioned by Thomas's incredulity; except (said he) I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. Now therefore saith Jesus to Thomas, Come, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. Methinks I see Thomas's finger on Christ's boared hand, and Thomas's hand in Christ's pierced side. Here's a strong Argument to convince my soul that Christ is risen from the dead; why, see; this is the same Christ that was crucified; the same Christ that had his hands boared with nails, and that had his heart pierced with a spear; though the wounds are healed as to sense of pain, yet the skars, and holes, and clefts remain as big as ever: the hole in his hand is yet so large, that Thomas may put his finger not only on it, but into it; and the cleft in his side is yet so large, that Thomas may thrust his whole hand into his side, and with his fingers touch that heart that issued out streams of blood for my sal∣vation. In this meditation be not too curious, whether the print of the nails were but continued till Christ had confirmed his Disciples faith; or whether he retains them still for some further use? it is a better consideration to look upon them so as to confirm thy own faith; is there not too much of Thomas's incredulity in thy breast? dost not thou sometimes feel some doubtings of Christ's rising? or at least dost thou not question whether Christ's resurrection belongs unto thee? is not Satan busie with a temptation? is not thy conscience troubled for thy sins; and especially for thy sin of unbelief? if so, (and I know not but it may be so with thee, and the best of Saints) Come then, and reach hither thy finger, and behold Christ's hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into his side; my meaning is, come with the hand of faith, and lay hold on Christ, yea hide thy self in the holes of the rock; Be like the Dove that maketh her nest in the side of the holes mouth; the Dove that would be safe from the devouring Birds, or from the Fowlers snare, she flyes to the hole in a rock; and thus Christ invites his Spouse, O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs? let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice. In the clefts of the rock I am safe, (said Bernard) there I stand firmly, there I am secure from Satan's prey. It is storied of a Martyr, that writing to his Wife where she might find him, when he was fled from home; O my Dear (said he) if thou desirest to see me, seek me in the side of Christ, in the cleft of the rock, in the hollow of his wounds; for there have I made my nest, there will I dwell, there shalt thou find me, and no where else but there. O my soul, that thou wouldst make this use of the wounds of Christ! are they not as the Cities of refuge, whither thou mayst fly and live? Nothing is more efficacious to cure the wounds of conscience, than a frequent and serious meditation of the wounds of Christ. Come, be not faithless, but believing; these Monuments of Christ's resurrection are for the confirmation of thy faith; if well viewed and handled, they will quiet thy conscience, quench the fiery darts of Satan, increase thy faith, till thou comest to assurance, and say∣est with Thomas, My Lord, and my God. I may be troubled, but I shall not be over∣whelmed; because I will remember the print of the nails, and of the spear, in the hands and side of Jesus Christ.

4. Muse on his Apparition to the seven Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. First, Christ appears, and works a Miracle; he discovers himself to be Lord of Sea as well as Land; at his word multitudes of Fishes come to the Net, and are caught by his Apostles; nor is this Miracle without a Mystery; The Kingdom of Heaven, is like a drawn net, cast into the sea, which when it is full, men draw to land; what is this divine trade of ours but a spiritual fishing? the world is a sea, souls like fishes swim at liberty in this deep, and the nets of wholesome doctrine are they that draw up some to the shore of grace, and glory. 2. Upon this Miracle, The Disciple whom Jesus loved, said unto Pe∣ter, it is the Lord. John is more quick-eyed than all the rest, he considers the Miracle, and him that wrought it; and presently he concludes, It is the Lord; O my soul medi∣tate on the mystery of this discovery; if ever soul be converted and brought home to

Christ, it is the Lord; but oh whither is Christ gone, that we have lost so long his converting presence? Oh for one Apparition of Jesus Christ! till then we may preach our hearts out and never the nearer; do what we can souls will to hell, except the Lord break their career; Ministers can do no more but tell, thus and thus men may be saved; and thus and thus men will be damned: He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but when they have said all they can, it is only God must give the blessing: Oh what is preaching without Christ's presence? One hearing what mighty feats Scanderbag's Sword had done, he sent for it, and when he saw it, Is this the Sword (said he) that hath done such great exploits, what's this sword more than any other sword? O (sayes Scanderbag) I sent thee my Sword, but not my arm that did handle it: so Ministers may use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, but if the Spirits arm be not with it, they may brandish it every Sabbath to little purpose; when all is done, if ever any good be done, it is the Lord. No sooner John observes the Miracle, that a multitude of fishes were caught and taken, but he tells Peter of a blessed discovery, it is the Lord—3. Upon this discovery, Peters throws himself into the Sea; O the fervent love he carries towards Christ! if he but hear of his Lord, he will run through fire and water to come unto him; so true is that of the Spouse, Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. If I love Christ, I cannot but long for communion and fellowship with Christ; Wheresoever thou art O blessed Saviour, give me no more happiness than to be with thee; if on the earth I would travel day and night to come unto thee, if on the Sea with Peter I would swim unto thee, if riding in triumph, I would sing Hosanna to thee, but if in glory, how happy should I be to look upon thee? Christ's Apparitions are ravishing sights; if he but stand on the shore, Peter throws himself over-board to come to Christ; why now he stands on the pinacles of heaven, wasting and beckoning with his hand, and calling on me in his Word, Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away; O my soul make haste; in every duty look out for another Apparition of Jesus Christ: when thou comest to hear, say, Have over Lord by this Sermon: and when thou comest to pray, say, Have over Lord by this Prayer to a Saviour; neither fire nor water; floods, nor storms; death, nor life; principalities nor powers; height nor depth; nor any other creature should hinder thy passage to Christ, or separate thy soul from Christ. Consider what I say, (saith Paul) and the Lord give thee understanding in all things; remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel: that Christ was raised is a Gospel-truth; ay, but do thou remember it; do thou consider it, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Notes

• Josh. 1.8.
• Isa. 52.7.
• Acts 9.33.
• Heb. 7.22.
• Judg. 5.21.
• 1 Cor. 15.22, 23.
• Job 19.25.
• Ver. 26.
• Psal. 2.11.
• 2 King 13.21.
• John 10.18.
• Job 18.4. Psal. 99.1.
• Mat. 28.2.
• Luke 24.6.
• Phil. 3.20, 21.
• Cant. 3.4.
• Psal. 16.11.
• Phil. 1.23.
• John 20.19.
• Isa. 52.7.
• Psal. 122.3.
• John 20.15.
• Ver. 27.
• Jer. 48.28.
• Cant. 2.14. Ber. ••er. 61. in Cant.
• Surius in vita Sancti Elzea∣rii.
• Bern. ibid.
• Turbabor, sed non perturba∣bor quia vul∣nerum Christi recordabor. Aug.
• Mat. 13.47.
• John 3.36.
• Cant. 8.7.
• Ʋbicunque fueris O domi∣ne Jesu, &c. Aug.
• Cant. 2.10.
• 2 Tim. 2.7, 8.