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CHAP. II.
SECT. I. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his se∣cond coming.
WHAT looking is, and what it contains, we have often heard; and that in these respects we may look on Jesus.
1. Let us know Jesus, carrying on the Saints Salvation in his second coming, and taking them to Heaven. Many glorious excellent things, many precious passages, many high and heavenly carriages are in this transaction; Is it not of high concernment that he that now sits at God's right hand interceding for us, should thence come again to judge the World, and after judgment take up his Saints with him into glory? can we read of the several actings of this general Assize, and not desire to read on still? nay, is not all our reading mixt with admiration of every passage? come! wonder, and sit, and pause, and stop, at every word; stay and won∣der, and adore that light, which appears in any beam of truth, and in the admiration of that truth which doth appear, cast thy self down at the feet of Christ, and cry out; O the depth of Glory, and Majesty, and goodness, and grace in thee! O the riches of love that thou shouldst let out thy self in these several admirable dispensations! come be ex∣act in this study; gather up all the crumbs and fillings of this gold; the least beams of the glory of Christ (especially as it shines and glitters at his second coming) have so much light, and love, and splendour in them, as that they will be very sweet to look upon them: every piece or part of this knowledge will be of special use and worth, yea the low and imperfect knowledge of this mystery is of infinite more value then the high and perfect knowledge of Ten thousand things besides. And one thing (O my soul) let me tell thee it is possible for thee to attain a very sweet, and satisfacto∣ry degree of this very knowledge. And therefore study close, run over again all that hath been spoken, and dig yet deeper into that glorious mine; content not thy self with a bare discovery of that gold-oare which is only upon the superficies or top of the mine, but go so far as to find out the inward spiritual, and experimental knowledge, which the Saints by the light of the Spirit may come to attain. O study Christ in his second coming to judgment.
SECT. II. Of considering Jesus in that respect.
2. LET us consider Jesus, carrying on this work of Salvation at his second coming. It is not enough to know, but we must meditate and seriously consider of it A meer student may know Christ, and study Christ, as he knows and studies other things: he may keep together many notions concerning Christ, and his coming to Judgment, but he hath no impression of the holiness of Christ upon his heart: and in this respect he is a stranger to Christ and all his actings; alas, he studies Christ, but he doth not rightly, seriously, inwardly consider of Christ, but he doth not look unto Jesus, as one that looks to his pattern, or as one that looks to his refuge, hope, and help; true and spiritual consideration, is a serious matter; its not some few and freeting thoughts that are the discharge of this work, but thoughts resting, dwelling, fixing, and staying upon Christ, until they come to some profita∣ble issue; O it is another manner of business then many are aware of; it's a thinking with thought upon thought; it's a reiteration and multiplication of the thoughts of the mind upon the Subject propounded; so the Scripture expresseth it, I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and in that next verse, I turned to see; he look∣ed, upon and considered his works, and he returned to behold them; he thought on them before, but now he returned to think; he renewed his thoughts upon the matter, and took a new view of them. Indeed when the understanding works seriously and spiritually, it will fetch things into sight, and not only so, but it will hold them there, and fasten upon them, and when they are gone, it will fetch them again, my soul hath them still in remembrance, my soul in remembring doth remember them, and will not off till the end he obtained; so a man eyes Christ, till he have more of Christ, more of his