And therefore let not pride of greatness▪ deprive our souls of so much goodness; but when comparing the highness of our estate with the lowness of this Christian duty, we are made loath to endure it, let us remember that Christ hath done the like for us; and we in token of our love and thankfulness, do it again to our Saviour Christ. For being in the bosom of the father in all glory and happiness, this light from on high visited us, and abasing himself unto the low degree of a servant, he hath by giving his precious blood as the price of our redemption, not only visited but redeemed us his people, according to Zachariah's song. Luk. 1. 68. 78. Yea he came among 1us, and not only saw, but also took upon him our infirmities, and participated with us in our afflictions the more to enlarge his mercy and compassion, when he was touched with the feeling of our griefs, as it is Heb. 2. 17. 4. 15. Now 2what doth he require for this unspeakable love ⟨p. 60⟩and kind visitation, but love for love, and that we visit him as he hath visited us, not in his own person, for he is glorious in the highest heavens, and our goodness extendeth not unto him; but in his 3poor Saints and brethren who are the members of his body; unto whom whatsoever we do, he accounteth as done unto himself. Math. 25. 40. 4And therefore though we be never so rich and honourable, let us not disdain to visit the poor 5seeing in them we visit Christ, who abased himself much more for our sakes, visiting us when we were loathsomely defiled in our blood, and not only sick but stark dead, and like Lazarus in the grave stinking in the putrefaction of our sins, the vassals of Satan, the children of wrath, and very firebrands of hell. So that there is no poor so base and loathsome as we were; nor no worldly potentate so rich and glorious as our Saviour Christ, who was God, equal to his father. And therefore seeing he thus abased himself for our sakes, let us for his, a little stoop and humble our selves to perform all good offices to his poorest Saints; otherwise let us be assured that if we be ashamed of him who hath advanced us, he will be ashamed of us; if we scorn and disdain him in his poorest members, he will disdain and contemn us at the day of his appearing.
And therefore let not pride of greatnesse▪ depriue our soules of so much goodnesse; but when comparing the highnesse of our estate with the lownesse of this Christian duetie, wee are made loath to endure it, let vs remember that Christ hath done the like for vs; and we in token of our loue and thankefulnesse, doe it againe to our Sauiour Christ. For being in the bosome of the father in all glory and happinesse, this light from on high visited vs, and abasing himselfe vnto the low degree of a seruant, he hath by giuing his precious blood as the price of our redemption, not onely visited but redeemed vs his people, according to Zachariahs song. Luk. 1. 68. 78. Yea he came among 1vs, and not onely saw, but also tooke vpon him our infirmities, and participated with vs in our afflictions the more to inlarge his mercie and compassion, when he was touched with the feeling of our griefes, as it is Heb. 2. 17. 4. 15. Now 2what doth he require for this vnspeakeable loue ⟨p. 60⟩and kinde visitation, but loue for loue, and that we visite him as he hath visited vs, not in his own person, for he is glorious in the highest heauens, and our goodnesse extendeth not vnto him; but in his 3poore Saints and brethren who are the members of his body; vnto whom whatsoeuer we doe, he accounteth as done vnto himselfe. Math. 25. 40. 4And therefore though wee be neuer so rich and honourable, let vs not disdaine to visite the poore 5seeing in them we visite Christ, who abased himselfe much more for our sakes, visiting vs when we were loathsomely defiled in our blood, and not onely sicke but starke dead, and like Lazarus in the graue stincking in the putrefaction of our sinnes, the vassailes of Sathan, the children of wrath, and very firebrands of hell. So that there is no poore so base and loathsome as we were; nor no worldly potentate so rich and glorious as our Sauiour Christ, who was God, equall to his father. And therefore seeing hee thus abased himselfe for our sakes, let vs for his, a little stoope and humble our selues to performe all good offices to his poorest Saints; otherwise let vs be assured that if we be ashamed of him who hath aduanced vs, he will be ashamed of vs; if wee scorne and disdaine him in his poorest members, he will disdaine and contemne vs at the day of his appearing.
- 1Luk. 1. 68. 78.
- 2Heb. 2. 17. & 4. 15.
- 3Psal. 16. 3.
- 4Math. 25. 40.
- 5Ezech. 16. 6. 7.
