Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

2. For the godly, are not they careless of this Duty? O their excursions from God! sad dejections of spirit! inordinate affections of the world! and in the mean-while, O the neglect of this Gospel-ordinance, even amongst Saints themselves! I know not whether, through want of skill, or through want of will; but sure I am, this duty lies dormant, neglected of most of the people of God: their faults I may express in these respects. —

2. For the godly, are not they careless of this Duty? O their excursions from God! sad dejections of spirit! inordinat affections of the world! and in the mean-while, O the neglect of this Gospel-ordinance, even amongst Saints themselves! I know not whether, through want of skill, or through want of will; but sure I am, this duty lies dormant, neglected of most of the people of God: their faults I may express in these respects. —

1. In not sending out their understandings, in not pointing their minds towards Jesus. I write unto you (said the Apostle) to stir up your pure minds, by way of remembrance; it is in the Original [Greek or Hebrew],¹ to awaken your pure minds; and it was but need. See how David calls upon himself, Awake my glory! and see how Deborah calls upon her self, Awake, awake Deborah, awake, awake, utter a song. Awaking is a word that imports rousing, as birds that provoke their young ones by flight to make use of their wings; now, how few are there that thus call upon themselves? it was the Prophets complaint, no man stirs up himself, ²to take hold of God. O what a shame is this? is it fit that our understandings, which God hath entrusted us withal, should be no more improved? is it fit that our minds (those golden cabinets which God hath given us, to be filled with heavenly treasure) should either be empty, or stuffed with vanity, nothing, worse then nothing? O that such glorious creatures as our souls, should lackey after every creature, which should be in attendance upon Christ, which should be like Angels, waiting and standing in the presence of our God! O that such glorious things as our immortal spirits, should run after vanity, and so become vain; which if rightly improved, should walk with Angels, should lodge themselves in the bosom of the glorious God! Do we not see how Christ is sending out to us continually? the thoughts of his heart are love, eternal love? and shall not we send out our thoughts towards him? shall not we let our minds run out towards him?