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

5. Let us look fixedly on Jesus Christ, let us keep our spiritual eyes still on the pattern, until we feel our selves conforming to it: it is a true saying, that Objects and moving reasons kept much upon the mind by serious thoughts, are the great engine, both appointed by nature and grace, to turn about the soul of man. If I may deliver it in fewer terms, Objects considered much, or frequently, do turn the soul into their own nature. Such as the things are we must think of, and consider of, such will be our selves; or if we be not so, it is not through any imperfection in the object (especially in such an object as Jesus Christ is) but because it is not well applied, and by consideration held upon the heart, till it may work there; indeed the manner of this working may be secret, and insensible, yet if we follow on, we shall feel it in the issue; the beholding of Christ is a powerful beholding; there is a changing, transforming virtue goes out of Christ, by looking on Christ; can we think of his humility, and not be humble? can we think of his meekness and gentleness of Spirit, and yet we continue in our fierceness, roughness, frowardness of Spirit? can a proud fierce heart apprehend a meek, and sweet, and lowly Jesus? no, no; the heart must be suitable to the thing apprehended, it is impossible otherwise; certainly if the look be right, there must be a suitableness betwixt the heart and Christ. Sight works upon the imagination in brute creatures; as Laban's Sheep, when they saw the party-coloured Rods, they had Lambs suitable; now will sight work upon imagination, and imagination work a real change in nature? and is not the eye of the mind (especially the eye of faith) more strong and powerful? if I but write after a copy, I shall in a while learn to write like it, if I seriously meditate on any excellent subject, it will leave a print behind it on my spirit; if I read but the life and death of some eminently gracious and holy man, it moulds, and fashions, and transforms, and conforms my mind to his similitude; even so, and much more is it in this case; since the eye of faith works in the matter, which in it self is operative and effectual, and therefore it cannot but work more, than where is only simple imitation, or naked meditation;

5. Let us look fixedly on Jesus Christ, let us keep our spiritual eyes still on the pattern, untill we feel our selves conforming to it: it is a true saying, that Objects and moving reasons kept much upon the mind by serious thoughts, are the great engine, both appointed by nature and grace, to turn about the soul of man. If I may deliver it in fewer terms, Objects considered much, or frequently, do turn the soul into their own nature. Such as the things are we must think of, and consider of, such will be our selves; or if we be not so, it is not through any imperfection in the object (especially in such an object as Jesus Christ is) but because it is not well applied, and by consideration held upon the heart, till it may work there; indeed the manner of this working may be secret, and insensible, yet if we follow on, we shall feel it in the issue; the beholding of Christ is a powerful beholding; there is a changing, transforming vertue goes out of Christ, by looking on Christ; can we think of his humility, and not be humble? can we think of his meekness and gentleness of Spirit, and yet we continue in our fierceness, roughness, frowardness of Spirit? can a proud fierce heart apprehend a meek, and sweet, and lowly Jesus? no, no; the heart must be suitable to the thing apprehended, it is impossible otherwise; certainly if the look be right, there must be a suitableness betwixt the heart and Christ. Sight works upon the imagination in brute creatures; as Laban's Sheep, when they saw the party-coloured Rods, they had Lambs suitable; now will sight work upon imagination, and imagination work a real change in nature? and is not the eye of the mind (especially the eye of faith) more strong and powerful? if I but write after a copy, I shall in a while learn to write like it, if I seriously meditate on any excellent subject, it will leave a print behind it on my spirit; if I read but the life and death of some eminently gracious and holy man, it molds, and fashions, and transforms, and conforms my mind to his similitude; even so, and much more is it in this case; since the eye of faith works in the matter, which in it self is operative and effectual, and therefore it cannot but work more, than where is only simple imitation, or naked meditation;