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

SECT. III. Of Desiring Jesus in that respect.

3. WE must desire after Jesus, carrying on the great work of our Salvation in a way of Covenant before his coming in the flesh. It is not enough to know and consider, but we must desire. Thus is the order of Gods work, no sooner hath his Spirit clearly revealed the goodness of the Promise that we come to know, but the soul considers of it, turns it upside down, views it in all its Excellencies, weighs it in the Balance of its best and deepest meditation. This done, the Affections begins to stir, and the soul begins thus to reason; O happy I, that I see the goodness of this gracious Promise; but miserable I, if I come to see this, and never have a share in it. O why not I Lord? Why not my Sins Pardoned? Why not my Corruptions Subdued? Why not the Law Written in my Heart, and put into my inward parts? Why may not I say, my Lord and my God? or I am my Beloveds, and my Beloved is mine? Why not this Covenant established between God and me? Now my Soul thirsts after this as a thirsty Land, my affections hunger after Jesus in a Covenant of Grace: Oh, I would fain be in Covenant with God; for this is all my Salvation and all my desire, 2 Sam. 23.5. — But here is an Objection. —

3. WE must desire after Jesus, carrying on the great work of our Salvation in a way of Covenant before his coming in the flesh. It is not enough to know and consider, but we must desire. Thus is the order of Gods work, no sooner hath his Spirit clearly revealed the goodness of the Promise that we come to know, but the soul considers of it, turns it upside down, views it in all its Excellencies, weighs it in the Ballance of its best and deepest meditation. This done, the Affections begins to stir, and the soul begins thus to reason; O happy I, that I see the goodness of this gracious Promise; but miserable I, if I come to see this, and never have a share in it. O why not I Lord? Why not my Sins Pardoned? VVhy not my Corruptions Subdued? VVhy not the Law Written in my Heart, and put into my inward parts? Why may not I say, my Lord and my God? or I am my Beloveds, and my Beloved is mine? VVhy not this Covenant established between God and me? Now my Soul thirsts after this as a thirsty Land, my affections hunger after Jesus in a Covenant of Grace: Oh, I would fain be in Covenant with God; for this is all my Salvation and all my desire,