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

O my soul, ponder on these words, as if an Angel, seeing thee stand on the brim of Hell, should speak to thee, even to thy soul.

2. Consider Jesus in his Conception; no sooner the news heard, but Christ is conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Virgins Womb; this Conception is worthy our consideration: what, that the great God of Heaven should condescend so far as to take our Nature upon him, and to take it in the same way, and after the same manner as we do? the Womb of the Virgin was surely no such place, but he might well have abhorred it; true, but he meant by this to sanctify our very Conceptions; and to that purpose, he is conceived in an holy manner, even by the holy Ghost; we must not be too curious to enquire after the manner of the holy Ghosts operation, who therefore overshadowed the Virgin; this is work for our hearts, and not merely for our heads: humble Faith, and not curious inquisition shall find the sweetness of this Mystery. It was Davids Complaint, Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my Mother conceive me. O my Soul, this was thy case in thy very first being or beginning,¹ and hadst thou died in that condition, the word is express, that nothing defiled nor unclean shall enter into the City of Glory; but here's the remedy, thy sinful Conception is sanctified by Christs holy Conception: the holiness of thy Jesus serves as a Cover to hide thy Original pollutions from the eyes of God. O consider this! Jesus Christ was not conceived in vain; he was not idle, doing nothing whiles he was in his Mothers Womb; he that from all eternity began, he was then carrying on the great work of our salvation for us: O consider this Conception thus, till thou bringest it near and close to thy soul; till thou feelest some sweetness and power coming, and flowing from Jesus in the Womb.

2. Consider Jesus in his Conception; no sooner the news heard, but Christ is conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Virgins Womb; this Conception is worthy our consideration: what, that the great God of Heaven should condescend so far as to take our Nature upon him, and to take it in the same way, and after the same manner as we do? the Womb of the Virgin was surely no such place, but he might well have abhorred it; true, but he meant by this to sanctifie our very Conceptions; and to that purpose, he is conceived in an holy manner, even by the holy Ghost; we must not be too curious to enquire after the manner of the holy Ghosts operation, who therefore overshadowed the Virgin; this is work for our hearts, and not meerly for our heads: humble Faith, and not curious inquisition shall find the sweetness of this Mystery. It was Davids Complaint, Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my Mother conceive me. O my Soul, this was thy case in thy very first being or beginning,